The more you stir it, the more it stinks....

 
My man is known to say that.

It is not my intention to stir. Yet I am compelled to share our situation.

　

“If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good, surely to flog honest officials is not right.” (Proverbs 17:26 NIV) God’s timing in leading my study of scripture, is again, perfect.

　

　

Earlier this week, after 40 years of service to the city of New Boston without one single reprimand, Kerry was given a letter that informed him of a special city council meeting to be held Monday evening to discuss terminating his employment on the ground of ‘lack of confidence’.

There is notice posted on the door of the council chambers if you would like proof.

I have shared this man for the entirety of our married life. It was my choice to do so, and it was his choice to put that badge on and stand against wrong. He has done so many times in difficult situations.

He has had broken bones. He has been bitten, spit on, and cursed. He has been bled on and vomited on. He has pulled burned bodies and dead children out of cars. He has defended the rights of hundreds. He has enforced the laws that we are under with grace and mercy when grace and mercy were called for.

My list could go on for hours.

He is the most honest person I know.

He is frugal yet generous.

He is the first to put hand to what needs to be done, whether working a wreck or scubbing a toilet. (…and I don’t mean just ours)

　

Now, he is about to be fired because a few men don’t have ‘confidence’ in him.

　

　

Every single year, he managed his department with money left in his budget.

Hundreds and hundreds of calls answered, cases worked, investigations carried out, arrests made….

Are there still problems within the city? Absolutely. Are drugs available? Certainly. Fighting against wrong will be an ongoing struggle until Jesus returns. And making a drug bust is not quite as simple as it looks like on an episode of some police drama on television. (It would be simpler and far quicker for the landlords of those houses to evict the people who are contributing to the problem, than to rent their properties to them and then demand that they be stopped from doing what they do.)

　

It takes specific information for a police action to be legal, (unless the residents don’t mind paying off lawsuits for violations of personal rights) An embedded undercover agent is vital to get the right information at the right time. Without that, by the time all of the information is documented, the evidence gathered, a warrant issued, most often the dealer has smelled a rat and is clean, or gone.

While the few officers on the street sit and watch, you will wonder why they don’t respond quicker to your 911 call.

Ugh.

While it is not my intention or desire to make a stinky situation even smellier, it is my intention that people are informed. Kerry Pinkham has a lot of faults, but incompetence is not one or them. His integrity is paramount, his honesty complete.

This man whose integrity is called into question said to me… “I’m certainly not saying I’m Jesus, but I’ve learned a little bit about what He must have felt like. …He was lied about, taken before the rulers and accused yet innocent. Betrayed.”

He will stand by his convictions, and I will stand beside him. Come what may, we know that God has us in His Hand. Our desire is to walk thru this time in a way that brings glory and honor to Him…even if it means being dishonored and rejected.

　

　

I thank God for preserving the words of His servant David in Psalm 37.

　
“Do not fret……because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:

HE will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.


Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil…..

For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright.

But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

The blameless spend their days under the LORD's care, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

But the wicked will perish: Though the LORD's enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke. The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed.

The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing.

Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish. The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just.
The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.
The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death;
but the LORD will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial.

Hope in the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found.

Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace.
But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked.

The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.”

　

　

　

　

Hallelujah.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　


　

So mad I could spit nails....

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1 NIV)

I’ve experienced the truth of this proverb. When ugly words are used, when the voice is raised, shouting, cursing... anger is often multiplied, not squelched.

I have told my sons many times, “You can make it better…. or you can make it worse”.

Speaking harshly under any circumstance rarely helps… it tends to just start a back and forth banter. Why is it we want to have the last word? Or be more intimidating or threatening than the other? On and on it can go, each participant raising the bar, temperatures escalating.

A simple gentle answer will often diffuse a possibly explosive situation. A loud harsh answer will stir trouble. Even if the recipient doesn’t display it, you can bet it is in the heart and will spew out somewhere, perhaps on someone else. Maybe on some total stranger, or the young girl behind the cash register doing her best.

Easy to talk about. Very difficult to live. Anger just births harsh words naturally.

The book of James devotes chapter after chapter to taming the tongue. When I am angry, they spew out. Often. (…like nails flying out of a nail gun.)

How I wish that was not so. It has been worse. But I’m not cured. I have not accomplished the complete taming of my tongue. (…have you?)

So I repent of my harsh words. Again.

I pray for God to put gentle words on my lips.

I purpose for my voice to have no contempt or anger.

But God is going to have to help me. A lot.

What you see, is what you get hunney....

I loved Flip Wilson. His comedy characters were hilarious. I thought about him as I continue to read thru Proverbs.

“Whoever fears the LORD walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways.” (Proverbs 14:2 NIV)


It’s a lot of trouble to be devious and try to avoid simply following the rules. As a licensed professional, there are lots of rules I am required to follow. It makes life much simpler just to do it, even when lots of them are so unnecessary in my situation. (In my opinion…)

I don’t live a perfect life by any stretch of the imagination. But what you see is pretty much what you get. You could label me hypocrite very easily some days. What I am known to preach with my mouth doesn’t always flesh out in my daily life. What you SEE is what you get, not what you HEAR.

This morning I pray over my husband and myself that we will walk uprightly. I pray that we will not be tempted to be devious in any way but to trust Him with an undivided heart. I want what people see to be the image of Jesus Christ. I want what they hear to be words of life and love.


“The devil made me do it….” ????

No.

 May we not speak any word or act in any way that is a result of the devil’s influence.

　

　

“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways…

the fear of the LORD is a fountain of life….

when calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.” (Proverbs 14: 8,27,32)

Stand by your man......

                                                                                                                                                         Tammy Wynette sang it well. “Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman”. Yep. It surely is.♪♪♫••*•♫♪♫•*•♫♪♪*•♫♪♪♫••*•♫♪♫•*•♫♪♪*•♫♪♪♫••*•♫♪♫•*•♫♪♪*

“Stand by your man, and tell the world you love him…”. I tell you afresh today. I love him. •♫♪♪♫••*•♫♪♫•*•♫♪♪*•♫♪♪♫••*•♫♪♫•*•♫♪♪*•♫♪♪♫••*•♫♪♫•*•♫♪♪*

　

We have begun our 40^th year. I have shared him many many times. Not with another woman, but with a few thousand citizens. I’ve laid alone in our bed many nights. Not because he was out prowling around or off with the guys, but because someone else had a need.

He has never achieved perfection. Imagine that. (…neither have I, and neither have you.)

Though he is not perfect, there is no wickedness in him. There are no evil schemes. What he says, you can count on. Whatever he achieves will have been done in honesty and with integrity. He plans ahead and takes precautions, protecting from possible harm. Prevention is paramount. Waste is unacceptable.

Stand by him? Yes. Till death do us part.

Easy? No, it has not been easy. But not because of any fault of his.

I have made much effort thru the years to not complain about it. He wore the badge the first day I laid eyes on him. I had no idea how hard it would be at times to be his wife. I did not want to interfere. I wanted our home to be his haven.

　

This morning I continue my reading in Proverbs and wonder how good a job I have done at being ’a wife of noble character’. How noble will I be in days to come?

　

　

“Good people obtain favor from the LORD, but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes . No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted. A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.” (Proverbs 12:2-4 NIV)

　

My man is not perfect but the God he serves is.

Good people are good to their animals....

On the social networks, it has become common to see photos of dogs that have limited days to live. Unless someone adopts them, or fosters them until a ‘furever’ home is found for them, they are killed. We soften that reality by saying ‘put to sleep’. But it’s killing them….

I’m not really an animal lover. I don’t care to have a house pet. I like them fine, as long as they are YOURS, and you keep them in YOUR house. In fact, I love to play with them. For short periods of time….

I like to have yard dogs. I feel a bit of security in knowing they are there to bark if something is amiss, having learned the different ‘barks’ and knowing when to be alarmed or when to assume it’s nothing of concern.

I wonder that animal life is sometimes valued over human life. Certainly, animal life is often abused….there is a balance to be had between adoration and exploitation.

Good people are good to their animals. That’s not just my observation or my opinion.

“The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” (Proverbs 12:10 NIV)

If this were the only measuring standard, my man would indeed be a saint. (…well, he is anyway. He is one of God’s people…) The animals in his care anticipate his every move. They know exactly what to expect and when to expect it. He is good to them. Consistently.

It is easy to think on the first part of this passage. But, the end of that verse is disturbing.

“…but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” ( same passage in KJV)

We watched a movie just last night where mercy was in a quick execution as opposed to a slow torture. A good man will be good to a creature, created by God, given life by God. A wicked man’s ‘mercy’ will even be cruel.

“The kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” (Proverbs 12:10b NIV)

When a person can be cruel to an animal, I shudder to think what kind of cruelty they are capable of. And I am horrified to think of how much wickedness is in our culture and in our world. Wickedness that can snuff out even human life and call it good and merciful.

Abortion is commonplace. Euthanasia is being cultivated. Kind acts…..

God forgive us and help us.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

You have arrived at your destination.....

"You have arrived at your destination…"   I have navigation in my vehicle. It tells me turn-by-turn how to get where I want to go. When I get there, it announces that I have arrived.

During class time Sunday morning, it hit me from a new angle that I have not arrived. I still battle “…the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life.” (1 John 2:16 NIV) I find myself wanting my own way, wanting everything for myself, wanting to appear important….that’s how The Message says it, and I am guilty.

Why? After all these years, after all the study, why do I find myself circling the block, still not having arrived?

This morning combined with this sleepless night’s reading brought about an A-HA !! moment.

It isn’t information that I didn’t have, nothing I haven’t read before. Just my precious Jesus speaking into my life with admonition, correction, and encouragement.

No. I have not arrived.

No. I can’t do it without His lavishing grace applied to every moment of every day.

No. I will not arrive until after He does.

　

“You then, my daughter, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus…….being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:1 and Phillipians 1:6 NIV personalized by me)

So full I'm about to pop......

"I am so full, I’m about to pop"...I’m likely to say that after a good meal.
　

“They have become filled with….” (Romans 1:29 NIV)
The rest of that verse is a list that continues for the next several verses.

Wickedness.
Evil.
Greed.
Depravity.
Envy.
Murder.
Strife.
Deceit.
Malice.
Gossip.
Slander.
God-hater.
Insolent.
Arrogant.
Boastful.
Disobedient to parents.
No fidelity.
No love.
No mercy.
Approving of evil.

How do you get full of all that kind of stuff? Just like you get full of tasty food. You just keep swallowing….

I don’t want to have any of that stuff in my life, much less be full of it. So, I must not swallow it. I must not take any of it into myself, not let it enter or be part of who I am and how I live out my life.

Sounds like I need to go on a diet !

I find some help in scripture. (…always do when I go there…)

“…. be filled with the Spirit.”(Eph. 5:28 NIV)
“…..be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:29 NIV)

After a meal at a restaurant, the waitress will offer dessert. Often, we are too full to order.

I want to be too full of Jesus, too filled with His Spirit, so full of all that God has for me….that there is no room for anything from that first list.

 For there is none of that found in Him.

None.