The Lord reminds us daily, “This is the way – Walk in it.” But at the same time the world is pulling and enticing us to wander and stray off the path. Our human nature is easily distracted by the shininess of worldly things, and it takes real prudence and insight to keep our eyes focused on the right way. As our Christian Walk evolves over the years, we gain understanding, wisdom, and success when we are open to instruction from the Lord. If we accept His teaching, we will not stumble.
Tag: God
Romans 1:20 ” For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
This time of the year has to be my most favorite…the trees are leafing out, the brown grass is finally green, and the newborn foals are running and kicking in the pasture. After a long and bitterly cold Idaho Winter, I welcome Spring with open arms. And as I drive to work each morning I thank the Lord for all the beauty I see around me. Beauty that could only be created by Him for us to enjoy…So it baffles me how someone could look at all the vast awesomeness around us and not believe in the power of God, or comprehend His unending Divinity. The Psalmist also saw it when he wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” Go outside today and see it for yourself.
Proverbs 15:1 ” A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
I work with sick people everyday, and you know that when you’re ill you can be rather…grumpy. I have also found that if I respond to an angry patient in a quiet, subdued tone, most times I can reverse the negative emotions and defuse the situation. Unfortunately, when we take offense at the painful words being spit at us, tempers flare, and things get out of hand fast. A gentle reply has more power than you can imagine…elsewhere in Proverbs it says, “A gentle tongue can break a bone.” Mighty and potent can be the eloquent, thoughtful, and persuasive response.
I Corinthians 10:13 ” No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are temped, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
Temptation is temptation…it may have many different faces, and it may be something completely different for you as it is for me. But regardless, Satan uses enticement on everyone, everyday, hoping to cause us to fall. The Lord however, will not allow us to be entangled in sin beyond what we can handle…and in doing so, will also give us an “out”. This may be as simple as saying “No”, or walking away, or just standing there, doing nothing. God is faithful…He will always do His part…so the next time you’re lured in by sin, look for His “out.”
Isaiah 66: 13 “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you…”
On this Mother’s Day I wish all Mothers a wonderful day. But this day may also hold for you many different and conflicting emotions… if your Mother has passed, it may be a very sad and melancholy time. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy for your loss, and try to focus on the tender memories you have of her. If your Mother wasn’t the best person in the world, and you struggle with her short-comings…forgive and move on. We can be responsible to someone, but not responsible for them. Finally, one of the most remarkable things I discovered in my many years of managing Alzheimer’s facilities, is that as the person spirals down in the disease process, they would start wandering and “looking” for their Mother…even if they themselves were in their 90″s, they’d still be looking for that comfort only found in their Mother…May you also find that comfort today.
Psalm 119: 10-11 ” I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
My Grandma was a real stickler about memorizing Bible verses. From the time we were little girls, she would bribe us with quarters to memorize scripture. I can still remember getting 50 cents for reciting the 23rd Psalm for her. I marvel at people who can quote chapter and verse at the drop of a hat…but I also know that once you read the Word of God, you may not be able to recite it back, but the essence of that Word has been planted and established in your heart. And from that time on, it’s there for the Lord to bring up to your remembrance. He can use it to remind you of the correct path to take when temptation is calling…He can use it to comfort you, when the world has turned it’s back on you…and He can use it to tell you just how much He loves you.
Esther 4:14 ” And who knows but that you have come to Royal position for such a time as this? “
Queen Esther was exactly where God wanted her to be, at exactly the right time, to save the entire Jewish nation. We never know when the Lord will place us in just the right spot to serve Him…even sometimes being totally oblivious to the fact that He is using us at all… until much later. But the point to remember is that God will accomplish His purpose on His terms, not ours…and He will and can use anything, and any person to do it.
Exodus 20: 12 ” Honor your father and your mother.”
The last six Commandments are focused on our relationship with others. I’ve heard it said that you can pick your friends…but you can’t pick you family. We can’t choose who gives us life, and maybe for some, it was a very difficult childhood growing up with parents that weren’t the best at it…or were absent all together. How then can we put our heads around the concept of respecting and esteeming someone who really doesn’t deserve to be honored. Showing respect to any other human-being shows our personal character and integrity, not necessarily theirs. By being that bigger person, we can move on to make our lives better. As it says, “Honor your mother and father, that it may go well with you, and that you may live long.”
Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”
The fourth Commandment is the last of the ten to focus on our relationship towards God. The Lord Himself started this tradition by resting from all His labors…”and on the Seventh day God abstained from work and rested.” The Sabbath needs to be a day of reflection and refreshment…a time of worship; being subject to God’s authority and trusting in Him to honor our obedience in keeping the day holy.
Exodus 20:7 ” You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God…”
The first person I think of when it comes to the Third Commandment and taking the Lord’s name in vain is Job’s wife, who so infamously suggested to Job in the mist of all his suffering to, “Curse God and die!” Wrongly using God’s name does include profanity and cursing, but it also means just using His name lightly or without thinking. The Lord’s name should not be perverted, debased, or abused…He is God.
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