Walking in the Word with Breast Cancer

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.  - Psalm 127:1 We live in a culture that values a busy schedule, so it’s easy to fall into the trap that busyness equates to value. When our schedules are full, we have purpose. Somewhere along the line busyness became a status symbol. It’s not just a badge of honor, it’s a way of life. If you’re busy, you’re important. You’re leading a full and worthy life. Your ability to multi-task is directly related to how competent, smart, and successful people think you are. For many, busyness has become a competition.  As a country, we’re working longer hours and taking less time off. Your value as an employer is determined by how long your car is in the parking lot. Many of us even bring work home with us at night, and hop on the computer to do work on the weekends. Trying to improve corporate culture, many employers have started touting...

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.  - Psalm 127:1 I’ve been gaining so much from this Psalm of Ascent study - He continues to open my eyes wide as I dive deeper into these Words I’ve only just breezed through in the past. Each one seems to be a little treasure of wisdom for me. Psalm 126 was been particularly meaningful to me - I didn’t want to leave it. But at the same time, I grow excited for the jewels to be found in the next Psalm.  Psalm 127 has not disappointed. It seems to be specifically written for my overachieving soul. I labor in vain all the time. Though I’ve grown so much in this area over the years, my tendency is toward busyness. I often tell people I don’t sit idle well - I like to have things to do to keep my hands and my mind busy. I am a planner who feels most at ease if I know what’s coming, and I feel most valued when my schedule is full....

1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."  - Psalm 126:1-2 God is so intentional with us. The trials we walk through have been specifically allowed to free us from the bondage that traps us. Whatever has a hold on our heart, whatever takes precedence over our God, will end up the source of a trial because God will not have it. He is more interested in our transformation and in our total surrender than He is in our temporary comfort because He knows that’s where we find freedom from our bondage. Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!  - Psalm 126:5 This verse should be painted across our bathroom mirrors and stitched across the pillows where we lay our heads at night. It doesn’t say we might reap with shouts of joy, it doesn’t say we probably will reap with shout...

1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."  - Psalm 126:1-2 We so often get stuck in the middle, in between the moments God has blessed us in the past and the moments we confidently hope for His blessings in the future. This psalm is a soothing reminder when we shed tears during those in between moments, we can know that His blessings will come. Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!  - Psalm 126:5. We will reap with shouts of joy.  But why do we get stuck?  Why is it so hard to sit in these in between moments when we know His promises? Because we eat the seeds instead of sowing them for harvest.  I have always loved the analogy scripture uses for planting seeds and harvesting fruits. It’s a visual of patience for me.  8 For the one who sows to...

fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."  - Psalm 126:1-2 This psalm has been such a treasure for me as I’ve dove a little deeper into its meaning. As the 3rd psalm in one of the trios from the Psalm of Ascents, it sings of victory and triumph. Psalm 124 is a cry of trouble, Psalm 125 is the response of trust to that cry, and this psalm is the victory that comes as we trust. And what sweet victory it has been for me! In the first half of this psalm, the author remembers what the Lord has done for Israelites in the past. He recalls the great ways God has shown favor to them, and he shares a time when they were filled with shouts of joy and laughter. Clearly, they are dwelling on a beautiful memory of God’s abundant blessings. I love the imagery of shouts of joy and laughter. It makes me want to dwell on those...

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.  - Psalm 125:1 When we truly trust in the Lord, we are content with our circumstances. We’re content with our jobs, we’re content with our finances, we’re content with our homes, we’re content with our marriages, we’re content with our children, we’re content with our relationships. Contentment means to be completely satisfied. We have what He has given us, we’re living in the circumstances He has designed for us, and it isenough.  Contentment does not mean you don’t dream for the future or set goals for yourself - those are both important aspects for your life, but contentment means you are not dwelling on those goals and dreams. While you may be working toward them, you are completely satisfied in the waiting. Where He has you, and what He has given you is perfectly enough. We don’t need anything more.  As we mature in our spiritual walk, we learn the valuable lesson...

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.  - Psalm 125:1 Further down in this psalm is this petition prayer: Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts!  - Psalm 125:4 None of us deserve God’s goodness. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and we all deserve eternal damnation, but by His grace, He has promised to do good for those of us who love Him so we ask for it in prayer. The hold up for many of us in asking for His goodness is the phrasing of this verse - do good to those who are good.  Many of us know we are not good - but for some, our lack of goodness can consume our thoughts and control our behavior. We recount our lives as a series of failures, we have never accomplished anything of value, and we never will. We spend so much time dwelling on the fact that we are worthless, that it paralyzes our ability to do any good for the kingdom. We b...