” You have less than 4 months to live, go home and put your affairs in order.” My husband’s Cardiologist did not mince words after performing an Angiogram on his heart. Thus started one of the most difficult times of our marriage. And so, we waited…waited for changes…waited for declines…waited for the other shoe to fall. I discovered that while you’re in the middle of this gray void there is no future, other than the present moment, there is no hope, other than the eternal hope you cling to. So after a year of living in this wasteland, I sat Landy down and said, “I can’t do this anymore. From this day forward, we’re going to live like you’re healed and not dying. We’re going to move forward in life rather than sit, waiting for something to happen. We’re going to make plans for the future, and start looking forward to things.” And we started doing just that…and 15 years later we’re still making plans and looking eagerly towards the future together. God is so very good!
Tag: spirituality
Colossians 3:21 ” Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”
This verse deals with the real cause and effect of negative emotions. If we constantly provoke a child, they will soon start to feel disheartened, with low self confidence…which can lead to feelings of hopelessness, indifference, and defeat. Negative emotions can and will only produce more negative emotions in others.
Colossians 3:19 ” Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.”
The two emotions spoken of in the verse could not be more diametrically opposed. Husbands are to cherish and honor their wives rather than acting cruelly, or hardhearted towards them. Being mean and abusive towards someone can act like a two-edged sword…for if you look up the Greek word for “being harsh”, it means to turn or make bitter. In other words, harshness will only embitter the person it’s directed towards.
Isaiah 6: 8-9 ” Then I heard the Voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’ “
When the Lord’s going to talk to me, I’d sure wish He’d use His huge thunderous voice….so I’d know, that I’d know, that I’d know, it was Him speaking and not just my own silly thoughts. But usually, what I hear is that quiet, still small voice, that I have to strain physically and spiritually to perceive. It’d sure be easier if He’d use a 2×4 up the side of my head to get my attention, rather than that soft whisper I too many times choose to ignore. It doesn’t matter though how the Lord speaks…it only truly matters what I choose do when He calls.
Ephesians 5:8 ” For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”
We all at one time lived in darkness… in sin and misery, not knowing the way out. But then there appeared a light…a shining illumination that dispelled the blackness from our minds and our souls and filled us with all goodness and righteousness from Him. Jesus Himself said,”…I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” You are a child of the Light…walk in that shining spiritual enlightenment today.
Psalm 30:5 ” For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Our frail human bodies are not able to endure more than just an instant of God’s wrath…though it may feel like an eternity when we’re in the middle of His fray, it is but a moment. His anger may dissolve us for a night…but will not be held against us as a grudge in the morning. His anger will momentarily suspend our life as we know it… but only to turn and shower us with His tremendous grace and mercy at dawnbreak. The Lord God is good…His love endures forever.
Revelation 2:4 “…You have forsaken your first love.”
If you’ve never seen the totally unbridled joy and excitement of a little child…then you’ve probably never attended a Birthday Party for a toddler! They practically wiggle with emotion, hardly able to contain it all. Remember when you first said “Yes” to the Lord…how intense your feelings were of love, devotion, and gratitude towards your Savior? Has that love grown cold? Today, say “Yes” once more, and rekindle that first love again.
Job 28:28 “…the fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and shun evil is understanding.”
To stand in awe of the sovereignty of God and all He is…to revere His power and authority…to understand totally where you would be without Him…that is the start of true wisdom. Wisdom is not a gift given to you, it must be obtained by walking out your life…day by day…situation by situation…trial by trial. And through this learning experience, we start to discern what is good for us, and what is bad. We learn to turn away from what is wicked and in the process gain invaluable insight into who our Savior really is.
Jeremiah 10:5 ” Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.”
Just like the scarecrow you put up in the garden…” Man-made gods are no gods at all.” (Acts 19:26). That funny looking old scarecrow may fool the birds for a little while, but pretty soon they’re sitting on its shoulder and ignoring it’s purpose. Any god that man has made is worthless…it can’t move, walk or talk…it can’t do evil, but it has no real benefit either. The scarecrow hanging in the melon patch, as with any other man-made gods, will never save you from your sins, or love you unconditionally, or heal your body from disease. No, there is only one…and His name is Jesus.
Proverbs 29:11 ” A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.”
When we allow the flesh to take over, a simple irritation can quickly snowball into a raging outburst that can cause irreparable damage to all parties involved. When an unwise person allows their anger out in inappropriate ways, it can escalate and lead to major problems. A wise man keeps himself under control…he keeps himself still and restrained…and at all times, in command of his flesh.
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