On December 29, 2003 I wrote in my prayer journal "I love you, Father. I thank you for Your grace and my place in you. Please help me look inward, upward and outward this year in the proper balance." As I continued to meditate on the "inward, upward and outward" I realized that I had it in the wrong order. I need to look upward first, before I can begin to look inward and outward with any kind of right perspective. I then turned to my daily devotional and was directed to read about our Most High God. How awesome it was to be reminded of just how BIG and POWERFUL and Truly GOD He really is. He isn't a God who is just a little bit bigger than me, but He is the Almighty God. The Spirit-filled Life Bible gives a description of the meaning of Most High: 'elyon: Most High, uppermost; pertaining to the heights, in the highest, highness; supreme, lofty, elevated, high in rank, exalted. "Elyon is derived from the verb 'alah meaning "to ascend". There is no other above Him, He is the Most High. As I continued reading different scriptures and I would come to the Lord's name I would substitute "Most High". It really helped me put God back into His rightful place. I was embarrassed to admit to myself that He had become smaller in my "real" day to day walk than I wanted to admit. How did that manifest itself?

By God's grace, I "caught" myself weighing in the balance the things I felt He wanted me to do-to use my own judgment as to their timing or validity. During our wedding ceremony Darryl and I received a scripture "Whatsoever He says to you do it" John 2:5. It has been our life scripture. When the Holy Spirit showed me what I had been doing, I was aghast and quickly repented. Who was I to have been arguing with the Most High? Further pondering, led me to my New Year's Resolution-which has been my heart cry, made afresh and anew : "Father, I want to please you. I want to live my life in such a way that will bring you glory, to enhance your reputation."

This led me to do a Bible study on the things that please Him and the things that don't. It refreshed my mind and spirit concerning what actually pleases Him versus what I "remember" is pleasing to Him. (Am I the only one with selective memory?)

There are several Proverbs which declare quite openly the things that God hates. Can you list them? I will for you.

They who are willfully contrary in heart are extremely disgusting and shamefully vile in the eyes of the Lord, but such as are blameless and wholehearted in their ways are His delight! Proverbs 11:20 The Amplified Bible

The LORD hates people who use dishonest scales. He is happy with honest weights. Proverbs 11:1 Today's English Bible

The LORD is pleased when good people pray, but hates the sacrifices that the wicked bring him. Proverbs 15:8 Today's English Bible
The thoughts of the wicked are shamefully vile and exceedingly offensive to the Lord, but the words of the pure are pleasing words to Him. Proverbs 15:26 The Amplified Bible

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent-the LORD detests them both. Proverbs 17:15 New International Version

These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren. Proverbs 16:17-19 The Amplified Bible

Wow, just looking at these things helps us to know what the Lord hates pretty clearly. Now on to the positive side! What brings joy to the Lord?
Last Spring I read "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren, taking notes in my journal. Here is a copy of my notes and comments (I gave the book away, so I am copying from my journal)

1. God smiles when we love Him supremely. We learn how to do this.
2. God smiles when we trust Him completely. This, too, is a process.
3. God smiles when we obey Him wholeheartedly. Wow, I am still working on this one too.
4. God smiles when we praise and thank Him continually. He is helping me express myself more in this area.
5. God smiles when we use our abilities. This is an area where He is adding abilities!
6. God enjoys us enjoying our life-everything in it-except when we sin. How freeing this is! God smiles when we spend time with our families, our friends or simply when we are with Him.

Paul declared in Ephesians 5:8-10: For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light]. For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light of the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life. And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him].

He was exhorting the Ephesians to try and learn what is pleasing to the Lord. I believe that is our exhortation as well. Sometimes, in our "trying" we will miss it. Have you ever learned from what not to do? We have been given the Bible, along with the wonderful Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth. Jesus said, he only did what the Father told him to do and that was pleasing to His Father. As we continue to grow in His ways, we will learn what is pleasing to Him. We are so wonderfully blessed to have the Holy Spirit to quicken us to do that which is right and good-and to convict us when we miss it.

May God, who puts all things together, makes all things whole ,Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus, the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant, Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd ,up and alive from the dead, Now put you together, provide you with everything you need to please him, Make us into what gives him most pleasure, by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah. All glory to Jesus forever and always! Oh, yes, yes, yes. Hebrews 13:21 The Amplified Bible

My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God! We're able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we're doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God's command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us. 1 John 3:18-22 The Message

Dear Sisters, will you join me in setting your heart to please the Lord this year in even greater measure?

Written by:
Martha Rodman

As I walked through this season of conviction, repentance and re-connecting with the Father, I realized that I was trying to "get perfect" by my own strength. He graciously reminded me that no matter where we are in our walk with Him, His grace is sufficient, His blood efficient, and His love proficient in completely restoring me to fellowship with Him. Thank you, dear Lord.