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.
　

　

　

　

　

　

　

Words can never hurt me.....

　
I’ve written about it before, the power of words, the lie in the children’s jingle “sticks and stones….”

Words can hurt. Words DO hurt.

“ An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.” (Proverbs 11:9 KJV)


I’m certainly not immune to it. But I confess that I seem to think some other people might be. I am a hypocrite who is guilty of destroying with my words rather than delivering and building up. It is so easy for me to criticize.

But it doesn’t have to be so. I can demolish, or I can be constructive. It is my choice, a choice birthed from the attitude of my heart.

….tempered by the knowledge that I am just a sinner saved by the grace of God thru Jesus Christ.

I’ve been on the receiving side of destructive words.

And I know the healing that can come from words, even those of a negative nature, but spoken in love and encouragement….challenging me to rise up and be the child of God I am called and empowered to be.

Which will it be today? Destruction? Or construction?

Keep talking and you just dig yourself deeper....

　

Haven’t you been there with a kid when they talk, talk, talk….trying to explain their way out of some bad behavior or unwise decision. Rather than just admit the wrong?

(….Abba says, yes I have…with you Connie ! )

“When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19 NIV)

The televised murder trials, the conspiracy theories, terrorist attacks, political activities, on and on the list could go…. They talk and talk and talk. And while there is certainly value in investigating and gathering information, I wonder that all the talk doesn’t muddy the water and hinder truth.

(…In 3 minutes last night, I learned the new details about the evil committed in Boston. But I’m sure the talk went on all night. Same details and same information. Just more talk…)

So how do I apply this personally?        (…I can identify it so easily in others….)

My wise husband has often said to me, ‘the more you stir it, the more it stinks’. Perhaps that fits with what The Teacher says to me this morning in this verse.

The Good News Bible puts it like this, “The more you talk, the more likely you are to sin. If you are wise, you will keep quiet.”

It is not necessary that I make sure every detail of whatever I think I know….…..is known by everyone else!

None of us are exempt from sin. None of us are beyond transgression with our words. Truth can be elaborated on by all of us.

We are wise to speak what truth is necessary, and then zip it.

　

　

　

Oh be careful little lips what you say*•♫♪♪♫•*•♫♪♫•*•♫♪♪* ....

　

"Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts. "For he who finds me finds life And obtains favor from the LORD.

"But he who sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love death." (Proverbs 8:34-36 NASB)

I’ve been trying to think of a new song for children’s time at church. As I continue to read thru the Proverbs, the lyrics from a childhood song come to mind. “…for the Father up above, is looking down in love, so be careful little lips what you say.” (…*•♫♪♪♫ and be careful also, little eyes, ears, feet ♫♪♪♫•*•♫♪♫•*•♫♪♪* ….)

More than once Jesus instructed that “..if anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.” (Matt 4:23 NIV is one example) "Consider carefully what you hear," he continued in verse 24.

　
Here in Proverbs, that subject is repeated.

“Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me, awake and ready for me each morning, alert and responsive as I start my day's work.

When you find me, you find life, real life, to say nothing of GOD's good pleasure.

But if you wrong me, you damage your very soul; when you reject me, you're flirting with death." (Proverbs 8:34-36 The Message)

The wrong that we choose to say and do hurts God simply because it hurts us. We can’t be ‘bad’ enough to alter His holiness.

And we can’t be ‘good’ enough to measure up to it….

Here's a list for me to work on.....

　

　

“There are six things the LORD hates. In fact, he hates seven things. The LORD hates proud eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that kill those who aren't guilty. He also hates hearts that make evil plans, feet that are quick to do evil, any witness who pours out lies, and anyone who stirs up family fights.”(Proverbs 6:16-19 NIrV)

1. Proud eyes.
2. Lying tongue.
3. Hurting the innocent.
4. Making plans that are wicked and cause harm.
5. Responding quickly to do those kinds of things.
6. Saying things that are not 100% true about someone else.
7. Stirring up family discord.




1. I am not God.
2. I am not to play loose with truth.
3. Lashing out at innocent people is not an option.
4. Forming plans that do not bring about healing and promote godliness are out.
5. Thinking them is wrong, doing them is worse.
6. Truth is absolute. And I don’t always know everything so zip it.
7. Family harmony is to be nurtured not destroyed.

　

There.

Now make your own lists, or you can use mine.

 And as Charlie Daniels says, let’s all make the day count. There’s enough darkness and evil in our world without us letting it creep into the behavior of our lives.

If I'd known I was going to live this long....

　
I wished happy birthday to an online friend and got his usual witty response. “If I’d known I was going to live this long I’d have taken better care of myself.”

It is hard to apply all the advice we hear as we grow up. I wonder today what advice my elders are giving me right now that I do not apply. Solomon sure devoted a lot of his teachings to learning and practicing wiser behavior.

“You don't want to end your life full of regrets, nothing but sin and bones,
Saying, "Oh, why didn't I do what they told me? Why did I reject a disciplined life?
Why didn't I listen to my mentors, or take my teachers seriously?  My life is ruined! I haven't one blessed thing to show for my life!" (Proverbs 5:11-14 The Message)
I am quite sure we all have regrets. Our enemy will use those as weapons against us. Having a regret does not equal to living with a load of guilty and shame, but it should definitely get out attention for the here and now, certainly for the future.

　

My oldest son once told me he wishes I had made him apply himself in school. (…then he laughed as I had a hissy fit in response.)

Like him, I wish I had better used some of my life. There are things I could and would have done better.

But that just shows that we realize our shortcomings, learned, and grown.

Today, perhaps you realize a regret too. Perhaps we can both purpose to start today to take better care….let’s not have regrets about today when we look back on this time.

Keep your eye on the ball.....

“My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion;

they will be life for you..”(Proverbs 3:21 NIV)

It is baseball season, time to see and hear about everything from T-ball to the major leagues. When our sons played ball, over and over I heard it…. “watch the ball all the way over the plate.” “Keep your eye on the ball at all times, everyone ! Outfielders and infielders, the one at bat and the ones on the bench.”

　

The Message says it like this, “ Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don't for a minute lose sight of them.”

I remember that our boys didn’t always watch the ball. They got distracted by airplanes in the sky and bugs on the ground. They got caught up in horsing around with the other boys in the dugout. When they batted, it was difficult for their eye to follow a small object coming directly at them without shrinking away from it. But to succeed in the game, those things have to be learned and practiced.

Constantly, consistently, continually….

With practice, it got easier. But there were times of over confidence and fresh failure.

Even with my near 60 years, I take my eyes off the ball. I let wisdom and understanding get out of my sight, I don’t use good judgment and discretion. And death comes in the form of damaged relationships.

Being successful on a ball field takes concentrated practice.

Being wise in life requires concentration and practice.

Neither thing comes automatic without fail. Yes, it may come easier. Yes, it may become more consistent.

But sometimes, if you blink, you may swing and miss….

　

'IF' is a big word.....

When you see that word, you know there are conditions. And where there are conditions, there are results or rewards.

IF is often followed by a THEN.


“….if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding...

... indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,

...and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure…..

….then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:1-5 NIV)

It is critical to grasp the basic truth about our holy Creator God. He created. He designed. He made the rules. Period.

We are given freedom to choose how we pass thru this realm of time. We can choose to play by our own rules. But when we turn our ear away from the true wisdom of God, when our hearts are not really in our quest for understanding, when we do not look to God for insights….

….we will never be able to mentally grasp Who this God is. And that is the most tragic of things.

 It is do-able. The ‘if’ is conditional, but it is possible. He promised.

　

“ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV)




.

Who picks up the pieces and puts them together again.......?

Proverbs begins with talk about wisdom. Gaining wisdom is the goal. For wisdom has great value.

“Start with GOD--the first step in learning, is bowing down to GOD; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning. Pay close attention, friend, to what your father tells you; never forget what you learned at your mother's knee. Wear their counsel like flowers in your hair, like rings on your fingers.”(Proverbs 1:7-9 The Message)

Warnings are given.

“…do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths, for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood. (Proverbs 1:16 NIV)

Truth is revealed.
“These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves!” (vs. 18 NIV)

Opportunity for change is given, a call to repentance issued.
“Listen when I reprimand you” (Proverbs 1:23 Good News Bible)
But…..“ you would not listen. You paid no attention to me. You have ignored all my advice and have not been willing to let me correct you,”(vs. 24-25 GNB)

So……. “they shall eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices.” (vs. 31 NASB)

Who will pick up the pieces when everything falls apart? And without the Creator and Sustainer, eventually, it will.

“When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call on Me, but I will not answer;” (Proverbs 1:27-28 NASB)

Storms will come. Calamity will strike. We will experience distress and anguish. And He is able to protect and sustain.

"...whoever listens to Me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm." (vs. 33 NIV)

When things crumble and fall apart, when relationships are broken, when life circumstances get intense, when health fails, when tragedy strikes, when loved ones die, when bodies grow too old to function……..who will pick up the pieces?

Without Him, who?

 Thank You Father that when dread comes, when calamity whirls, when distress and anguish rise up, You are already on the scene within me, I live in safety, I can be at ease and without fear of harm.

　

　

　

　

Bad company is serious business…..

“…if sinners entice you, Do not consent.” (Proverbs 1:10 NASB)

Have you noticed how people who push the limits or break the rules seem to influence others to do the same? ‘Sinners’ want company.

I am blessed with some people in my life who encourage me in the RIGHT direction. But I’ve also experienced the effects of wrong influences.

Even with all my years, I can still be enticed in wrong ways. I purpose to be salt and light. But sometimes I’m just not very salty, and my light gets a little dim at times.

It is a dilemma. Jesus clearly told us to ‘"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”(Mark 16:15 NASB) He did NOT tell us to get into our little holy huddles and stay isolated. We are warned repeatedly about the influence from the world. At the same time, instructed to BE the influence in the world. I find myself repeatedly trying to figure out how to be in the world yet not of it.

I am thankful that God is God. He is not enticed by my sinfulness. He has instead, made provisions for my escaping the consequences of it. For you see….I was such bad company before His Spirit re-created me. Thanks to Jesus…..I’m not the best company, but better than I would have been.

And when I find myself in a situation to be enticed by bad company, He is present with me, and will enable me if I but ask Him and follow His instruction.

Just what is it to ‘fear’ …….

　

Scripture tells us that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7 KJV)

If you know me, you have probably heard me say that my God is not mean and nasty. I once thought of Him as a grumpy old man with a huge flyswat raised, just waiting for an excuse to whop me with it.

He is not.

The nature and character of our Creator includes judgment, but He is driven by love. Read 1 John 4, don’t just take my word for it.

In my own walk with Him, I have been in that scary place. I tried hiding from Him, but take my word for it…that does not work. Adam and Eve tried it too. You can’t hide.

I once resented the teachings of my youth that caused me such fear and dread of the One Who created me, knew me in my mother’s womb, and knows the very number of hairs on my head. But I’ve come to appreciate it. Fear kept me safer than I might have been otherwise.

I did not do some of the things other teenagers did, simply because I was afraid my daddy would find out…..

….so now I reign my behavior because I do not want my Father to see me behaving in ways that He would not approve of.

Sometimes I understood why my daddy felt as he did. Often I understand why my Father in heaven allows what He allows or has said what He has said.

As an adult, I thoroughly understand why my daddy set such close boundaries for me. And somewhere along the way, between that first moving influence of being fearfully afraid of God, I began to know Him better. I began to trust Him more. I understand sometimes, and when I don’t understand, I rest in knowing that His love is the driving force behind every single thing He does or allows.

Thank You Father, that I have begun in that knowledge.

Learning to be wise seems to be a lifelong process....

I've said it before, I say it again... The older I get, the more I realize how much I don't know.

"These are the proverbs of Solomon, the son of David and king of Israel. They will help you learn to be wise, to accept correction, and to understand wise sayings." (Proverbs 1:1-2)



I don't read newspapers much, but I bet Dear Abby is still in there. People really write letters to whoever Abby is, seeking advice for some problem they have. They give her just a few details and she comes up with a solution. (Are issues ever so simple that you can explain them in a letter?)

I've got a great life, blessed certainly more than I deserve. But we all have our issues. Life is difficult at best, and following Christ ensures us that we will have times of suffering. Jesus Himself said
"..they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you." (John 15:20)  

How thankful I am that He has informed us of that. Imagine what a powerful weapon in the hands of the enemy had He not told us about the struggles ahead.  

That liar still tries to twist and decieve....
"if you were a good enough Christian, you wouldn't have all these problems, if you had been a better parent, your family would be perfect, if you really believed in God, you would never have these times of questions and doubt, if you were a good enough Christian, you'd know what to do in this situation...." 

On and on that devil goes with his flaming arrows. But I recognize where the assault is coming from, and like Jesus, tell him to get behind me. James has given us the key "Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you."(James 4:7)

   Difficulty in life always drives me to scripture, because I have managed to learn and retain the knowledge that it is ONLY there that I find answers and encouragement. It is ONLY from there that I hear God speak and know that it is indeed truth.

 He knows every detail of every issue, I don't have to try to make Him understand. ( So often, it is the other way around...HIM making ME understand !)

  I begin again this morning in Proverbs. The purpose of these writings is clearly stated right at the beginning. 

And since I need help in this learning to be wise thing, since I need to better accept correction, I prayerfully begin.....

Questioning what God has said or done...it's not a new thing.

The series showing on television recently has stirred a lot of questions. More than once I’ve been asked about things acted out in this dramatic series.

Since God said ‘do not kill’ in His list of commandments, why then did he TELL the Israelites to kill. Not only to kill, but to kill EVERYONE.

Does God still make bad things happen to us when we disobey?
Why would God send a child and its mother out into a desert?
Why would God make a baby die just because it's parent had done something wrong?




When we sin, does God make bad things happen to us…..Let’s go back to the beginning.

God created.
God instructed. (do not choose knowledge of evil)
Humans chose to know evil. (sin)
God had already explained the consequences of choosing to know evil.
Humans chose to know it anyway.
God asked questions, giving the humans opportunity to confess.
Humans hid. And blamed. Sin was a reality and death entered our story.

　

As a result of the choosing to know evil, everything had changed. To protect the humans from being eternally in the state they had now become, God banished them from the home He had prepared for them, keeping them from the Tree of Life lest they be caught up into eternity in the sinful state they had now become.

And then the redemption story unfolds. Thousands of years, thousands of characters….. some of them portrayed on this television drama.

I’ve watched some of it, some is still waiting on our DVR. There have been some things that raised my brow, a LOT of things left out…but it is a HUGE story. HUGE.

　

　

We are quick to ask ‘why’. My most frequent question is ‘what if’.

What if God hadn’t sent Ishmael away? Would he have gotten even more taunting with his little half brother? Would he have interfered in the lineage of the Messiah, a direct descendant of Isaac?

What if the armies had obeyed God and destroyed every living person in the enemy city? Would there be peace in the middle east today?

Why? I don’t have all the answers.

What I do have is enough information about the character and nature of the God I serve to trust Him. What He says, He says for reasons that involve the welfare of humanity. Whether I can understand it, or whether I never see the sense of it.

God is not mean and nasty. He is the very reason you exist and have a mind to read and reason this post.

The enemy of our souls will use every opportunity to cause doubt and tempt us to question God. His method of operation is the same today as it was in the beginning. Let us not allow that devil to twist truth and sully our trust in the very God Who created us, breathed life into us, and worked throughout the ages to bring about salvation.

Yes, bad things came to those who were not obedient to God in the pages of Old Testament scripture stories. Yes, God Himself made some of those things happen….things that look so very bad to us.

And make no mistake, bad things will happen to those who do not have Someone Who will intercept that punishment, taking it Himself instead.

Hallelujah. What a Savior.

If you want to know why, ask Him.

And if you find yourself lacking in understanding of the story of humanity as revealed to us in scripture, I strongly suggest you find a Bible translation that you understand and read it.  Prayerfully and expectantly. He promises that when we really want to find Him, He will be found.  (Jeremiah 29:13-14) 

 




  
 

I have a favorite new pen..

I don't know what it is about writing instruments that is so interesting.  I seem to constantly be buying pens and pencils.  Searching for juuuuust the right one I guess.

It seems that when I find a 'favorite' I lose it.  (...or somebody swipes it!)

A few months ago I bought yet another 'erasable' pen.  I've wasted a lot of money on so called erasable pens.  The eraser only smears, or worse, ruins the paper. But this one works ! 

But it only works with the eraser on the pen.  My big old pink thing won't work. 




I've been accused of spiritualizing everything.  Tonight, it's my erasable pens.

I'm thankful to have found them, they make my appointment book easier to keep neat.

And I'm thankful for the erasing power of Christ's blood.  I'm thankful for that One Eraser that effectively removes the mistakes I make.

"He has removed my sins as far from me as the east is from the west." (Psalm 103:12 personalized by me)

Personalized from Psalm 103, "I desire to praise Him with an undivided heart. May I never forget the good things He has done for me.  He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He fills my life with good things.  He revealed His character to Moses, to the people of Israel, and to me.   He remembers how weak I am and knows that I am only dust without His Breath of life.  The Lord has made the heavens His throne, and from there He rules and reigns."

.....and erases my mistakes. 

Hallelujah.

God fights for us, and God fights WITH us….

It is pleasant to think about God fighting my battles for me. “Be not afraid nor dismayed….. for the battle is not yours, but God's.”(2Ch. 20:15)

I don’t always retreat from the battlefield and let Him take command. Often, I call Him in to fight it, and then give Him orders in the heat of the battle, staying right where I was, assuming that I am in charge.

Sometimes I don’t see Him slaying enough enemies, or bringing enough blood. He doesn’t always fight as cruelly as I’d like. How can you win if you don’t severely hurt the enemy?

I find comfort in His promise, then don’t give Him permission and opportunity to fulfill them.

I look back and see His Fingerprints on my life, I see the battle scars I have suffered. I see the victories I have celebrated, often after a very long and difficult battle.

As I sit quietly with Him, thinking about these things, this verse comes up in some reading….

“When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.” (Gen. 32:25)

God has fought for me. And God has fought with me.

He prefers not to do so, but will wrestle with me when my will is not bent to His. He knows what it will take. He knows if I will surrender, and if I will….He will do whatever it takes to bring that about.

I purpose to be easily surrendered to His will over mine. My desire is to fully trust and rely on Him as my first Defense. I want to be free of fear and dismay over battles that I seem to be losing.

Yet like Jacob, I purpose to hold onto Him relentlessly until “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” (Gen. 32:30)

I've discovered something.....

There is an online ‘urban’ dictionary. All the definitions are written by people…ordinary people.  Not scholars, or professors etc.    You and I can submit our very own definition of any word.  

Now there’s a new twist on an old activity.  Since the beginning, it has been done… submitting our own definitions to God’s Word.   We arrogantly decide what a word should mean.  We attempt to make it fit us, rather than shaping our lives to fit what God’s Word means.  

We have changed the meaning of a lot of our English words.  We have made them to mean something entirely different than they originally meant. We learn the new meanings and begin to use them in that context.  

But make no mistake.  We will never change one single Word of God.  Our culture does not change Him.  His Word stands.  What He meant by what He said will never ever change.  No matter how many new ways you twist it and misuse it.  His Word stands.  

 

We are wise to know Him well enough to understand His communication to us.  Wiser still to benefit from His Holy Spirit Who helps and teaches us all things. 

Your free offer is about to expire.....

Don't you tire of the spam mail?  I just deleted about 100 of them.  It took a while, but I have learned to disregard those urgent looking subject lines.

Last minute offer....
Important information about your credit....
Important information about your account...
You have an important message....
I've seen your profile and I'd like to meet you...
Get the funds you need.....
Disability, do you qualify.....

Dozens and dozens with new ones every week.  Occasionally I get fooled and actually look before deleting....(I'm wondering if that's what is wrong with one of my computers...)

Free offers make me immediately wonder what the catch is.  It is easy for me to ignore those, I'm not even interested in knowing what they want to give me 'free'.  I have learned that there is really not much in our culture that is free.  You either pay, or there is a hook hidden in that bait somewhere. I know that I will pay one way or the other. 

There is only one offer that is really free.  And it took me years to stop trying to pay for it.  "....you have been set free from sin.....the wages of sin is death.."(Romans 6:22-23)


What I owe for my inability to live a perfect life (sin) is death.  You owe it too.  Every single human ever to be born owes it. 

Except One.

And because He was perfect He is able to make an incredible free offer.
That offer is valid right now.
It doesn't expire until you do.
He knows way more about you that what your Facebook profile reveals.
He wants desperately for you to meet Him.
You do qualify, but you must accept the offer.

And there is a very important message....  He loves you with a love you are incapable of understanding or duplicating.

The important information about all this is recorded in the pages of scripture.

Get what you need to pay this debt you owe.  And when your debt is paid, don't think you have to work off the loan..cause it's not a loan.  It's a gift. So just be fascinated and captivated by the Giver of the gift and start today to spend every moment of every day in His company. 

He is so good.  Hallelujah. 

Digging up roots....

I lost a tree in my front yard.  The snow that piled up on it got a bit too heavy and down it went. There is just a stump left now, a chainsaw removed the tree and it's branches, cutting as close to the ground as possible, just a stump remains.  But there is a stump... and there are roots under the ground.

I'd like another tree in that spot, but even though the tree is gone, there is a problem planting anything else in that exact spot....at least until the roots from that tree rot away. Even then the leftover roots cause problems.

Every year, we fight old roots in our garden. Even after the many years that same plot of ground has been disked, plowed, and tilled,  those old roots work their way to the top and we find ourselves pulling and chopping more old roots, ridding the soil of what hinders us from working the ground.

We are effective in dealing with those old roots, it is hard word, and certainly annoying, but we can manage it. They are dead and rotting, but still they make it harder to work that plot of soil. But we continue and each year it seems to be a little easier.

This stump is another story. Though the tree is gone, the stump is still very hard wood, and the roots...well, I'm not sure they know they are dead yet.  It wouldn't surprise me to see them put up some little shoots somewhere.  The root is where the life comes from...

The Bible uses so many illustrations using trees or vines, roots, and branches.  This morning my mind keeps going to those life-giving roots, but especially from the negative. (...seems that is how I learn best...)

"....let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles...."(Hebrews 12:1)


When there is a tree in our life that needs to come down, (some personal sin), it is often pretty easy to just chop it down, maybe even haul off the tree trunk and all the branches.  But if that root is not dealt with, it can pop up new life somewhere else. 

And even when the roots finally die, the rotted thing sometimes still causes difficulty.  The leftovers are there. And they cause us to work hard to rid our plot of ground from the evidence of that past life.

We can be effective in dealing with the tree. We can, and must choose to 'throw off' personal sin.

But we are foolish to think we can deal with the life that remains in the roots. We need Help. Else we may find ourselves chopping down trees for a very long time. 
 

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.."(Hebrews 12:2)