Compensation….

 Compensation….

Before I start on the title, I have to admit to grumbling a bit during this one armed ordeal….

I was walking up the steps of the local Post office…grumbling along the way…it seems like it takes twice as much  time to do things with one arm, the other arm gets tired, need to watch balance more, etc., etc., etc…..so attitude was not thankful in that moment…

I turned the corner after opening the heavy door to enter and coming toward me was a woman, shorter, older, on crutches with one leg…not one in a cast waiting to be healed, but missing…

And she smiled at me as I held the door for her with my one arm…a sharp arrow to my grumbling…

Okay,  back to compensation,  I have learned to do a lot of compensation…my pointer finger has become my “thumb” for a bit, while my middle finger has tried to become my pointer for  a little grip on easy things, my other hand has taken up the slack somewhat…neither has done the job well and all get tired doing double duty….

All of our body parts have a function…they do what they do the best…when one is missing in action, others try to help and are a helpful, but the whole is thankful when everything is working is their rightful places…

Sounds a bit like the family, the body of Christ…we fit together to work together in the places for which we are designed….everything goes much more smoothly when everyone is not trying to compensate for a broken or missing part…

Thank YOU…for Your plan…

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 

And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 

If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? 

If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 

If all were a single member, where would the body be? 

As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 

On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. 

But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 

If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Micah 6:8…He has shown me….

 

Micah 6:8. He has shown me….

This praise song keeps ringing through my mind this morning…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5Tb4-riE7o

It is from a portion of scripture found in the book, Micah…subtitled, “ What does the Lord require?

“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? 

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? 

Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” 

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:6-8

We are studying through Zechariah and came to a similar passage in Sunday School yesterday .

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”

Zechariah 7:9-10

Solomon touches on the same theme….

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.

Proverbs 21:21

Isaiah …. 58

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ 

If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. 

And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Isaiah 58:7-11

35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Matthew 25:35-40

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Romans 2:4

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 1:27 

Just few verses…of kindnesses, faithfulness, stewardship, giving…here in Idaho, we have just finished a week of giving, “ Idaho Gives”, with much donated to many causes…just starting the Pregnancy center giving for this next month….there are always causes to fund…camps, food banks, building projects, benevolent funds….we each have to search our hearts to hear what God wants us to do…where to expend our energies….

Thank YOU….

Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:2

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.

Hosea 10:12

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 6:9-10

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 

As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 

You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 

For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

2 Corinthians 9:6-12

Here I am, there you are….

 Here I am, there you are…

A friend recently shared these two attitudes with me…

When we enter a room, what do we portray….The “look at me, serve me” or “ I am here to serve you”….convicting, isn’t it…

Jesus addressed this situation… 

And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” 

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Mark 12:38-44

Solomon speaks of it…

One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

Proverbs 29:23 

Isaiah brings it up…

 And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

Isaiah 2:17

Jeremiah talks of  Moab…

We have heard of the pride of Moab— he is very proud— of his loftiness, his pride, and his arrogance, and the haughtiness of his heart. I know his insolence, declares the Lord; his boasts are false, his deeds are false.

Jeremiah 48:29-30

Obadiah wrote of it…

The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord.

Obadiah 1:3-4

John conveys it…

For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life —is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

1 John 2:16-17

So what attitude do I need…

Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! 

Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:13-14

For the Lord  takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.

Psalm 149:4 

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:2

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10

rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 

Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 

13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 

15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 

16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

John 13:4-5,12-16

Thinking through this last scripture, Jesus washed all of his disciples’ feet, even Judas, who would betray him…Jesus served his betrayer….just as he died for all…even those who deny him…

Thank YOU….help me to be the “there you are” servant….

A thoughtful quote…

 “A lie doesn’t become truth. wrong doesn’t become right. And evil doesn’t become good. Just because it’s accepted by the majority “…Booker T. Washington…

A thoughtful quote…

This quote by Booker T. Washington brought to mind many instances/quotes from scripture that show the same…

On a trip across America, our family stopped at Tuskegee University after having studied about Mr. Washington in school…it was quite impressive…

George Washington Carver was also a professor there. He prayed about the many uses of the abundant crop of peanuts and sweet potatoes…coming up with a multitude of recipes…

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/booker-t-washington#:~:text=Booker%20T.%20Washington%20%281856-1915%29%20was%20born%20into%20slavery,advised%20Presidents%20Theodore%20Roosevelt%20and%20William%20Howard%20Taft.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booker_T._Washington

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

The Word addresses lies, liars, deceivers ….from the garden where Satan deceived Eve  to the end when Satan, the deceiver, is thrown into the lake of fire…

Over the ages, lies still don’t become truth…no matter how much we polish, shine and reword it…

I would ask that we seek truth…the Holy Spirit teaches us and leads us into truth…

Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

Psalm 25:5

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

Psalm 86:11 

The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Psalm 119:160

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

John 14:6,17,26 

Thank YOU…

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Genesis 3:1-5,13-15 

But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

Psalm 63:11

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

John 8:44

Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

1 John 2:22

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world— he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Revelation 12:9

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Revelation 21:8

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 

Preparedness….

 Preparedness….

As I watch, storms, wars, floods, fires..the thoughts of preparedness for these survivors has kept coming to mind…and then in Bible study we touched on it as well…being prepared to leave, evacuate quickly…what do you take at a moment’s notice…what do you fill a box or suitcase with…what is important…what do we need…

One article lists the “p’s of preparation …

• “People

• Pets

• Papers (important documents)

• Phone numbers

• Prescriptions (medications and glasses)

• Pictures (and other mementos)

• PCs (for the info stored on them)

• Plastic (credit cards, cash)

• Planning”

(Notice, no clothing😊)

There are a multitude of articles, a few listed below…

From Genesis to Revelation, the word “prepare” is used…preparing meals, the temple, preparing for war, etc…man’s preparations and God’s preparations…

Reading through some of God’s preparations, I so appreciate them…He has and is preparing so much for his own…our preparation is coming to Him in repentance and humility believing on the Lord Jesus Christ…no suitcases of papers, worldly goods, no amount of money or credit cards, identification, extra food…he has all we need…

Thank YOU….

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalm 23:5

2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

John 14:2-3

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

1 Corinthians 2:9

For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

2 Corinthians 5:2-5

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:1-4

https://washingtondnr.wordpress.com/2014/07/29/be-ready-for-wildfires-with-the-9-ps-of-preparedness/

https://www.ready.gov/kit

https://www.aarp.org/home-family/your-home/info-2020/emergency-preparedness.html?cmp=KNC-DSO-COR-DisasterPreparedness-15205-Bing-EmergencyPreparedness-Phrase-NonBrand&&msclkid=15a1135b65d311a4a2bc71290883995a&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Core-DisasterPreparedness-NonBrand-Phrase&utm_term=emergency%20preparedness&utm_content=Emergency%20Preparedness&gclid=15a1135b65d311a4a2bc71290883995a&gclsrc=3p.ds

https://createthegood.aarp.org/volunteer-guides/operation-hurricane-prepare.html

https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/history/info-2019/surviving-deadly-wildfire.html

Touchstone…..to basis…to cornerstone…

 

Touchstone…to basis….to cornerstone…

Definition of touchstone

1

: a fundamental or quintessential part or feature : BASIS

Definition of basis

1

: the bottom of something considered as its foundation

Definition of cornerstone

1

: a stone forming a part of a corner or angle in a wall

specifically : such a stone laid at a formal ceremony

2

: a basic element : FOUNDATION……Merriam Webster 

“The cornerstone (or foundation stone or setting stone) is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation. All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.” Wikipedia…

Was reading about “touchstones”, places that we have in our lives that may bring peace, change, a foundation….they may be painful places or not, a physical place, or emotional or spiritual…places our hearts long for or not, places that can make us who we are…they can build us up, tear us down…and  we may need to lay a new touchstone to replace a painful one…make a new foundation for our lives…

The definitions of touchstone goes into basis…what is our basis of life? We have to answer that…and find the real foundation….the cornerstone…the stone the sets the standard…

We each make that decision…

Who or what is my foundation?

Joshua, of long ago made the  statement, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord .”

Joshua 24:15b

Thousand of generations since then have made their choice one way or another…who will be their foundation and we are still making it now….

Thank YOU….

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Psalm 118:22

therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’

Isaiah 28:16

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Matthew 21:42

This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:11-12

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:20-22

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 

So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

1 Peter 2:4-7 

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,  not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

2 Peter 3:9-10

The sun, the moon, the stars….

 The sun, the moon, the stars….

Yesterday was an eclipse…I watched it sporadically as it was happening in the Southern Hemisphere….recording in the Antarctic….

Just so interesting…the lifestream screen included running comments from people all over the world…

From…”this is boring”, to “why is this taking soooo long”, to “amazing”…

With political comments thrown in and God’s word quoted…salvation proclaimed as well as prayers for the Ukraine, to “ hey, no religious/political stuff”….

Yet, we all still watched God’s creation….thank YOU….

https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Sun-Moon-And-Stars-Before-God

https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-solar-eclipse/