Being equipped…

 Being equipped…

Yesterday, I spent all day in the local urgent care and emergency rooms…finding out why I was in soooo much pain…I saw nurses, technicians, PA.s,, cleaners, repairmen….but never any doctors…

Oh , I knew they were there, they gave their reports to others to hand down…but they had equipped all of the  others to carry out their work effectively…and I probably would have have seen a doctor if I needed to… but I felt well cared for by those around me…

As I thought about all of this, it reminded me of the body of believers…we have pastors, elders, deaconesses, deacons, repairmen, various ministry directors, Bible study leaders and a multitude in the general congregation….all who have been gifted by the Holy Spirit to carry out their function in the body….

We can’t all have the pastor’s attention as there just isn’t enough of him to go around…he is there,  but he trusts and equips so many to serve…we are the body…we can serve, build up,encourage, bear with one another, study….as the pastor over sees….

 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

Acts.20.28

 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.

1Tim.3.1

 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Eph.4.2

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1Thess.5.11

 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Phlm.1.7

 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Rom.12.6-8

 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

Eph.4.11-12

 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

Acts.6.1-4

Thank YOU…

The voice…

 The voice…

Been reading again through the Psalms…”the voice “ in Psalm 29 came out loud and clear…loved it again…

So I needed to look up other references as usual…there are lots…

Mostly for me personally is it the “low whisper “…

But watching the ocean, the majestic mountains, the giggle of a child, the heartbreaking sob of grief, the thunderstorm rolling through , reading the Word, the Sunday sermon, the missionary report, the myriad of magazines from different Christian organizations, etc, etc… I find God’s voice there as well…I am so glad He speaks …and makes himself known if we but listen…

Thank YOU….

 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;the God of glory thunders,the Lord, over many waters. 

The voice of the Lord is powerful;the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 

He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,and Sirion like a young wild ox. 

The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. 

The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 

The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare,and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

Ps.29.3-9

 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.

Exod.19.19

 When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant law. In this way the Lord spoke to him.

Num.7.89

 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Deut.30.19-20

 The Lord thundered from heaven;the voice of the Most High resounded.

2Sam.22.14

 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.

1Kgs.19.12

 God thunders wondrously with his voice;he does great things that we cannot comprehend. 

Keep listening to the thunder of his voiceand the rumbling that comes from his mouth.

Job.37:2,5

 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

Isa.6.8

 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

Isa.30.21

 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;

Matt.3:16-17

 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 

And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. 

His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.

John.5.25,John.5.28,John.5.37,John.5.38

 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

John.10.27

 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 

Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine.

John.12.28,30

 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.’

Acts.22.7,9-10

 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 

Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1Thess.4.16-18

 As it is said,“Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

Heb.3.15

 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

 Heb.12.26-29

https://www.gotquestions.org/still-small-voice.html

Acid…

 

Acid…

“Definition of acid 

a: sour, sharp, or biting to the taste

an acid flavor

b: sharp, biting, or sour in manner, disposition, or nature

an acid individual

an acid personality

c: sharply clear, discerning, or pointed

an acid wit

acid criticism

d: piercingly intense and often jarring”

Merriam Webster…

For whatever reason, some people’s bodies create an excess amount of acid…we taken various medications for this condition either for a short time or a lifetime with varying degrees of success…we work on eating more alkaline foods all the while craving the acidic…

I thought of this while reading chapters in our Women’s Bible Study   Book, “Respectable Sins, by the late Jerry Bridges…the chapters on  judgmentalism and the sins of the tongue…which came after anger and weeds of anger…

Oh, dear…this book hits home so many times…God obviously knew what we would face as we live here for our earthly journey…as He included so many admonishments and words of love to us in His word…He knew our temptations…He knew our adversary and his deceptions, his pull…He knew our nature and planned for our redemption…He gave us His Book to study, learn from, apply…

 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast,because they trust in you. 

Isa.26.3

 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

Jas.3.5-6, 3.9-10

 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Eph.4.29,Eph.4.31-32

 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matt.12.34, 36-37

 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Ps.19.14

Proverbs 8:8

All the words of my mouth are just;
    none of them is crooked or perverse.

Proverbs 12:18

The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

Proverbs17:27

“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Proverbs 30:5

Thank YOU…

Hidden treasures…

 Hidden treasure….

Recently, I went with one of my daughters to Baker City, Oregon.

We toured the Geiser Grand Hotel with one of my grandsons and his friend.

The ceilings were beautiful with all of their decorative designs in full view…was reminded of ceilings in a building how housing the Young life in our former town

Several years ago, we renovated an old building in Elko, Nevada with those same type of ceilings, but we had to completely cover them up with a false ceiling due to fire code or some city regulation…it was hard at the time to do that because of the hidden beauty…which is still tucked away behind something false and very industrial looking…oh, well….

There are many “hidden treasures” in the Word…there are 84 references with the word “hidden”…a few follow…

Cain felt hidden from God as he was driven away…

A child king…

 Athaliah Reigns in Judah ….Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family of the house of Judah. But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were about to be put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest, because she was a sister of Ahaziah, hid him from Athaliah, so that she did not put him to death. And he remained with them six years, hidden in the house of God, while Athaliah reigned over the land. Joash Made KingBut in the seventh year Jehoiada took courage and entered into a covenant with the commanders of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri. And they went about through Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of fathers' houses of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. And all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And Jehoiada said to them, “Behold, the king's son! Let him reign, as the  spoke concerning the sons of David. This is the thing that you shall do: of you priests and Levites who come off duty on the Sabbath, one third shall be gatekeepers, and one third shall be at the king's house and one third at the Gate of the Foundation. And all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the . Let no one enter the house of the  except the priests and ministering Levites. They may enter, for they are holy, but all the people shall keep the charge of the . The Levites shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever enters the house shall be put to death. Be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.” The Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and they each brought his men, who were to go off duty on the Sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss the divisions. And Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains the spears and the large and small shields that had been King David's, which were in the house of God. And he set all the people as a guard for the king, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house. Then they brought out the king's son and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony. And they proclaimed him king, and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and they said, “Long live the king.”2 Chronicle 22,23 (my children listened to this Story told dramatically by Ethel Barrett when they were growing up…)

Hidden gods…  

Job laments…

“Why is light given to him who is in misery,and life to the bitter in soul, who long for death, but it comes not,and dig for it more than for hidden treasures, who rejoice exceedingly and are glad when they find the grave? Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden,whom God has hedged in?Job.3.20-23

 David and Solomon speak of hidden things…in Psalms and Proverbs…

We are not hidden from God’s presence…

Jesus speaks of hidden treasures many times…

 The Parable of the Hidden Treasure“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:“I will open my mouth in parables;I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.” Matt.13.44,Matt.13.35

 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to  light .Luke.8.17

Paul speaks of “hidden”…in Colossians…

 Paul's Ministry to the ChurchNow I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 1,2, 3

I personally like this one in Colossians…we are hidden with Christ and then we will appear… the beauty of it all…shown forth…

Thank YOU…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin_ceiling

The rose garden…

 The rose garden…

My town has a rose garden…

“History

In the late 1920’s discussion was had in Caldwell regarding ways to improve and beautify the pump house in Luby Park. It was known that Dr. William J. Boone, long time member of the community and founder of Albertson College of Idaho loved roses. In the 1930’s these two ideas were brought together with the WPA (Works Projects Administration). 

The rose garden was established in 1933. The men of the project built the rock ledges and businesses donated funds for the roses. Soon a Rose society was organized and working with the City of Caldwell each has been instrumental in keeping the grounds in good condition.

In the 1950’s roses were given to passengers of the Union Pacific Railroad’s “Portland Rose” passenger train as it stopped in Caldwell. The garden held over 4,000 plants of 150 varieties in 1952. Varieties of roses include Old European Roses, Noisettes, Damask Perpetual, China Roses, Shrub Roses, Rugosa Roses, Polyanthas, Hybrid Perpetuals, Tea Roses, Species Roses, Climbers and Ramblers. The garden has several varieties to enjoy.

In the 1970’s members of the Forward Club of Caldwell distributed roses to establishments in the town. These many acts of sharing have brought much enjoyment to many in the town.” From the Caldwell Public Library… 

I have seen it from afar, but gate was locked so never ventured in….the other day, I just had to get out, my house had shrunken around me, the heat had trapped me from walking outside too much this whole summer, Covid and back pain had held me captive enough and I needed to get away while I could escape…and low and behold the gates to the garden were open, beckoning me to enter….thank YOU….

Wandering around among the many colors and varieties, I found they too had cooked in the summer heat, but still held their flowers high for others to stop, and smell, to enjoy…

Thank YOU for the respite…a place prepared to rest, to refresh…paths to wander, to gather, to comfort, to see Your creativity, Your goodness….

 Psalm 23. A psalm of David.

The  Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil,for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before mein the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the forever.Ps.23.1-6

Highs, lows and the everyday….

 Highs, lows and the everyday….

I found myself doing laundry, cleaning, washing dishes, and hemming school pants for one of my grandsons yesterday….the everyday things after a whirlwind  week of company, dinners, family gatherings, and finally a wedding….

From the highs to the everyday….

Most of our lives are the “everyday “….

We have highs in big fun, celebratory events, the get togethers, the new babies, the weddings, the graduations…the things that bring laughter, joy , fun into our lives…

And we have lows…the illnesses, the uncertainty, the wars, the downturns, the funerals…

But, mostly we have the everyday….the day in, day out…  chores, laundry, cleaning, gardening, daily school, taxiing to somewhere…

I thought of the Israelites in their 40 year “everyday” sojourn in the desert…they had “everyday”….although their food was provided, their clothes didn’t wear out…they did have highs and lows of creativity of the tabernacle, the celebrations, the given law…and finally the taking of the land at the end with homes, food provided again…the promised land…

Or Ruth…daily gleaning in the fields for food…only to celebrate a marriage with the owner and become in the lineage of David, Jesus…

Gideon, daily, secretly, gathering grain to care for his family, but then chosen to defeat the enemy….

And on through the Word, people living the “everyday “ life, persevering through life and death, highs and lows, the sweat of their brows…daily fishing, daily providing, daily learning….

Just as we still do now years and years later…and all the years in between….just as Solomon wrote….there is really nothing new under the sun…

Jesus, fulfilling promises made, living on His created earth, day after day, teaching, healing, compassionate, knowing his end and resurrection persevered in doing the everyday…

Thank YOU for the highs and and even the lows….the everyday….You are with us through it all…as we press on….

 Let us acknowledge the Lord;let us press on to acknowledge him.As surely as the sun rises,he will appear;he will come to us like the winter rains,like the spring rains that water the earth. Hos.6.3

 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil.3.12-14

 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. Jas.1.25

Through it all….by Andrae Crouch, a popular 1990’s song,

Last verse…

Through it all,

through it all,

I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.

I thank God for the mountains,

and I thank Him for the valleys,

I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.

For if I’d never had a problem,

I wouldn’t know God could solve them,

I’d never know what faith in God could do.

First encounters….

 First encounters….

Weddings have a way of making us reminisce about the past …first encounters…those planned and unplanned meetings of couples, families in the past and present…we look around at new faces and old familiar ones…

I thought of the first time I met my future husband, in a dorm at college…did I sense that he was the one I would marry…

Or when he first met my parents…(my mom had suggest to my dad beforehand to invite my “boyfriend “ to breakfast, to which my father replied protectively, “I am not just going to ask any ole yahoo”…) he asked him to breakfast…then we all went to meet his parents…friends to the end…going away from the meeting, thinking these are really nice people…

Or when we met each of our children’s future spouses and then their parents…going away with the same…”those  are really nice people”…hoping they feel the same…

We share family events, children and then grandchildren and maybe great grandchildren over the years…we may not see one another but once a year or more…but there is that connection that we hold dear…those first moments of introduction, those first impressions…and then long term friendships…

We add new characters to our books of life…

Thinking of first encounters…Adam and God….Adam and Eve…Isaac and Rebekah…

 So the  God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the  God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. Gen.2.21-22

 Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?”“He is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself. Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.  Gen.24.62-67

Down through the ages of the Word…Samuel and God…David and Samuel, Ruth and Boaz…Isaiah, Jonah, Jeremiah , Elijah and the widow….

The disciples and Jesus, the encounter on the road to Emmaus, Paul on the road to Damascus, Paul in the multitude of churches….

And many, many more first encounters…life long and changing relationships…

Our encounters with the Creator, the Savior, the Prince of Peace, Emmanuel …am I engaged, seeking  the most important relationship….the one that lasts an eternity not just an earthly, temporal time…

 Look to the  Lord and his strength;seek his face always. Ps.105.4

 You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. John.15.14-17

Thank YOU….

Dear Don, Mom and Dad, Grandmas and Grandpas

 Dear Don, Mom and Dad, Grandmas and Grandpas,

I remember a time when we all wrote once a week, letters about everyday experiences, what was the latest news of our lives.

I still think of  those letters,  telling of school activities, dates, proms…

Don, we wrote so much the summer before we were engaged and married. You were working out of McCall, Idaho, in purposed wilderness areas… I was a nanny in Seattle…thick, voluminous letters…

This letter is a bit hard today, as well as joyous wrapped into one…

Am missing you, wishing you were here for this new occasion…

A bit nostalgic…I see pictures of you, Don, teary eyed at each one of our  children’s weddings, walking your daughters down the aisles at the places they chose…or watching your sons as they took their new wives’ hands….

Holding your firstborn grandchild, and then playing with each child as they came…wrestling on the floor or bouncing them on your foot…encouragement…

Mom and Dad, your hugs to each grandchild and grandchildren…pats on the back, teasing, laughing , telling stories, walks in the woods…sharing life….encouragement….

I won’t dismiss the harder times, they were there as well…character building…life and death times…losing family, grandparents, through sickness and health…till death parted us…on this earthly journey…

But, each child, each grandchild and great grandchild has inherited some of your traits whether biological or not…artistic, storytelling, laughter, musical, diligence, caring, giving, analytical, perseverance, resourcefulness, planning , thoughtfulness…to name few…

I know you are not here physically, but a part of you is here in us all…

Thank YOU for your blessings, bringing us together as You chose…families…

 Know therefore that the  your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments …Deut.7.9

 Remember the days of old;consider the generations long past.Ask your father and he will tell you,your elders, and they will explain to you.Deut.32.7

 

Don’s favorite verse… “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened…Luke.11.9-10

Marriage…

 

Marriage…

My oldest grandchild is getting married this weekend….what a blessing…

Watching his birth is like yesterday and eons ago  at the same time…what a blessing that was…

Growing up years, traveling various times together, his laughter and love…pictures of each stage of his life…berry picking (and eating), smiles, learning to pan  gold from his grandfather, riding a “coot” with his great grandfather, school pics, mission trips….

And now a new adventure…

What wisdom do we pass down to the next generation for marriage? The whole Word…

 Love the  your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates…Deut.6.-9

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.Jer.29.11-13

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.1Cor.13.4-7

 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.Gal.6.2

 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, 1Thess.5.11a

 Ask, Seek, Knock“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matt.7.7-8 (grandpa Don’s favorite)

Just a few…

Thank YOU for this event and all the years that led to this day…

https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/engagement-newlyweds/-things-ive-learned-first-year-into-marriage.html

https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/encouragement/the-best-marriage-advice-i-ever-received-encouragement-for-today-august-13-2015.html

https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/7-of-the-greatest-needs-of-a-wife.html

https://twodrifters.us/blog/marriage-advice-for-newlyweds.html

https://guidedoc.com/26-best-pieces-marriage-advice-for-newlyweds

https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/divorce-and-remarriage/bad-habits-that-can-destroy-your-marriage.html

“Toe stompers”….

 “Toe stompers”

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us…

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1John 1:7-10

Our women’s Bible Study is reading through a book by the late Jerry Bridges, “Respectable Sins”, written in 2007.  

The table of contents lists the chapters, subjects he covered …

1. Ungodliness 

2. Anxiety and frustration 

3. Discontentment 

4. Unthankfulness 

5. Pride

6. Lack of self-control

7. Impatience and irritability 

8. Anger

9. Judgmentalism

10. Envy, jealousy, and related sins

11. Sins of the tongue 

12. Worldliness 

Not only these headings, some chapters are further broken down into subtopics….

Like Pride- 

1. Moral self-righteousness 

2. Pride of correct doctrine 

3. Pride of achievement 

4. An independent spirit

We tend to think of the Galatians list…

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and  envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal.5.19-21

Or the Ten Commandments, or the “biggies”- murder, etc…

Forgetting that the fruit of the Spirit…each fruit has an opposite…no love, joylessness, unkind, no self-control, etc..

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Gal.5.22-26

I don’t know about anyone else, but the topics have stomped on my toes numerous times…am almost to the point of wearing thicker boots and the use of crutches…my “toes” are so bruised and broken…having resorted to the use of 1John 1:9 unceasingly…asking forgiveness…….wanting only to exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit,  walking in righteousness and the light, not the opposite…

Thank YOU…

Quiet…

 

Quiet…

Some of my neighbors have the TV going from the time they get up in the morning until they go to bed  at night, movies, news, soaps, etc…adding children in the mix…there is always talking or background noise…

As contrasted to me, my house is silent with occasional music or maybe TV in the evening…I like quiet…

But, even with or without the background noise, there can be distractions of many kinds…

I was thinking of this as one of my signs on the wall is, ““Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations,I will be exalted in the earth. Ps.46.10…

Further, reading Mark 15…”Jesus made no further answer “….and then Pilate put the sign on the cross…

I wondered what Pilate went on to believe…he had an answer right before him…the silent answer…was Pilate still and did he come to know God…will he be among the crowd in heaven….

I am just  contemplating….

Looking up “silent” and “quiet”…this verse in Zephaniah touched my heart as well…quiet and loud…thank YOU that You quiet me with your love…

The  Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;he will rejoice over you with gladness;he will quiet you by his love;he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Jesus Delivered to Pilate-And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate.And the chief priests accused him of many things.And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him,” You have said so”.

 And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.”

But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.

And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.”Mark.15.1-5, 26

So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. Luke.23.9

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations,I will be exalted in the earth. Ps.46.10

All we like sheep have gone astray;we have turned—every one—to his own way;and the  has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,yet he opened not his mouth;like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,so he opened not his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away;and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living,stricken for the transgression of my people?

And they made his grave with the wickedand with a rich man in his death,although he had done no violence,and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Isa.53:6-9

 

Three fingers back…

 Three fingers back…

There are times when I read through the Word, books about the Word, devotionals, etc, that I just want to copy down passages and send them on to various people who are struggling with particular areas…I just want to say, “look, this pertains to you and your struggles, do this and things will go better…”

I want to be their “counselor, their truth revealer “…pointing my finger at their weaknesses, their “ lack of growth or understanding” from my self appointed pedestal….

Oh, how self-righteous, “holier than thou” I can be….

Then I am reminded over and over that while I may be pointing one finger at them, three are pointing back at me…humbled by my presumptuousness…

While I may want to take the speck from another, I have a log of my own…

The Real Holy Spirit works much better in our life…my job is to encourage, stand beside, build up…learn…obey…

3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Matthew 7:3-5

Thank YOU…

https://gccsatx.com/hymns/show-us-christ/

Show Us Christ Lyrics, Doug Plank, Bob Kauflin

VERSE 1

Prepare our hearts, O God

Help us to receive

Break the hard and stony ground

Help our unbelief

Plant Your Word down deep in us

Cause it to bear fruit

Open up our ears to hear

Lead us in Your truth

CHORUS

Show us Christ, show us Christ

O God, reveal Your glory

Through the preaching of Your Word

Until every heart confesses Christ is Lord



VERSE 2

Your Word is living light

Upon our darkened eyes

Guards us through temptations

Makes the simple wise

Your Word is food for famished ones

Freedom for the slave

Riches for the needy soul

Come speak to us today

BRIDGE

Where else can we go, Lord

Where else can we go

You have the words of eternal life