Unfiltered....

Unfiltered....

 One doesn’t have to go too far to hear language that makes you cringe...or maybe we have gotten used to it as words that discourage, tear down, harm, have been slowly becoming everyday language...

Gone, it seems, are the days when we didn’t hear swear words or vulgarity in conversation...or apology for saying something “off color”...

My dad rarely swore, nor my grandfather or father in law or husband...we didn’t teach our children to swear or use words that weren’t appropriate.

Now depending on which programs you watch, movies, books, the language is anything but, uplifting...even the politicians and leaders of our country feel the need to be unfiltered in their words...

I was reminded of this as I read the simple verses in Ephesians...

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 

speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. 

Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:4,19-20

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. 

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 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.

Ephesians 4:29-32 

The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good.

Psalm 36:3

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

Psalm 19:14

His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.

Psalm 55:21

They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.

Psalm 64:3

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

Psalm 119:103,130

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 16:24

Going through the book of Proverbs gives light to a variety of words which tear down or build up...persuasive, reckless, kind, gracious...to name a few...

37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 12:37

they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions

1 Timothy 6:4

Thank YOU...help my words build up, be gracious to all who hear....not cringe worthy to tear down...

Praying in love...

Praying in love....

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:16-21

As I reread this passage today, I pictured this man kneeling or standing with with outstretched arms, praying with joy and exuberance for these people for whom he desired so much...filled...rooted...established...strengthened...faithful...loved...knowledgeable....

Do I stand or kneel with such heartfelt words, praying for those whom God has graciously laid on my heart...

Thank YOU for the picture, the words, the reminder for diligence in prayer...

Neighborhood trees ...and life...

Neighborhood trees....and life...

I have several paths for morning walks around the neighborhoods...I can pass older homes, new construction, new homes, schools, churches, a canal which passes through it all...

There are towering thick-based cottonwoods, pines, in the older homes’ yards....Russian olive trees along the canal serving as protection and food for the various birds and wildlife that reside there...new trees by the new homes...middle-aged trees by the middle-aged homes...diseased trees needing removal...unhealthy trees which need some TLC....trees that are in dire need of pruning...fruit trees which are providing delicious crops of apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches, walnuts, nectarines...flowering trees giving off  wonderful aromas....ornamental trees designed to show their beauty...shade trees which cool the summer heated air...short trees, tall trees, fat trees,  round trees, collinear trees.... a multitude of greens against the morning sky...a variety each with their own purpose...just like the people whom they surround...

As I attended church I found the same variety of people....There are the older aged people...people who encourage, mentor, protect...new members, attenders...middle-aged...unhealthy and diseased who need extra TLC...fruitful, aromatic members...all shaped and sized and colors...each filling a spot that has a purpose for them alone...

God has designed everything and everyone with purpose ...from the towering trees to the tiniest infant...each lending itself to the picture of life He gave us here...how he must delight in the variety and creativity...

Thank YOU...

Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds. ” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:11-12 

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 

How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! 

Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand — when I awake, I am still with you.

Psalm 139:13-18 

for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Philippians 2:13 

Servants....

Servants...

Just finishing up reading Colossians...my Bible,  asks two questions:

1. Of the qualities used to describe these people, which one would you like others to say about you in five years?
2. What from this book has helped you develop a more thankful heart?

All through this short book Paul admonishes these people to be thankful as well as us who have the privilege to be reading this hundreds of years later...the same word that was good for them has been good for those reading it down through the ages...God speaking truth has no limits...

Especially in Chapter 4 he lists specific people who have worked with him and are an encouragement...

1. Dear brother, faithful minister, fellow servant
2. Encourager 
3. Proved a comfort
4. Wrestling in prayer
5. Working hard

It is like he wrote the book and finishes it with people who have the qualities he wrote about...

What would be my  description if someone were to write about me?

Would I be found faithful, thankful in the work that has been given me?

In chapter 4, verse 17, he tells a man to ““See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”

Am I going about doing the ministry for which I have been called or that has been prepared for me...? Oh, I hope am...

Thank YOU for the encouragement of Your Word which touches our hearts and encourages us to move, seeking that which you have set before us...help me to be found d faithful, prayerful, thankful, comforting, working...

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people — the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel...

being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

Colossians 1:3-5,11-12

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. 

Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. 

And be thankful. 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Colossians 2:6-7,3:12-15,17,4:2 

Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here. 

My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 

Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 

Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 

Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”

Colossians 4:7-13,17

Subtle rain

Filtered light...

Filtered light....

Being amongst the trees in Oregon for a week, one becomes accustomed to filtered light...there is a canopy of trees, bushes filtering out the harsh sunshine, cooling down the surrounding air, shifting with the breezes...at that time, without that filtering, it would have been hot with 90 degree weather...

Where I live, the trees are newly planted and don’t cast much of a shadow for shade....

But what intrigued me was the filtered light designs of the various plants and foliage...so showing a few...the designs the shadows, contrasts, lights are beautiful...

But it also  caused me to think about the veil which Moses wore...he came back to camp with radiance after speaking with the Lord...he veiled his face, but unveiled it again in speaking to the Lord...but that “filtered light” was still shining through to those around him...beautiful...

My question to myself, “ do I have that light, that radiance of closeness to God shining through?” Am I being transformed as spoken of in 2 Corinthians? Not filtering the light but shining, unveiled?

Thank YOU for the pictures yet again of your glory in your Word and your work...shine through me...

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. 

When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 

But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. 

Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai. 

When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 

But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. 

And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. 

Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.

Exodus 34:29-35 

 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

2 Corinthians 3:16

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18

Psalm 23 again...

Psalm 23...

As I was walking near one of my daughter’s home, I couldn’t help but take this picture...it so reminded me of the quiet waters spoken of in Psalm 23... right now...(I have seen the same creek raging with water in winter months...)

I was refreshed by just hearing and view I got from the creek as it ran through the lush green forest...

While in Israel this spring, we passed over many streams, some dry rock beds, some full rivers, as well as the Jordan streams gushing out of the mountain side...going down into the lush Sea of Galilee finding its way to the Dead Sea...

The now quiet stream I saw recently depicted that refreshing sense of care as did those streams in faraway Israel...as God was with me in each place...thank YOU...

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 me in 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 Lord forever.

Psalm 23:1-6