What did I say?

There have been times when my words have gotten me into trouble. 

Many times when I spoken out when it might have been wiser to stay quiet. And I have also stayed quiet when I should've spoken up.

It isn't easy to know the right thing to say and the right time to say it. 

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5 NASB)

Are you one that speaks up or do you shrink back from speaking up? Ask God to give you wisdom in your speech. Ask Him to help you know when to say something and then be bold enough to say it. Ask Him to seal your lips when you are about to say what shouldn't be said. Ask Him to reveal the proper time that something should be said and then ask Him for the proper words to say.

Ask it of Him.

A Rose

Discontentment can hang around you like a wet woolen blanket. It feels heavy and uncomfortable. You would like to shrug it off but you are afraid of what it might feel like to not have any blanket at all.

From where  does this discontentment come? What is the root?

It comes when God's grace no longer seems sufficient for you! Pure and simple as that.

God doesn't promise us a rose garden. How many times have you heard that old line? But yet, He doesn't. Maybe, just maybe we are the roses in this garden. 

Do you bloom where you are planted? Or are you looking for another rose garden?

Scripture puts it another way, we are called the light of the world. God gives us this light and then tells us to "Let it shine."

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 NASB)

How can we be discontent and looking for a rose garden if we are letting our light shine for God?

I love this quote from the Poet Wordsworth:

If thou indeed derive thy light from Heaven,

Then, to the measure of that heaven-born light,

Shine, in thy place, and be content: --William Wordsworth

Grace vs Determination

Grace vs determination

I sometimes wonder how unbelievers get through some of life's toughest situations.

I know I have had things happen in my life when I leaned heavily on Jesus and my Christian family and don't know how I would have faced it without them.

I asked a woman once how she faced rough times, knowing that she did not acknowledge the Lord in her daily life. She replied, "Determination."

I have heard it said before that faith in God is only for the weak.

So then, am I to think that if I am trusting and depending on my faith that I am weak and lack determination?

I believe otherwise. But I know without Jesus I am weak. I know without faith I have no hope. I know my determination can and will falter. But with God, I have a power that nothing can rival.

Consider the following verses just to mention a few:

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (2 Corinthians 12:9 NASB)

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 NASB)

In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears. (Psalms 18:6 NASB)

The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. (Psalms 118:14 NASB)

"For You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. (2 Samuel 22:40 NASB)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. (Ephesians 6:10 NASB)

The Highest Mountains

In the old house that belonged to my parents, on one of the boards on a door frame are many measurements. In fact, there are over 30 years of measurements. 

When my daughter, Starla was born, my dad held her baby body up against the door frame and scratched a notch into the board. On her birthday she was again placed against the frame and another notch was scratched. Then my son, Tom came along and more notches appeared. Then came my son, Drew and his marks; my nephew, Levi; my niece Beth; my niece Kacey; and then my nephew, Jake. And many many scratches into the board. Every once in a while on the board you will see a name and a date of some other child that came in and wanted their mark on the doorframe.

Some of the marks are close to each other but none of them are in the exact place. However one thing was the same for each and every measurement, every child had their feet in the same place when being measured. Their feet were on the floor.

I asked my sister, Amy about that board today. I told her that I would like to have it if she doesn't want it. 

I will replace one of the doorframe boards in my home with that board.

A verse that I came across today fits in with that story in a way. But first listen to this statement that I heard somewhere. I apologize for not knowing who to credit with saying it.

The highest mountains are measured by the floors of the valley.

Yes, that's right the high peaks ( happiness, joy, achievements) are measured by the floors of the valley (sadness, fears, illnesses, hard times.) without those "bottoms" we would never know the heights of the good times. Every good thing is only good when compared to the bad times.

Now the verse:

In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB)

Please note, it does not say, "In the the good times, give thanks." Or "In most circumstances, give thanks." 

God expects us to be thankful in ALL things, at all times, because that is His will for us in Christ Jesus. 

As Christians we are to be grateful always!

Bad times are to be expected and they are the stable floor from which our mountain tops are measured. When we are growing in The Lord, we know that this is true.

Even Jesus tells us:

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NASB)

Let it slide or not

Letting it slide, have you ever heard the term? It generally refers to something being left undone.

Think about it....a slide usually goes down; and the further something slides, the faster it goes.

So when you let something slide it is going nowhere fast.

I woke up early this morning and my husband wanted to know why. I told him that I wanted to get to my devotions right away before we might get busy with work or distractions. I know from my personal experience that if I don't get at something immediately, I may let it slide.

And it isn't always intentional. Sometimes it just gets overtaken by another task that seems to take priority.

I want My morning prayers and devotions to come first. I don't want to let them slide. I don't want other things to crowd into my time and thoughts. Therefore, I NEEDED to wake early and do this.

I loved the slide as a kid. It was my first choice on the playground. I love sled riding even now as an adult, sliding down the snowy hill. 

You slide, faster and faster and then it stops. It's a free ride. A chance to sit and let go. But once the ride is over you must climb the ladder or pull your sled back up the hill to get to do it again. So there is effort involved. Just like sometimes we do extra work up front so that we can "slide" a little later.

This is how I like to view my devotion time. I would rather climb that ladder or snowy hill in the morning, then slide through the rest of the day leisurely.

But then there are times when you are driving on level ground, but it's covered with ice. And all at once your speed increases and suddenly you are sliding, out of control. You may regain control or you may not stop until you crash.

This is how I feel when my day starts before I do my devotion and prayer. 

I am not a risk taker. I like order. Letting things slide seems like a loss of control to me. And I much prefer everything to be processed and in place. It makes me feel at peace to know that everything is aligned.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33 NASB)

Save me from myself

It seems whenever There is some kind of dire circumstance in my life I begin to fear. And then worry entwines itself through my thoughts and I can't seem to break free from it.

Then, to distract myself from the worry, I begin a "fix-it" mode. I start scrambling around trying desperately to arrange things and process things to get circumstances right again.

After that, frustration grips me as I realize that sometimes I AM POWERLESS.

what a rusted chain of events!

Why do I put myself through all this unrest as if I can't trust God with my life?

Has He left me down before? No, never!

Has He ever failed me? Absolutely not!

Has He ever been too late to rescue me? Of course not!

 

I am learning to wait. I am learning to be patient. I know I can trust. I have faith.

Lord, help me, save me from myself.