Tuesday, September 28, 2010

CORRUPT

Genesis 6:11 NAS
Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence.

Pick up the newspaper, turn on the television or radio and what you will hear and see is violence. Someone has been stabbed, shot, raped, or robbed. Today there was a shooting on the campus of UT Austin, Texas.

Domestic violence is of high priority. A spouse gets upset when things are not going the way they want it to. Instead of seeking help to work out their problems they will pick up a gun, stalk, harass, or even try to run down the other person. It doesn't have to be a man, it can be a woman, who does something to the other.

Perhaps there is children involved. Children are the innocent victims. They are defenseless.

From Cain and Abel's time there has been corruption. Evil has spread throughout our world. People forget to treat others like they would like to be treated. It's do unto others before they do unto me. The Bible tells us that throughout history there has been corruption and it seems to get worse through the ages.

Our God is a loving God and He gives us plenty of time to follow Him. He knocks on your heart asking to dwell within you. But you cannot continue to ignore Him. Even though he gives us so much time one day He will stop knocking. By ignoring Him your heart will become hardened towards Him. I pray you will not let one more day go by without accepting Him and living with Him in eternity.

Dear Heavenly Father I thank You for being Your child and giving me life everlasting. Amen.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

SHADOW

Psalm 36:7 NIV
How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.


I've been going through some low points lately. You know what I mean, feeling out of sorts, not wanting to do anything, go any where. Things seem to go askew during the day. I didn't feel like God was close to me although I prayed each day for His guidance.

Yes, we've all been there at sometime or another. You just don't feel His presence. That doesn't mean He isn't there. He is always there. Like the poem 'Footprints' says He carries us even when we think He has abandoned us. We are so in tune with our wants, our ways, our miseries, and our needs that we think we can handle all things, we can do all things ourselves. Our Lord is there waiting, carrying us, holding us in the palm of His hands.

It doesn't matter who you are, where you are, or how rich or beautiful you are, God is there waiting for you to lay your troubles, problems, cares, and prayers at His feet. He sees no race, creed, or riches. He wants to keep us in the shadow of His protective wings. He wants to have fellowship with us through our prayers or daily talks with Him.

Gracious Heavenly Father always keep me in the shadow of Your wings and Your loving arms around me. May I always seek Your guidance. Amen.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

DICIPLINE

Hebrews 12:6 NAC
For those whom the Lord loves he disciplines, and He scourges every one whom He receives.

I've been trying, but not trying hard enough, to discipline myself into getting up earlier each morning so I can have quiet time. Then get to the gym to exercise. And that is not going very good.

Going on a diet is even a bigger challenge of discipline in my life. Without thinking I'll go to the refrigerator and grab something to tide me over, not thinking about what I put in my mouth. Purging my cupboards is low on my to do list. I tell myself just because I'm on a diet why punish my husband, who by the way, says he could go on a diet also.

In the end, I have to say I do not live a disciplined life! It's a bold, eye opening, gut wrenching, statement, but it's the truth.

Sometimes I spend more money than I should and then I feel bad about it. I should have been more diciplined with our money. Thinking before doing is going to be my new motto.

God wants us to think before we do. Our lives get so cluttered with things, laziness, too much to eat, and you get the picture. We have too many toys, too many trinkets. I speak for myself on the toys and trinkets. My life is overflowing with so many things when there are people out there that could use my time, money, and the overflow of things.

Proverbs 5:23 (NIV) says "He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly." The NAS version says "He will die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he will go astray."

Both versions say basically the same thing. If you do not discipline your life you will surely pay. One way or the other you will pay.

Our Lord wants me to reign with Him throughout all eternity and I know I must get my priorities straight by being more disciplined.

Dear Father I pray for Your guidance. Help me get my priorities right and take better control of my life. To live my life for You Lord. Amen.

Friday, September 17, 2010

IN THE BEGINNING

Genesis 1:1 NAS
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

As a writer I write a story or an article with a beginning, middle, and an ending. So too are our lives.

We are born, we live our busy lives getting married, having children, raising children, living our golden years, and then we pass away. I've often wondered would anyone know I even existed? Did I make a difference? Did anyone really care that I lived?

Besides my children, other wise they wouldn't be here, God cares. In the beginning He created man to enjoy fellowship with him.

Job 8:7 (NAS) says Though your beginning was insignificant, yet your end will increase greatly. Job was blameless, upright, fearing God and turned away from evil. Through his many trials and difficulties his love and faith for our Lord never wavered. In the end God rewarded him greatly.

Proverbs 8: 22-23 (NAS) says The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old. From everlasting I was established, from the beginning from the earliest times of the earth. God knew all about me before I was born. He knew my name, who I was, and He loved me. The many times I strayed from His word, the not so good things I did in my life, but still He loved me. He loves me.

God created a perfect world for not so perfect people. He gave us free will so we can choose to walk with Him or to walk with the world.

He has always been with me even when I didn't feel His presence. I was the one that had strayed and was trying to find my way back. I'm been brought to my knees a few times because I thought I could handle my life without Him. Without God I am nothing and can do nothing, but with God I can do all things.

Dear Father in Heaven I thank You for knowing me before I was born and that You are with me at all times. I praise Your Hold Name for who You are and what You do in my life and my loved ones lives. I am blessed. Amen.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

MY BELOVED

Song Of Solomon 4:1 NAS
"How beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil: your hair is like a flock of goats that have descended from Mount Gilead."

Last weekend I was privileged to be at my granddaughter's wedding. What a lovely sight as she walked down the aisle, weeping, as did I. Tears of joy. Her gold tiara held her strawberry blond hair in place. Baby blue eyes glistened as she approached her beloved. Full red lips ready to say the words "I do."

The groom's mother, a pastor herself, between tears of joy and long pauses, pronounced them man and wife amid sounds of amens and clapping. What a joyous celebration. His father was his best man. A family tied together through the love of Jesus Christ our Savior. I knew my granddaughter would have guidance to walk with the Lord.

As I watched throughout the ceremony it brought to mind how Solomon felt towards his bride. His expressive words of love to a beautiful girl from the country. The Song of Songs is a poetic record of Solomon's actual romance with a Shulammite woman. It traces his falling in love, united in love, struggling in love, and then growing in love.

The Song Of Somomon pictures Israel as God's bride and the Church as the bride of Christ. As human life finds its fulfillment in the love of man and woman, so does spiritual life finds its highest fulfillment in the love of God for His people.

Gracious Heavenly Father I pray You keep my grandchildren in Your hands and that they always look to You for guidance in all things. Amen.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

DIETS

Matthew 6:25 NAS
I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?

Like so many others I have struggled all my life with keeping my weight under control. Sometimes I win but most of the time my weight gains the upper hand.

We like to savor our food. Restaurants give us more than we can eat or that our bodies need at each sitting. Many people will go to the restaurant, place their order and then ask for a to go box along with their order. This way when the food arrives they immediately take half, place it in the box, and take it home, only eating what is left on their plate.

Husbands and wives will go to a restaurant and order one meal and an extra plate. My husband and I do this occasionally, but should do it more often. Sometimes when I go to a restaurant I'm so hungry and my eyes are bigger than my stomach, so I will order, and then try to eat it all. Then I'm sick for the rest of the evening. You get what I'm talking about.

Then there is the exercise. Yes the exercise. Commercials draw us in on the newest gadgets and how they will help you loose weight by using their machine only a few minutes a couple of days a week. We guarantee it! Have you heard that before?

In 1 Corinthians 6:20 it says "Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

My body is not mine but a temple for my Lord. God has given me free will to choose for myself. How I use that free will depends on how far I stray from God's word and talking to Him in my quiet time.

I've taken stock of my life, how I've let my eating habits go by the wayside, and not exercising the way I should. It's time to take control and get back on course again.

Dear Heavenly Father forgive me for being lazy and letting Your temple go adrift. I pray for Your guidance to get it back on track again. Amen