Walking in the Light…to you, what does that mean? You might say things like life, salvation, or wisdom. The scripture says we should share this light with one another and the atoning sacrifice of the Blood of the Lamb will wash us white as snow. Have you shared your light with someone today? Light is really quite easy to share…a smile, a kind word, a loving gesture all simple but effective ways to let your light shine. Yours may be the only twinkling candle of light someone around you will see today in their dark world. Shine on!
Month: March 2013
Proverbs 11:16 ” A kindhearted woman gains respect…”
Growing up I had three Great-Aunts who never married…back in the day, they were called Old Maids, or Spinsters… but in my mind, they were spirited, intelligent, independent women way ahead of their time. My Great-Aunt Martha traveled when women usually didn’t travel alone. She raised wild birds, painted her house outlandish colors, and cooked meals for her poodles. She also was a savvy businesswoman who owned farm ground, and wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. My other two Great-Aunts… Ollie and Kathryn, were outstanding cooks and bakers, who earned hundreds of ribbons at State Fairs, and even sold a cookie recipe to the Archway Cookie Company. They had a thriving Cottage Industry, selling cookies, candy, and fruitcake. Even at a young age, I marveled at their self-reliance, spunk, and zest for life…all three were highly respected and loved members of the family, who lived their lives to the fullest.
Psalm 19:1 ” The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”
Before we found this house 8 years ago this month, I had been praying that the Lord would bring me the perfect house for sunrises. I’m an early riser…most mornings I’m up at 5 AM so I can spend time in the Word, and I feel the very best time of the day is at sunrise, when the earth is waking up. God graciously gave us this beautiful house that offers magnificent sunrises coming up over the mountains from the large kitchen windows. There is nothing better than to be reading about God’s Wonder and Glory as you are experiencing it personally. So, whether you are a “sunrise” person, or a “sunset” person… take a moment today to fully take in the Lord’s Majesty and Resplendence as it spreads across the skies in glowing beams of color and light.
Judges 6:39 Then Gideon said to God, ‘Do not be angry with me. Let me make one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece.’ “
Putting out a “fleece”…maybe you’ve heard the term before. God wanted Gideon to lead the Israelites in defeating the Midianites…and even though the Lord had promised Gideon the victory several times, Gideon still needed tangible signs that this would happen. So this is where the fleece came in…lying on the threshing floor during the night with the dew either on it, or on the ground around it. The Lord used that fleece to build Gideon’s faith and encourage him to move forward into battle. Gideon was not testing God, but rather wanting confirmation of His promises. And now with total confidence in his God, Gideon marched out with his army to defeat the enemy.
Romans 9:20 ” But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ “
When we’ve really messed up in our lives, and are sitting in the mist of all the consequences…we tend to blame God. We criticize Him for us getting into these predicaments, even though we know deep down that it was us going down the wrong path, not Him leading us that way. The Lord was in fact attempting to steer us in the opposite direction, but we stubbornly refused to listen. So now we sit…having our own little pity party, refusing to take personal responsibility for what we did. But as the scripture says…”But who are you that you would accuse the Lord?” It’s time to stop… and point the finger of blame in the correct direction.
Selah…
The Hebrew word, Selah, is left untranslated in the Bible. It is found in 38 of the chapters in Psalms. The term is so ancient, that they are unsure what it actually means. It may be a musical term – a transition in the melody, or it may show a pause. Either way, it’s a very poetic way of reading though the Psalms, in that the writer wants you to pause…and consider what has just been said. He doesn’t want you to hastily read through the scripture, but rather stop…and ponder what was just written. I think we could all benefit from more “Selah” moments throughout our busy and hectic days…pauses to reflect, meditate and listen to that still small voice.
III John verse 2 ” Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”
Maybe you’ve heard it called the “Health and Wealth” Gospel…those that quote this particular scripture, propose that God’s Will for His children is for them to always have excellent health and prosper greatly. But if you look up the Greek word for pray, it simply expresses the desire or wishes of the Apostle John towards this person. In no way was he inferring that his friend would have perfect health forever. He was only hoping that this letter found his friend well and having a good and safe journey throughout his life, which signified the Lord’s benevolent provision for the needs of His children. John was very confident that his friend was “Spiritually” healthy, and trusted that everything else in his life was as good.
Romans 11: 36 ” For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.”
Look around you…everything you see is God-centered, for by Him all things were created. Through His mighty and infinite power, everything exists. As fragile humans, there is only one God through whom we live, and breath, and have our being. Look around you today…at every blade of grass, every grand mountain range, every sleeping baby…The Lord made them all. And so to Him we should give glory and honor, not just for today, but forever!
Psalm 98:1 ” Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things.”
The bleak Winter landscape is suddenly broken up by the robins announcing that they are back. What a joy it is to hear the chirping…knowing that Spring has to be right around the corner. The Psalmist must have had the same kind of hopeful optimism when he wrote, “Sing to the Lord a new song!” Fresh, new music to praise God…full of hope and anticipation for what is to come. Allow yourself to be filled with that same kind of wonderful hope today, as you yourself sing a “new” song of praise to our Lord!
Psalm 103:11 ” For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him.”
You may not be too willing to admit that you have one in your house…most times they are messy, unorganized, and a catch-all for everything that has no specific place to go…I’m talking about a junk drawer. Oh, what things we can find in the back of that drawer! Every cast-off, odd, or thing without a place will end up there for lack of anywhere else to put it. Sometimes we too can feel like we’ve been thrown in the world’s junk drawer… we don’t fit in the perfect, usual or customary places… so we’re judged because of our oddity, eccentricity, or peculiarity…and then delegated to junk drawer status. But, God has no junk drawer to throw us in because we may not “fit in”. His love for us is unfathomable as to how wide and long and high and deep it is towards us. In His eyes, we will always be worthy of a place of honor, rather than in the back of that drawer.
Safetypinlove 