I'm at a new blog site!
Come and visit www.laurenstamper.com for more devotionals, poetry and me.
Thank you thank you thank you for reading what I write.
Loz x
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
get in the sunlight//227
Isaiah 60:1-2 (The Message)
"Get out of bed, Jerusalem! Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight. God's bright glory has risen for you. The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all people sunk in deep darkness, but God rises on you, his sunrise glory breaks over you."
The days are dark, the earth is not well, and we have no time to sleep. We must wake up early, put our face in the sunlight of His presence and soak in His glory. The light of His immense goodness and beyond-words-perfect-presence will shine all over you - from the inside out. And His hope and mercy and love in and around you will be the hope of the earth, in Jesus' name.
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"Get out of bed, Jerusalem! Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight. God's bright glory has risen for you. The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all people sunk in deep darkness, but God rises on you, his sunrise glory breaks over you."
The days are dark, the earth is not well, and we have no time to sleep. We must wake up early, put our face in the sunlight of His presence and soak in His glory. The light of His immense goodness and beyond-words-perfect-presence will shine all over you - from the inside out. And His hope and mercy and love in and around you will be the hope of the earth, in Jesus' name.
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Tuesday, March 15, 2011
don't believe the lies//226
Psalm 25:5 (The Message)
"Take me by the hand; Lead me down the path of truth. You are my Savior, aren't you?"
Too many times throughout the day we believe lies. We believe things about ourselves that simply aren't true, and it's these stupid ridiculous lies that give way to our negative thinking, our insecurity, us hurting people, and us hurting God. I think it's a worth while lesson to, as you go about your day, start identifying what is a lie and what is truth... and when those lies come up, knock em out of the park with the mighty strong Word of God.
Don't believe things about yourself that aren't true. For example, your head tells you: "no one likes me..." First step: ask yourself is this a lie or is it truth? Second step: open your Bible to Romans 8:31, "If God is for me, who can be against me?" Third step: identify it as a lie and move on. Fourth step: you are saved from the lies and you are FREE!. Don't waste one more second believing lies that the devil throws your way. Instead, open the precious Word of God and believe that you are powerful and full of authority in the strong name of Jesus. Believe the truth about who you are - perfect, royal, fully accepted and loved and full of power in Jesus name. It sounds so simplistic and in-theory-easy-in-reality-impossible, but at the root of all of our pain, our mistakes, and especially our insecurities is when the wool is pulled over our eyes to the truth of God and who He says we are. Remember, you're a target. The devil hates you and wants you to be a crumbling mess in the corner. Don't allow it. Stand up and fight back.
Pray this prayer that David prayed, and the light of truth will show you the way and save you from the lies.
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"Take me by the hand; Lead me down the path of truth. You are my Savior, aren't you?"
Too many times throughout the day we believe lies. We believe things about ourselves that simply aren't true, and it's these stupid ridiculous lies that give way to our negative thinking, our insecurity, us hurting people, and us hurting God. I think it's a worth while lesson to, as you go about your day, start identifying what is a lie and what is truth... and when those lies come up, knock em out of the park with the mighty strong Word of God.
Don't believe things about yourself that aren't true. For example, your head tells you: "no one likes me..." First step: ask yourself is this a lie or is it truth? Second step: open your Bible to Romans 8:31, "If God is for me, who can be against me?" Third step: identify it as a lie and move on. Fourth step: you are saved from the lies and you are FREE!. Don't waste one more second believing lies that the devil throws your way. Instead, open the precious Word of God and believe that you are powerful and full of authority in the strong name of Jesus. Believe the truth about who you are - perfect, royal, fully accepted and loved and full of power in Jesus name. It sounds so simplistic and in-theory-easy-in-reality-impossible, but at the root of all of our pain, our mistakes, and especially our insecurities is when the wool is pulled over our eyes to the truth of God and who He says we are. Remember, you're a target. The devil hates you and wants you to be a crumbling mess in the corner. Don't allow it. Stand up and fight back.
Pray this prayer that David prayed, and the light of truth will show you the way and save you from the lies.
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Friday, March 11, 2011
225//don't be stupid and rude//
Proverbs 18:13 (The Message)
"Answering before listening is both stupid and rude."
And who says the Bible doesn't have stuff to help us be better people? This is pretty much the all time take-homer, and I think it's so important to be someone who listens listens listens wholeheartedly before talking talking talking, and someone who absorbs and really takes in what the person in front of you is actually saying. It's a simple 101 communication skill, but take it from someone who has so much to say (it's the Italian in me), and often thinks that the other person is done with their sentence prematurely: people need time to say what they need to say, people like being asked questions about their lives, and people, more than anything, want to be truly heard and understood. Having someone who not only listens to the things you've been thinking about and experiencing lately, but chews on it and maybe even responds? This is a very very special thing.
Jesus displayed this little proverb beautifully. It seems as though He wasn't in a rush to say anything, rather, He listened and waited for what they (the goodies and the badies) had to say. Even the ones who had awful things to say... he waited until they finished speaking, thought about what to say and responded with words - perfect words - that cut straight through the fake and phony, into the heart of the matter. That's another bonus of waiting before you speak... the Holy Spirit will tell you how to respond and you will speak the truth in love.
Don't be stupid and rude. Don't interrupt people when they are speaking to you, look people in the eye when you're in conversation with them, and love to listen to people always.
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"Answering before listening is both stupid and rude."
And who says the Bible doesn't have stuff to help us be better people? This is pretty much the all time take-homer, and I think it's so important to be someone who listens listens listens wholeheartedly before talking talking talking, and someone who absorbs and really takes in what the person in front of you is actually saying. It's a simple 101 communication skill, but take it from someone who has so much to say (it's the Italian in me), and often thinks that the other person is done with their sentence prematurely: people need time to say what they need to say, people like being asked questions about their lives, and people, more than anything, want to be truly heard and understood. Having someone who not only listens to the things you've been thinking about and experiencing lately, but chews on it and maybe even responds? This is a very very special thing.
Jesus displayed this little proverb beautifully. It seems as though He wasn't in a rush to say anything, rather, He listened and waited for what they (the goodies and the badies) had to say. Even the ones who had awful things to say... he waited until they finished speaking, thought about what to say and responded with words - perfect words - that cut straight through the fake and phony, into the heart of the matter. That's another bonus of waiting before you speak... the Holy Spirit will tell you how to respond and you will speak the truth in love.
Don't be stupid and rude. Don't interrupt people when they are speaking to you, look people in the eye when you're in conversation with them, and love to listen to people always.
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Thursday, March 3, 2011
224/His plans trump ours//
Proverbs 19:21 (the message)
"We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God's purpose prevails."
Ah, gotta love this one. Sometimes I picture God just sitting back and watching us like ants running around in circles, here and there and everywhere, trying to figure out the best possible option for the best possible outcome; trying to over-think and analyze the best possible scenarios that could make things happen the fastest to make us richer to make us more pretty and thin, and to make people like us more. We exhaust ourselves thinking about all the things we could do with what the world/life/God has given to us. And I think that God is maybe trying to get a word in edge ways, but we're too busy trying to sort things out, get our ducks in a row, and make it happen for ourselves (not all bad things, we maybe just need to sit back and let Him take care of the logistics for a minute).
When your heart and spirit is daily, moment by moment seeking His Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you - you know, asking Him throughout your day where you should go, what you should do, and when you should do it - I don't think that you can really go too far wrong. We must seek Him for the best options, and ultimately, in the long run, His wonderful bird's eye view will take you where you need to go... His plan will trump yours.
Get active in seeking Him. Put your energy into believing for good things to happen for you, your family and your friends. Maybe take half the energy you put into investing your heart, time and money into life stuff, and put it into the spirit stuff. Things will happen, things will change, things will fall into place and His plan for your life will win. That's what I think these precious words written by the wisest king (Solomon) who ever lived, are saying to us.
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"We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God's purpose prevails."
Ah, gotta love this one. Sometimes I picture God just sitting back and watching us like ants running around in circles, here and there and everywhere, trying to figure out the best possible option for the best possible outcome; trying to over-think and analyze the best possible scenarios that could make things happen the fastest to make us richer to make us more pretty and thin, and to make people like us more. We exhaust ourselves thinking about all the things we could do with what the world/life/God has given to us. And I think that God is maybe trying to get a word in edge ways, but we're too busy trying to sort things out, get our ducks in a row, and make it happen for ourselves (not all bad things, we maybe just need to sit back and let Him take care of the logistics for a minute).
When your heart and spirit is daily, moment by moment seeking His Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you - you know, asking Him throughout your day where you should go, what you should do, and when you should do it - I don't think that you can really go too far wrong. We must seek Him for the best options, and ultimately, in the long run, His wonderful bird's eye view will take you where you need to go... His plan will trump yours.
Get active in seeking Him. Put your energy into believing for good things to happen for you, your family and your friends. Maybe take half the energy you put into investing your heart, time and money into life stuff, and put it into the spirit stuff. Things will happen, things will change, things will fall into place and His plan for your life will win. That's what I think these precious words written by the wisest king (Solomon) who ever lived, are saying to us.
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Monday, February 28, 2011
223//home//
223//home//
Psalm 62:5 "My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him."
A few days ago I landed back in sunny Sydney, Australia. It's been awhile since I've been back, but the instant my feet touched land I was reminded that the glorious place I am lucky enough to call home is still there and alive and well. I had been far away for so long, but lo and behold, the city of Sydney had not left the building.
Those of us who have spent some significant (or not so significant) time away from home realize that it doesn't matter how long you leave a place, the places and people that truly love you, remain the same. You think everything will be different but it's a beautiful thing because you sit for coffee with old, dear friends, catch up on life and love and it's like you never left. People evolve, buildings get knocked down and rebuilt again, but the essence of home remains the same. It's the special place that has become part of your insides, part of who you are...
And I do think that having a home here on earth is important. God gives us gifts and abilities to build his kingdom here in earth in many creative forms. My husband and I were raised in different countries and different cultures. You may think Australian and American culture is pretty similar, but beneath the surface of the same language and looks are some pretty distinct features (those differences are not where I'm going in this one so maybe later...). So not only are we blessed to have one place to call home, but two. Two homes, two families, two big sets of friends, two pieces of land to plant some roots, and it's a wonderful thing.
I think that the home we have here on earth is important and (for most of us) really quite lovely (...for some, 'home' represents a place of chaos, torment and loneliness, which is devastating...). And as good as home can feel to our souls, while you do set up a home here on earth (a great and positive thing to do) just remember that your true home is not here. Your true home, the one that will never be taken from you, never fade away and never fall apart, is in Heaven. All the blood, sweat and tears to build your home and leave an inheritance for your children, will be paid back to you in crazy big ways - in Heaven....the place we are all getting ready to go. Don't make yourself too much at home down here. It's not worth it.
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Psalm 62:5 "My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him."
A few days ago I landed back in sunny Sydney, Australia. It's been awhile since I've been back, but the instant my feet touched land I was reminded that the glorious place I am lucky enough to call home is still there and alive and well. I had been far away for so long, but lo and behold, the city of Sydney had not left the building.
Those of us who have spent some significant (or not so significant) time away from home realize that it doesn't matter how long you leave a place, the places and people that truly love you, remain the same. You think everything will be different but it's a beautiful thing because you sit for coffee with old, dear friends, catch up on life and love and it's like you never left. People evolve, buildings get knocked down and rebuilt again, but the essence of home remains the same. It's the special place that has become part of your insides, part of who you are...
And I do think that having a home here on earth is important. God gives us gifts and abilities to build his kingdom here in earth in many creative forms. My husband and I were raised in different countries and different cultures. You may think Australian and American culture is pretty similar, but beneath the surface of the same language and looks are some pretty distinct features (those differences are not where I'm going in this one so maybe later...). So not only are we blessed to have one place to call home, but two. Two homes, two families, two big sets of friends, two pieces of land to plant some roots, and it's a wonderful thing.
I think that the home we have here on earth is important and (for most of us) really quite lovely (...for some, 'home' represents a place of chaos, torment and loneliness, which is devastating...). And as good as home can feel to our souls, while you do set up a home here on earth (a great and positive thing to do) just remember that your true home is not here. Your true home, the one that will never be taken from you, never fade away and never fall apart, is in Heaven. All the blood, sweat and tears to build your home and leave an inheritance for your children, will be paid back to you in crazy big ways - in Heaven....the place we are all getting ready to go. Don't make yourself too much at home down here. It's not worth it.
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Thursday, February 17, 2011
222//obey & eat//
Deuteronomy 11: 13-15
"From now on if you listen obediently to the commandments that I am commanding you today, love God, your God, and serve him with everything you have within you, he'll take charge of sending the rain at the right time, both autumn and spring rains, so that you'll be able to harvest your grain, your grapes, your olives. He'll make sure there's plenty of grass for your animals. You'll have plenty to eat."
If we listen and obey God's leading in our lives, we will be able to rest confidently in the fact that He will bring things about at the right time and place. Although if we live on this earth we SHOULD be worried about things because nothing is stable and reliable, this promise says that we can stop the worry and the panic, and trust that He will bring payback into your life from all the years of investing into Him and His kingdom here on earth. You can trust that as you step out of the boat when He is asking you to, or make the hard calls to do what you feel is right, He WILL bring the autumn and spring rains (different seasons for different rains...) into your life, and your life will overflow with abundance and freedom and joy. The season of barrenness will be over and things will grow again.
And the beautiful thing is that He just wants your heart. Yes, the call is lovely: to love Him with every fiber of your being and to serve Him and His people. It's all relational - it's all heart. Once you fall in love, the obedience will come from that love affair with Him because you want to please Him.
Be with Him on a daily basis (take a walk with Him, get on your knees, get on your instrument, drink some coffee with Him...) stop and listen. Deep down you may hear what He is asking of you, whether it be specific or perhaps a deeper love for Him only. Obey the ask. And you will have plenty to eat.
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"From now on if you listen obediently to the commandments that I am commanding you today, love God, your God, and serve him with everything you have within you, he'll take charge of sending the rain at the right time, both autumn and spring rains, so that you'll be able to harvest your grain, your grapes, your olives. He'll make sure there's plenty of grass for your animals. You'll have plenty to eat."
If we listen and obey God's leading in our lives, we will be able to rest confidently in the fact that He will bring things about at the right time and place. Although if we live on this earth we SHOULD be worried about things because nothing is stable and reliable, this promise says that we can stop the worry and the panic, and trust that He will bring payback into your life from all the years of investing into Him and His kingdom here on earth. You can trust that as you step out of the boat when He is asking you to, or make the hard calls to do what you feel is right, He WILL bring the autumn and spring rains (different seasons for different rains...) into your life, and your life will overflow with abundance and freedom and joy. The season of barrenness will be over and things will grow again.
And the beautiful thing is that He just wants your heart. Yes, the call is lovely: to love Him with every fiber of your being and to serve Him and His people. It's all relational - it's all heart. Once you fall in love, the obedience will come from that love affair with Him because you want to please Him.
Be with Him on a daily basis (take a walk with Him, get on your knees, get on your instrument, drink some coffee with Him...) stop and listen. Deep down you may hear what He is asking of you, whether it be specific or perhaps a deeper love for Him only. Obey the ask. And you will have plenty to eat.
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