"Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord." ~Solomon
Someone I admire the opinion of gushed on and on about her new friend she had met on a cruise. Apparently, this new friend was a rich man's mistress. He had supplied her with an upscale apartment and an allowance that was enough for her to live comfortably without having to work. He showered her with flowers and jewelry. She was a kept woman who didn't have to be a fulltime worker, wife, or mother. She got to go on cruises and travel too. She could shop every day if she wanted and actually buy things!
I'm not sure if it was the glazed dreamy look of the person regaling me with the wonderful life this "kept woman" lived or what but a small seed of envy sprang a root in my heart. Envy of a woman whom I had never met. The Lord asked, "Why?" I searched my heart for an answer and discovered that God had given me so much more than what the kept woman had. I don't work outside my custom home. I have fields of flowers and all sorts of jewelry. I've traveled. Even better though, I have a husband that loves me and is home every night. I have children and grandchildren. I am truly a kept woman. Kept by God!
"For your Maker is your husband- the Lord Almighty is his name..." ~Isaiah
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Escape Plan
"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" ~Paul
It's when I think that I'm doing pretty good in my constant battle to be better that pesky temptations sneak in. The temptation to think I'm doing it all by myself is one of the worst. I'm getting better at recognizing those sneaky darts for what they are and extinguishing them before they can consume too much of my thoughts or begin smoldering in my desires. It's comforting to know that God will not let me be tempted beyond what I can bear. He always provides a way out.
I've started looking for those escape routes ahead of time now. I can't say that I think about avoiding temptation as much as I seek the way out the Lord provides so that I can stand up under it. I've found it impossible to completely avoid temptation but I have found God to be faithful in always providing a clear way of escape. I just have to be willing to take it and not get entangled with the sin that so easily ensnares me. I want to be careful not to fall!
"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" ~Isaiah
It's when I think that I'm doing pretty good in my constant battle to be better that pesky temptations sneak in. The temptation to think I'm doing it all by myself is one of the worst. I'm getting better at recognizing those sneaky darts for what they are and extinguishing them before they can consume too much of my thoughts or begin smoldering in my desires. It's comforting to know that God will not let me be tempted beyond what I can bear. He always provides a way out.
I've started looking for those escape routes ahead of time now. I can't say that I think about avoiding temptation as much as I seek the way out the Lord provides so that I can stand up under it. I've found it impossible to completely avoid temptation but I have found God to be faithful in always providing a clear way of escape. I just have to be willing to take it and not get entangled with the sin that so easily ensnares me. I want to be careful not to fall!
"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" ~Isaiah
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Avoiding the Net
"Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." ~Jesus
To be a person of my word is something I've aspired to for a long time because of this verse. I thought I was doing pretty good until this past weekend. My sin was laid bare before my eyes. Yuck. A friend asked for help unloading and stacking wood. I said, "No" when I should have said, "Yes". I found myself carrying on with some elaborate excuse for doing so. After she left, the Lord whispered, "What was that about?" My spirit squirmed a little and then answered, "A lie." Ugh, I'm sorry Lord.
I realized that I had already been planning on doing the same thing the next day. I had made a commitment and something more fun had presented itself. I had enthusiastically accepted the invitation and was already embroiled in how I was going to get out of my commitment. I had said, "Yes", when I should have said, "No". Seeing it for the trap it was didn't keep me from wrestling with it all night though. I'm a pro at justifying myself but God is a pro at tearing down my arguments. I relented and bowed out of the trip and did what I knew was right. I pray that the Lord will continue to reveal where I fall short in this. I really want my "yes" to be "yes" and my "no to be "no". No excuses!
"How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds!" ~Solomon
To be a person of my word is something I've aspired to for a long time because of this verse. I thought I was doing pretty good until this past weekend. My sin was laid bare before my eyes. Yuck. A friend asked for help unloading and stacking wood. I said, "No" when I should have said, "Yes". I found myself carrying on with some elaborate excuse for doing so. After she left, the Lord whispered, "What was that about?" My spirit squirmed a little and then answered, "A lie." Ugh, I'm sorry Lord.
I realized that I had already been planning on doing the same thing the next day. I had made a commitment and something more fun had presented itself. I had enthusiastically accepted the invitation and was already embroiled in how I was going to get out of my commitment. I had said, "Yes", when I should have said, "No". Seeing it for the trap it was didn't keep me from wrestling with it all night though. I'm a pro at justifying myself but God is a pro at tearing down my arguments. I relented and bowed out of the trip and did what I knew was right. I pray that the Lord will continue to reveal where I fall short in this. I really want my "yes" to be "yes" and my "no to be "no". No excuses!
"How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds!" ~Solomon
Friday, October 4, 2013
Seeking Wisdom
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." ~James
I constantly ask God for wisdom before I read his word then I rest in the knowledge that he gives it. The Spirit breathes life into each nugget of truth that flows out of the pages and into my heart. Every morning when I read a chapter of Proverbs it rings with pure wisdom and every verse is golden. They wash over me and cleanse me, heal me, and rebuke me. I seek it out and have become enchanted by it.
I can see why the queen of Sheba sought an audience with Solomon so many years ago. How wonderful it would have been to listen to the discussions amid the splendor of the royal palace. Being a scribe and carefully recording the Proverbs for the king would have been an amazing position. When she departed back to her country, she expressed envy of the servants in his presence and I can totally relate to that sentiment. How grateful I am that his words were preserved through the centuries and I can marinate in their wisdom every day!
"Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom." ~Solomon
I constantly ask God for wisdom before I read his word then I rest in the knowledge that he gives it. The Spirit breathes life into each nugget of truth that flows out of the pages and into my heart. Every morning when I read a chapter of Proverbs it rings with pure wisdom and every verse is golden. They wash over me and cleanse me, heal me, and rebuke me. I seek it out and have become enchanted by it.
I can see why the queen of Sheba sought an audience with Solomon so many years ago. How wonderful it would have been to listen to the discussions amid the splendor of the royal palace. Being a scribe and carefully recording the Proverbs for the king would have been an amazing position. When she departed back to her country, she expressed envy of the servants in his presence and I can totally relate to that sentiment. How grateful I am that his words were preserved through the centuries and I can marinate in their wisdom every day!
"Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom." ~Solomon
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Good Things
"I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ." ~Paul
I was expounding on the beauty and uniformity of creation to an atheist. I could see that he wanted to believe in a creator but couldn't push past his prejudices. He had carefully constructed scientific arguments that he leveled at me with genuine curiosity mixed with skepticism. I replied to each with a combination of scripture, common sense, and answers I had learned from my own searches. After about fifteen minutes of this spirited conversation, I felt the Holy Spirit take over. I could actually feel the light pouring out my eyes. Sunshine broke through the clouds, tumbled through the skylight and clothed me in gold. I will never forget the look on that man's face. His jaw dropped and his eyes grew round as he exclaimed, "Your AURA is HUGE right now!" I giggled involuntarily, "It's the Holy Spirit. He's one of the best parts of knowing the creator!" God had used me to make himself real to this gentleman. Just by sharing my faith, I began to understand more and more every good thing I have in Christ. How awesome is that?
Since that conversation, this man confessed Jesus as his savior and now his aura is huge too! We still have some pretty lively conversations which I thoroughly enjoy. As a brother, he's another good thing I have in Christ!
"Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints." ~Paul
I was expounding on the beauty and uniformity of creation to an atheist. I could see that he wanted to believe in a creator but couldn't push past his prejudices. He had carefully constructed scientific arguments that he leveled at me with genuine curiosity mixed with skepticism. I replied to each with a combination of scripture, common sense, and answers I had learned from my own searches. After about fifteen minutes of this spirited conversation, I felt the Holy Spirit take over. I could actually feel the light pouring out my eyes. Sunshine broke through the clouds, tumbled through the skylight and clothed me in gold. I will never forget the look on that man's face. His jaw dropped and his eyes grew round as he exclaimed, "Your AURA is HUGE right now!" I giggled involuntarily, "It's the Holy Spirit. He's one of the best parts of knowing the creator!" God had used me to make himself real to this gentleman. Just by sharing my faith, I began to understand more and more every good thing I have in Christ. How awesome is that?
Since that conversation, this man confessed Jesus as his savior and now his aura is huge too! We still have some pretty lively conversations which I thoroughly enjoy. As a brother, he's another good thing I have in Christ!
"Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints." ~Paul
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Silly Speculating
"When the turn came for Esther (the girl Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested." ~Esther
An orphan that had been raised by her cousin, Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. She had been given a year of beauty treatments, special food, seven maids and the best place in the harem. As a favorite of the eunuchs, she was able to use their knowledge of the king when choosing the one thing that she was allowed to take with her from the harem when she was presented to him. I've often speculated what it was that she took that made her memorable to a man who had his choice of any woman in the land.
I've wondered if perhaps it was a musical instrument or a special lotion. There have been times that I've thought a game or a dazzling costume might have intrigued him. Scripture is silent about it and it's not all that "spiritual" to think about but silly speculating is fun sometimes. Whatever it was, she went from being an orphan of exiled parents to the queen of 127 provinces stretching from India to the upper Nile, won the heart of a king, and saved her people from persecution. I doubt it was just the beauty treatments!
"The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord." ~Sons of Korah
An orphan that had been raised by her cousin, Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. She had been given a year of beauty treatments, special food, seven maids and the best place in the harem. As a favorite of the eunuchs, she was able to use their knowledge of the king when choosing the one thing that she was allowed to take with her from the harem when she was presented to him. I've often speculated what it was that she took that made her memorable to a man who had his choice of any woman in the land.
I've wondered if perhaps it was a musical instrument or a special lotion. There have been times that I've thought a game or a dazzling costume might have intrigued him. Scripture is silent about it and it's not all that "spiritual" to think about but silly speculating is fun sometimes. Whatever it was, she went from being an orphan of exiled parents to the queen of 127 provinces stretching from India to the upper Nile, won the heart of a king, and saved her people from persecution. I doubt it was just the beauty treatments!
"The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord." ~Sons of Korah
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Story Motives
"All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth." ~Nebuchadnezzar
In the book of Luke I'm told there was a group of people that went to Jesus and told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. I've often wondered what their motive was for this. Were they trying to garner his support for an anti-government campaign? Maybe rile him up to become the conquering messiah they wanted him to be? Force his hand? Did they wish to slander the victims because Jesus knew them? He was from Galilee and must have known several Galileans after all. Maybe a sort of "wink, wink" type move. Regardless of their intentions, I'm sure they didn't expect his answer. He said, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
"There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." ~Paul
In the book of Luke I'm told there was a group of people that went to Jesus and told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. I've often wondered what their motive was for this. Were they trying to garner his support for an anti-government campaign? Maybe rile him up to become the conquering messiah they wanted him to be? Force his hand? Did they wish to slander the victims because Jesus knew them? He was from Galilee and must have known several Galileans after all. Maybe a sort of "wink, wink" type move. Regardless of their intentions, I'm sure they didn't expect his answer. He said, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."
"There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." ~Paul
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