The other day I was going to visit my mom. It was on a Tuesday when I have very limited free time. I left church from teaching Bible Study and was headed to her house. I might have been going a tad above the speed limit coming over the hump when I saw it....red and blue flashing lights.
I was grateful that my exit was before the lights. I immediately exited the freeway and that gave me the opportunity to slow down. As I did, I wondered "How many times do I see God convicting me of something and I turn to avoid it?" We know that those red and blue lights mean "failure to comply." We either exceeded the speed limit, broke the law, or failed to adhere to a requirement-regardless, it merited the activation of those lights.
Proverbs 4:14 states:"Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil man. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go your way." That's probably the easier of the two options. Turning and avoiding the path of the wicked or the walk of the evil man is probably easier than God convicting us of something in my life. Why? I would venture to guess that the answer to the first part of that is I get to choose. The justification is that I get to choose what "I believe" is evil or wicked but when God convicts me of something, I have no choice.
Perhaps God sees something in my life that I don't want to give up, maybe it's an area where I'm not being obedient. There is no choice in disobedience so rather than to comply or in this case obey, I might avoid God and travel a different route hoping I dont get caught.
God's Word speaks of avoiding strife [Proverbs 20:30]; foolish controversies [Titus 3:9]; godless chatter [2 Timothy 2:16]; and other things not of God. I can not however, avoid God.
I must learn that if God used red and blue lights to get our attention, when He convicts me of something in my life and I saw the lights, I could ride past them with confidence knowing I am being obedient to His plan. I would not have to deviate from my path to avoid God.
But thanks be to God that though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. Romans 6:17
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
L to the third power
Today was "double day" at our church. For weeks we have been inviting individuals to attend church and bible study with us and today was the day. We had 114 people in our bible study and that's over double our regular numbers. Yay!
Our teacher spoke on what I call "L to the third power." The lesson was on Deuteronomy 6 and highlighted Love, Live and Learn. He spoke of "loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength." That's where it begins. He elaborated on learning the commands and lastly, living what we have learned.
The formula he shared in essence was L to the third power = Legacy. What will your legacy be? A parent who loved the Lord? An individual that lived according to His word? I am grateful for the reminder that what I put in to my life with God is what I will be remembered for. I pray I do not disappoint. I pray that I will Love, Learn and Live a life that represents Christ well.
Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lied down and when you get up. Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Deuteronomy 6:5-7 and 13
Lesson taught to Seekers Class by Teacher Jim Savage
Our teacher spoke on what I call "L to the third power." The lesson was on Deuteronomy 6 and highlighted Love, Live and Learn. He spoke of "loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength." That's where it begins. He elaborated on learning the commands and lastly, living what we have learned.
The formula he shared in essence was L to the third power = Legacy. What will your legacy be? A parent who loved the Lord? An individual that lived according to His word? I am grateful for the reminder that what I put in to my life with God is what I will be remembered for. I pray I do not disappoint. I pray that I will Love, Learn and Live a life that represents Christ well.
Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lied down and when you get up. Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Deuteronomy 6:5-7 and 13
Lesson taught to Seekers Class by Teacher Jim Savage
Friday, January 27, 2012
In a box
Yesterday as I was getting ready for a Bible Study Class I was looking for a specific pair of shoes. I knew which pair I was going to wear because it had the pattern that was going to match not only what I was going to wear but also the theme of the study.
I went to my closet, pulled out the box, proceeded to get ready then I went for the shoes. I opened the box only to discover that it was not the pair of shoes I was looking for. However, these shoes were beautiful and brand new-never worn! WOW! I thought, how did I have those shoes hidden away and not know they were there?
So many times we hear of the love of God, the presence of God, the power of God and while we may believe this, we "put Him on the shelf" until we "need it." I looked at the shoes and said "I could have worn those with my brown suit if I would have known I had them." It brings me to think how many times we fail to call on God even though He is ever present. If He is in a box or in a shelf, it's because I've put him there.
I pray that I will always remember the power of Christ and that he can not be put in a box or placed on a shelf. I pray that I accept His words and store up His commands within my heart and not in a box to be forgotten.
My son, if you accept my words, and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5
I went to my closet, pulled out the box, proceeded to get ready then I went for the shoes. I opened the box only to discover that it was not the pair of shoes I was looking for. However, these shoes were beautiful and brand new-never worn! WOW! I thought, how did I have those shoes hidden away and not know they were there?
So many times we hear of the love of God, the presence of God, the power of God and while we may believe this, we "put Him on the shelf" until we "need it." I looked at the shoes and said "I could have worn those with my brown suit if I would have known I had them." It brings me to think how many times we fail to call on God even though He is ever present. If He is in a box or in a shelf, it's because I've put him there.
I pray that I will always remember the power of Christ and that he can not be put in a box or placed on a shelf. I pray that I accept His words and store up His commands within my heart and not in a box to be forgotten.
My son, if you accept my words, and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5
Thursday, January 26, 2012
It's not in what you know or is it?
Several years ago, a movie came out starring Gavin McCloud. For those of you that remember the series Love Boat, he was the captain of the cruise ship. I always liked him and wanted to watch the movie so I purchased it. The story line was of a couple of individuals one of which was not a believer. McCloud played the role of the man instrumental in delivering the message of Jesus Christ.
At one point in the movie, an actor was quoting 2 Timothy 3:16. When I heard the verse, it went something like this "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, changing and training..." While I don't remember exactly how they quoted I do remember my response. I said "The scripture does not say that." It does not say teaching, rebuking, changing and training....it says teaching, rebuking, correcting and training.
The movie immediately lost credibility with me but I wondered how many would walk away believing that scripture was correct. My faith in mankind was restored when McCloud stepped in and corrected the mistake. The "mistake" was part of him making his point and while this was an intential mistake, I have heard many say that the bible says "Money is the root of all evil." 1 Timothy 6:10 says "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."
I have spoken about the state of my Bible before. Bibles don't fall apart when they sit on the night stand or lie on our book cases. Bibles fall apart with constant opening and closing, we smudge pages when we are steady in them, they are pulled from their binding when we stretch them daily.
For thirty years I have carried a weapon as a part of my occupation. I dare not think what would happen if I had the weapon but had no knowledge of how to load it, aim it, or use it. The Word of God is my weapon. Merely knowing the word of God does not imply a higher status, a greater knowledge, or more jewels in our crown. In Luke 4:10, when the devil tempted Christ, he quoted scripture found in Psalm 91:11. Knowing the word of God also takes applying the word of God. I love my Lord and Savior, I have a passion for His Word and I pray that I absorb everything I can and put it to use.
I do not know everything and some things teach me different lessons each time I read them. Last week I woke up quoting "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." That's how I learned that verse when I was ten....that was many years ago and I had since forgotten where in Psalms it was. I searched until I found it in Psalms 56:3. The point was [for me] that I knew what to quote when I was afraid.
I have much growing to do but I have even more learning to do. I want to soak in every word. I don't want to be afraid and not know His promises, I don't want to be sick and not know His promises, I don't want to be alone and not know His promises. So I guess in my case, it really is in what I know.
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; mediate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Joshua 1:8
At one point in the movie, an actor was quoting 2 Timothy 3:16. When I heard the verse, it went something like this "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, changing and training..." While I don't remember exactly how they quoted I do remember my response. I said "The scripture does not say that." It does not say teaching, rebuking, changing and training....it says teaching, rebuking, correcting and training.
The movie immediately lost credibility with me but I wondered how many would walk away believing that scripture was correct. My faith in mankind was restored when McCloud stepped in and corrected the mistake. The "mistake" was part of him making his point and while this was an intential mistake, I have heard many say that the bible says "Money is the root of all evil." 1 Timothy 6:10 says "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."
I have spoken about the state of my Bible before. Bibles don't fall apart when they sit on the night stand or lie on our book cases. Bibles fall apart with constant opening and closing, we smudge pages when we are steady in them, they are pulled from their binding when we stretch them daily.
For thirty years I have carried a weapon as a part of my occupation. I dare not think what would happen if I had the weapon but had no knowledge of how to load it, aim it, or use it. The Word of God is my weapon. Merely knowing the word of God does not imply a higher status, a greater knowledge, or more jewels in our crown. In Luke 4:10, when the devil tempted Christ, he quoted scripture found in Psalm 91:11. Knowing the word of God also takes applying the word of God. I love my Lord and Savior, I have a passion for His Word and I pray that I absorb everything I can and put it to use.
I do not know everything and some things teach me different lessons each time I read them. Last week I woke up quoting "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." That's how I learned that verse when I was ten....that was many years ago and I had since forgotten where in Psalms it was. I searched until I found it in Psalms 56:3. The point was [for me] that I knew what to quote when I was afraid.
I have much growing to do but I have even more learning to do. I want to soak in every word. I don't want to be afraid and not know His promises, I don't want to be sick and not know His promises, I don't want to be alone and not know His promises. So I guess in my case, it really is in what I know.
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; mediate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Joshua 1:8
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The difference? One letter
Wow-I did not post yesterday because yesterday my day began at 6AM and did not end until 11:30PM. What a day! I had ladies bible study in the morning, a mediation in the afternoon and ladies bible study in the evening. I went in expecting that the mediation would be a simple one and I would be out quickly. Unfortunately, it went much later than I expected and I was late to my evening ladies bible study class.
As I was typing some notes on my ipad, I intended to say that the enemy was steady at work and it was taunting me. When I looked down at my notes, it did not at all say what I intended to say but it did get my attention. You see, on a key pad, the letter U is right next to the I. So instead of typing "The enemy is taunting me" I typed "The enemy is tainting me."
Again, it got my mind to racing...when we allow the enemy to taunt us to the point of distancing us from Christ, it can taint us. It can taint our testimony if we allow the distraction, the taunting to lead us to sin.
While one letter can change everything, so can one action. Actions can change our entire life, and while a letter can be changed back to correct the meaning, actions can not.
I went to work changing only one letter and found that while the enemy may taunt me, I will not let it haunt me or give him the opportunity to taint me. I will not faint in doing good or allow him to paint a poor picture of my love for Christ. Is there a letter you need to change?
Taunt
Haunt
Taint
Faint
Paint
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
As I was typing some notes on my ipad, I intended to say that the enemy was steady at work and it was taunting me. When I looked down at my notes, it did not at all say what I intended to say but it did get my attention. You see, on a key pad, the letter U is right next to the I. So instead of typing "The enemy is taunting me" I typed "The enemy is tainting me."
Again, it got my mind to racing...when we allow the enemy to taunt us to the point of distancing us from Christ, it can taint us. It can taint our testimony if we allow the distraction, the taunting to lead us to sin.
While one letter can change everything, so can one action. Actions can change our entire life, and while a letter can be changed back to correct the meaning, actions can not.
I went to work changing only one letter and found that while the enemy may taunt me, I will not let it haunt me or give him the opportunity to taint me. I will not faint in doing good or allow him to paint a poor picture of my love for Christ. Is there a letter you need to change?
Taunt
Haunt
Taint
Faint
Paint
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
Monday, January 23, 2012
Replay.....
Well it has happened again! Another kicker has missed again. Two years ago, New York Giant football punter Matt Dodge flubbed a kick costing the Giants a pivotal game. The media was relentless in replaying the kick over and over again. Dodge was told to kick the football out of bounds to force the game into overtime. Instead, he punted the ball to a Philadelphia Eagle who returned it for a winning touchdown with only seconds left in the game. Over and over again, on every channel, you could see his mistake being replayed.
This weekend at the New England/Baltimore game, the Baltimore Ravens had an opportunity to tie the game and send it into overtime. Instead, the Ravens kicker, Billy Cundiff missed the field goal ending the season for the Ravens. Again, over and over you saw the mistake. At one point, Cundiff even placed his hand over the photographer's camera to avoid being recorded. Into the morning, the media played the fateful mistake. I could not have told you the Raven's kicker's name prior to this and now it is known by many.
This weekend my husband and I travelled to Fredericksburg Texas. Being his birthday, we went with one purpose, to go to the foot of the cross. The foot of the cross where all our faults and errors are forgiven by a merciful God. A God that does not remember or constantly replay our mistakes. A God who heals hearts and restores.
While Matt Dodge and Bill Cundiff's misses ruined their team's chances for a Super Bowl and man will not soon forget, God has erased our sin to remember it no more.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12
This weekend at the New England/Baltimore game, the Baltimore Ravens had an opportunity to tie the game and send it into overtime. Instead, the Ravens kicker, Billy Cundiff missed the field goal ending the season for the Ravens. Again, over and over you saw the mistake. At one point, Cundiff even placed his hand over the photographer's camera to avoid being recorded. Into the morning, the media played the fateful mistake. I could not have told you the Raven's kicker's name prior to this and now it is known by many.
This weekend my husband and I travelled to Fredericksburg Texas. Being his birthday, we went with one purpose, to go to the foot of the cross. The foot of the cross where all our faults and errors are forgiven by a merciful God. A God that does not remember or constantly replay our mistakes. A God who heals hearts and restores.
While Matt Dodge and Bill Cundiff's misses ruined their team's chances for a Super Bowl and man will not soon forget, God has erased our sin to remember it no more.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Restoring the broken
Many ,many years ago when I was in high school, my brother Lee gave me a birthday present. It was very special for several reasons. I have said it before that we were "partners in crime." we are 13 months apart and very close. In high school, he got a car for graduation. He therefore needed a job to pay for gas. He was only working part time so it couldn't have been much in 1975. As little as it might have been, he set aside enough to buy me a gift. He bought me the most beautiful trio of vases I had ever seen. The center one was larger and rounder than the other two which were rose bud vases. They stood about 10 inches high.
Through the years, I broke one of the rose bud vases and had to toss it. After a few more years, I broke the second one by accident. Losing that one impacted me more. I was very saddened and I vowed to take care of the last one. With every move I wrapped it carefully and carried it with me. For over 35 years, that vase has been with me. In my current home, I have set it up high on a shelf where it can not get damaged.
Every time I looked up at that vase I was reminded of what I had lost. I was reminded that in order for that set to be complete, it would take the other two rose bud vases-which were now gone forever. With time, I have come to see the vase in a different light. Although the accompanying vases are now gone, this one remains. Rather than to see it as a loss, I chose to see it as a reminder of the wonderful gift my brother gave me. I choose to see it as the precious sacrifice my brother made many years ago to buy it for the sister he loves.
So it is with us. Perhaps we have been broken over a situation out of our control, maybe a relationship has been destroyed, maybe we see no hope. Take you eyes off of the situation and focus on the goodness and faithfulness of God and in His ability to restore. Cherish whatever is left and live in the faith that God is in control and He has a plan. Let go of what YOU can never bring back and know that God is at work. Psalm 80 states three times "Restore O God Almighty..." Let His love be a reminder to you that He can restore the broken....and every time you get a reminder of what broke, focus on what God has restored-to His glory!
Restore us O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may that we may be saved. Psalm 80: 3,7,19
Happy birthday to my husband Mark.
Through the years, I broke one of the rose bud vases and had to toss it. After a few more years, I broke the second one by accident. Losing that one impacted me more. I was very saddened and I vowed to take care of the last one. With every move I wrapped it carefully and carried it with me. For over 35 years, that vase has been with me. In my current home, I have set it up high on a shelf where it can not get damaged.
Every time I looked up at that vase I was reminded of what I had lost. I was reminded that in order for that set to be complete, it would take the other two rose bud vases-which were now gone forever. With time, I have come to see the vase in a different light. Although the accompanying vases are now gone, this one remains. Rather than to see it as a loss, I chose to see it as a reminder of the wonderful gift my brother gave me. I choose to see it as the precious sacrifice my brother made many years ago to buy it for the sister he loves.
So it is with us. Perhaps we have been broken over a situation out of our control, maybe a relationship has been destroyed, maybe we see no hope. Take you eyes off of the situation and focus on the goodness and faithfulness of God and in His ability to restore. Cherish whatever is left and live in the faith that God is in control and He has a plan. Let go of what YOU can never bring back and know that God is at work. Psalm 80 states three times "Restore O God Almighty..." Let His love be a reminder to you that He can restore the broken....and every time you get a reminder of what broke, focus on what God has restored-to His glory!
Restore us O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may that we may be saved. Psalm 80: 3,7,19
Happy birthday to my husband Mark.
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