giving credit where it's due...

June 29, 2012

Isaiah 2:1-10

V8 Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their won fingers have made.

We can look around at the things we own, or our bank accounts, or our pantrys and think we have it made. We are doing ok. Yet, we never acknowledge that all good flows from God’s hand to ours. We assume that “we” have amassed all this, and that “we” have made sure we have enough. Yet, if God had not willed us to have it we would not. It’s a pretty vain statement for us to make that gives us any credit to what “we” have achieved. But that’s exactly what Isaiah is talking about here. The Children of Israel were basking in all the things that had achieved and had forgotten the God that gave it to them. Sounds familiar right?

burning bright...

June 28, 2012

Isaiah 1:31 And the strong shall become tinder and his work a spark, and both of them shall burn together with none to quench them.

I want to be tinder. I want to be used by God to be His light to those around me. Basically that’s what this verse is talking about. We, those who are strong and growing in Christ, along with God’s word and power within us shine brightly to those lost in a dark world. What Christian wouldn’t want this? However, wanting and achieving are two different things. This might require that we get out of our box. That we do things that we would prefer not to. In fact I’d say that being God’s Light to this world will guarantee that you will do things that your flesh would not, will not like.

dying of thirst...

June 27, 2012

Isaiah 1:21-30

V 30 for you shall be like an oak whose leaf withers and like a garden without water

In the New Testament Jesus refers to himself as “The Living Water.” He tells the woman at the well in Samaria that any who drink His water would never thirst again. She, of course, at first thinks Jesus is talking about actual water, when he is talking about Himself. We who are in Him; we who are saved believers of Christ have that “living water” available to us on a daily basis. We never have to be like an oak tree who is so desperate for water it’s leaves wither or a garden who’s plants are slowing dying of thirst. As Christians we can have a flourishing oak tree and garden of our lives by simply drinking in the Word of God daily. Sounds simple right…somehow it’s not

being lukewarm...

June 26, 2012

Isaiah 1:11-20

V15 When you spread out your hands I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers I will not listen; your hands are full of blood

I read this verse and I get a little bit afraid. Here are the Children of Israel with all their feasts, sacrifices, prayers, offerings, and none of it pleases God. In fact He hates it, calls them an abomination to Him and He refuses to listen to them anymore. Now it isn’t the feasts, sacrifices, prayers, or offerings in and of themselves that makes God hate them, nope it’s the attitude of the Children of Israel. He looks at all they are doing and sees that inside their hearts they are wicked or maybe he sees that they are only worshiping because they have to and not a reflection of their devotion to Him. I’m reminded of the verse where Jesus talks about how He hates the “lukewarm.”  This verse scares me because sometimes my worship is done simply because I have to. That’s not something I like to admit but it’s true, and I’d say it’s true for many of us at one time or another. We get caught up in our lives and we forget what is truly important. We forget that we can be changed by our daily encounters with a Living God. We become “Lukewarm.”

being disappointed...

June 25, 2012

Isaiah 1:1-10

V2 …”Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me.”

I remember the first time one of my children lied to me the very first time. It wasn’t over something huge, but I remember how my heart hurt. How I was so shocked; I don’t know why really, I knew they weren’t perfect. Yet, for some reason knowing they lied to me was hard to handle. I often wonder if God feels like this each time I sin. If His heart hurts each time I choose to disobey His word. Of course God’s disappointment would be far greater than mine because He is God and I am not.

finding comfort...

June 22, 2012

Genesis 50:20 As for you, your meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…

This is a promise of God that I am claiming for someone very special to me. Not because “I” knew this verse was there, got mad, and decided that this was the verse for me. Nope, I was upset and God brought this verse to my mind. I didn’t even know where it was. But I believed the power found in it. It is powerful to think that God can change the outcome of a situation that looks bad but turns good. It is powerful to know that I serve a God that can do this, that does this. So, I’m claiming it for this situation we find ourselves in and I’m confident that no matter the outcome God is working things to the good of those who love HIM.

He can see what I cannot...

June 21, 2012

Isaiah 54:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts, than your thoughts

This is a comforting thought, maybe a little frustrating at times cause really we just want to know “why”, but it is comforting to know that God knows the why. When we are in the midst of a situation that we really have no control over we are forced to accept God’s will. True, we are always under God’s will, but it just seems more evident when we are in a situation that we have no voice in. Even more so if that situation makes us angry, hurt, or upset in any way; these words can give us comfort. In a recent conversation with one of my children I reminded him that we only have control over our actions, not the path we are walking on or the actions of others; we only control our actions and the attitude of our heart. May I remember that advice for myself; I may not understand or agree with my situation but I know and rest in the fact that “…my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” He can see what I cannot.

plethora of drama...

June 20, 2012

Proverbs 19:11 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense

Sometimes I think we are the only family to ever have “situations.” I mean I think drama seems to follow us around. I guess this is the way with everybody, but as humans we tend to not “air our dirty laundry” in public, so to speak. Well, I’m not going to do that either, but I will admit to a plethora of drama in our family lately. One such episode lead me to this verse, “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” Much easier said than accomplished I have discovered. I want to lash out. I want to fly off the handle. I want to let loose of this temper that I’m barely holding on to. Yet, I can’t. I know that’s wrong. I know that is contrary to every word I type on here each morning. But I want to do it. A wise and wonderful preacher once told me, “You always have to go home.” What he meant by that is no matter what “drama” is going on, no matter how hurt, or angry, we may become; we can never destroy our relationships in a way that we couldn’t witness to that person again. Because really that’s the most important calling we, as believers, have in this world.  So as we go about the business of “living in but not of” this world, our actions and reactions have to reflect God and His glory, not my anger!

Me and The Eagle...

June 19, 2012

Isaiah 40:31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

I have mounted upon the eagles wings and rested. I have grabbed a handhold in His feathers and held on. It was the strength of the eagle that carried me. I ran and His strength renewed mine. I walked and He carried me. I love it when I can look at my life and see God’s word there. His word was in my life recently. I lived this verse. Without the eagle I would never have made it. His strength sustained me. Truth be told; I didn’t even have the strength to climb upon the eagle, He put me there.

sharing, it's not just for kids...

June 1, 2012

1 Timothy 6:13-21

V18 …to be generous and ready to share

One of the first lessons we, as parents, try to teach our children is how to share. It’s a hard lesson to learn, and most likely not one that’s learned quickly; it’s a rare child indeed who willing shares his or her own toys without being told to. Should we expect adults to act differently? Well, yes, as a matter of fact we should, but most often the actions of adults aren’t that much different from those of children. We are selfish with what we have, whether it’s our money, our possessions, or our time; we simply don’t want to share. We could have many reasons or excuses for our behavior: we may feel like the person in need is unworthy, or perhaps lazy or it may just be that we want it for ourselves. Yet, in God’s word we find that we are to put off our selfish desires; we are to place the needs of others above our own willingly and without malice every single time. In other words, we must learn to share.