Tuesday, August 12, 2008

What Am I Keeping An Eye On?

My grandchildren watching t.v. on Easter day.

The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord: and He will give you the desires of your heart."

I am reading Billy Graham's book "The Holy Spirit, Activating God's Power In Your Life" and found what he wrote about delighting myself in the LORD and what that mindset will do for me, it contradicts what the world says delighting in the Lord will do which is give me riches, happiness, prosperity. Sadly, many "christian" preachers on television push a health and wealth philosophy. They sit in riches on their television programs. They buy extravagant riches in their lives. That is their god... riches/wealth.

Billy Graham wrote about St. Augustine's quote, "Love God and live as you please." When I truly love God I will want to do what pleases Him, and not myself.

Delighting in the Lord, will alter my desires. I have to ask myself, what are my desires right now?

When I delight in God, my desires are no longer riches, happiness, prosperity as the world has been teaching are my desires ... it is Christ in me the hope of Glory. I believe that people use that verse and others like it to promote riches, and wealth for the "christian" in this world below.

Also, it is whatever my heart keeps on eying that I will delight in. When I keep focused on Christ and pleasing Him that will be what others will be seeing in my daily walk, if it isn't, then others will see that too - it is whatever I have been focusing on.

Our minds ----- a powerful ally or a powerful enemy in our daily spiritual walk. It is our choice what our minds will dwell on - God gave to us that freedom.

7 comments:

Faith said...

I'm glad I saw this today!
This was great, Connie Marie.
I LOVE Billy Graham....I have always been impressed at how he stays humble and doesn't beg for money on his shows.

Thanks too for commenting on my blog today!
Yes, camping is so laid back...we kinda eat lots of snacks throughout the day and have yummy breakfasts that we typically don't do at home like hash and eggs, poptarts, bacon over the fire...yummy! We keep things pretty simple. We do have one steak nite but that's just a matter of tossing it on the fire!
ENjoy the rest of your week

Joy said...

Connie,
Thank you that was a wonderful entry! I really like Billy Grahm and his wife wrote some wonderful books as well. It really mad me think and ponder about God and His plan for my life and how can I grow more in Him? Thank you for sharing.
Joy

Constance said...

Hey Girlfriend!

I am home (yawn) from our trip and checking in. Thanks for praying for our safety, we only had a minor mishap. Our 2 year old grand-daughter Ashley fell backwards, hit her head on the metal fireplace and had to get 3 stitches. She was so calm and maybe cried for 2 minutes. Had it have been 4 year old Alyson, she'd STILL be crying!!! (She is a drama queen to say the least!)

I loved the video you put together for Marriage Mondays! I got a tear in my eye seeing the 2 of you sharing in that together, it reminds me of Dave & I when we go hiking!

I agree with delighting ourselves in the Lord. I learned a long time agao that when He says in His Word,

"Delight youself in the Lord and He will give us the desires of your heart".

It's not giving you necessarily matierial things. When we truly learn to delight in Him, our desires change and our focus is on Him, naturally He would impart more and more of Himself and His nature to us!

Thinking of you today,
Connie

TJ said...

I believe that God doesn't want us to all be so poor that we can't care for others, but I do not like seeing rich and extravagant preachers, as they could be doing so much more with their money.

How did you know I was thinking of you yesterday and planning to visit your blog? Honestly I had a list of 3 blogs that I hadn't been to for a little while, and you were on it!

Susannah said...

I like your thoughts here. It brings to mind the fact that Jesus said, "The poor will always be with you..."

When we were young in our marriage and the faith, we attended a suburban church that preached the Prosperity Gospel (for about a year). At first the message was attractive, but the more we studied the NT for ourselves, the more we realized how out of balance it is.

There are those in the body of Christ who are gifted in business and finance, and they will prosper mightily and should. They're supposed to be generous GIVERS to the work of the Lord, not hoarders for themselves.

OK, I'll step off my soapbox now. Blessings!

GRANDMA'S KITCHEN said...

Great Post, connie Marie, I appreciated it.

When you get time could I ask one last favor of you. Can you fix my header to fit the new blog that I am starting when you get time. Thanks so much. The address is, if you don't mind doing it is: http://tasterswelcome.blogspot.com.

Thanks, Connie Marie, connie from Texas

Farrah said...

Amen! Good post! :-)