It's been too long

It's been too long since I've posted.  I don't exactly have a huge blog following, so basically I think this apology goes out to my immediate family and Anna:)

My issue with blogging:  I'm terrible at uploading my pictures onto my computer after I've taken them. And I don't usually blog without pictures. Even when I actually remember to take pictures....or, as is more often the case, when the kids have used my camera and have taken pictures themselves....it can take me months to "find the time" to sit down and upload the pictures.  Perhaps I should go back to using a smaller memory card to force my own hand!

So this is a post without pictures.  Just a quick thought about my scripture reading this morning.

Psalm 31:24

Be of good courage

And He shall strengthen your heart

All you who hope in the Lord.

When I was 11 or 12, my dad taught me how to use a Strong's Concordance.  It's a monstrously large book, which doubles well as a booster sit for small toddlers in a pinch. (Yes, I did this recently while watching Jake and Nikki's daughter, Charlotte, as I no longer own a single piece of toddler sized furniture.  It didn't seem to phase her a bit, and she blissfully ate goldfish crackers perched on top of her Concordance throne...but I digress).  My dad taught me early on how to take a passage of scripture, look up the Greek or Hebrew meanings of the words, and try to figure out the authors original intent, that may have become a little watered down in the English translation process.

So today I looked up "courage", "strengthen" and "hope" as they are used here.  This being an Old Testament passage, it was originally written in Hebrew.  And I'm glad I did.

The Hebrew word for "courage" used here actually means "to fasten upon, to take hold of, to seize."  And strengthen means to "be alert, be confirmed or established, to prevail or to make strong to the point of obstinate."  And "Hope" means trust and wait patiently for the Lord.  "Obstinate" usually has a negative connotation to it.  But here, I think it paints a beautiful portrait of the fierceness of God's strength that He giving to us.

So, how's this?

Psalm 31:24

Seize and strongly hold onto God.

He will make you alert.  He will make your heart stronger.  He will establish you and cause you to prevail.

All you who trust and wait patiently on the Lord.

It begins with how we choose to relate to God:  we grab tightly onto Him and hold on.

God responds:  He makes our hearts alert and aware. He gives our hearts obstinate strength, causing us to prevail!

I hope this encourages you today!