Category: Relationship

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Common Sense Isn’t so Common Anymore

We’ve discussed this before but there seems to be a lack of common sense and wisdom. Common sense isn’t so common anymore.

I used to read a chapter a day in Proverbs but the older I get I find that I need to break it down in smaller segments than that so I can really try to absorb what Solomon is saying. And after all these years, I am still finding new truths that I overlooked or didn’t see in the past.

I guess that’s wisdom!

“Good people think before they answer,
but the wicked speak evil without ever thinking.
29 The Lord never even hears the prayers of the wicked,
but he answers the prayers of all who obey him.
30 A friendly smile makes you happy,
and good news makes you feel strong.
31 Healthy correction is good, and if you accept it,
you will be wise.
32 You hurt only yourself by rejecting instruction,
but it makes good sense to accept it.
33 Showing respect to the Lord will make you wise,
and being humble will bring honor to you.”
Proverbs 15:28-33 CEV

1) It’s important that we give thought to the words we speak. Jesus said that life and death are in the power of the tongue. Words can have a mighty impact and so we should choose them well. A wise person will do that.

2) Take time to smile and bring good news. I make a conscious effort to keep a smile on my face. It improves my own outlook. A smile shared is a smile multiplied. (If you smile at someone they generally smile back and that’s multiplication).

3) Accept correction and good advice. It’s beneficial! We can learn from others. We don’t have all the answers or know everything about anything so accepting advice and correction is a step toward wisdom.

4) Giving the Lord his rightful place, a place of reverence, is wise. When we give the Father and His Word first place we are truly wise.

So smile today and be willing to accept instruction or correction and keep the Lord first…you’ll have a near perfect day!

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Forgiveness is Important

For over a week now the Lord has really been impressing me with how important forgiveness is. This truth brings me to focus on how much I have been forgiven.

To the Lord, sin is sin. We sometimes refer to the “little white lie” or “one of the big sins” but that’s not how God sees is at all. In fact in James we’re told if we break one we are guilty of all.

“But if you treat some people better than others, you have done wrong, and the Scriptures teach that you have sinned.

10 If you obey every law except one, you are still guilty of breaking them all.” James 2:9-10 CEV

This isn’t an indictment to show us how bad we are but it is a revelation that not one of us can earn our own salvation, we all need Jesus!

Bringing us back to forgiveness we must understand that as the Lord forgives everyone of our sins and shortcomings we must also forgive.

This morning I was reading a devotional by Max Lucado and it hit home. I’d like to share it with you.

“A Grace Giver

Forgiveness is not foolishness. Forgiveness, at its core, is choosing to see your offender with different eyes. By the way, how can we grace-recipients do anything less? Dare we ask God for grace when we refuse to give it? This is a huge issue in Scripture! Jesus was tough on sinners who refused to forgive other sinners.
Remember his story in Matthew 18, about the servant freshly forgiven a debt of millions who refused to forgive a debt equal to a few dollars? He stirred the wrath of God. “You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt. Shouldn’t you have mercy just as I had mercy on you?” (Matthew 18:32). In the final sum, we give grace because we’ve been given grace. And we’ve been given grace so we can freely give it. See your enemies as God’s child and revenge as God’s job.
From Facing Your Giants”

Each of us will have opportunities today to forgive, I pray we are grace-filled in each situation.

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Spending Time in My Yard

I find a great deal of pleasure spending time in my yard. I love pruning the flowers and taking care of the plants.

When we lived in Spokane, Hayden and Dillon we always had large yards and it was my job to do the mowing. Not a riding lawnmower mind you but a gas push mower. I said on more than one occasion that I didn’t need a gym membership because I had at least 3/4 of acre of yard.

And even earlier than that – when we lived in Buckeye and I lspent most of my day on a swather cutting hay or on a baler I realized that time was my own – it was my place to be with my thoughts.

In that time – mowing, I did fill my thoughts with conversation with the Father. Sometimes those were thoughts of complaint and others were prayerful thoughts of love and adoration. And now, the time I spend in the yard taking care of my flowers and providing for the hummingbirds is a source of strength as I listen for the Father’s voice.

Remember the old hymn, I Come to the Garden? Well I find that while I’m there it’s a perfect time to walk and talk with the Father!

I used to deal with feelings of unworthiness and insecurity. I couldn’t be good enough for the Lord to truly love me and I wasn’t talented enough for Him to want to use me. But these times spent with the beauty He created gave me a real connection with His great love.

I used to ask the same question as the Psalms “what is man that thou are mindful of him”.

Yes Father, who am I that you are mindful of me? Why do you think about me? What do you think about me?

You created man for fellowship. You wanted someone to hang with – someone to walk and talk with – someone to share your heart with and so you created man. WOW!

You became our Father and you really like doing stuff with us! Thank you! O Lord, our Lord how majestic is your name – how majestic it is to hang with you today!

“Lord our Lord, your name is the most wonderful in all the earth! It brings you praise everywhere in heaven.
2 From the mouths of children and babies come songs of praise to you. They sing of your power to silence your enemies who were seeking revenge.
3 I look at the heavens you made with your hands. I see the moon and the stars you created.
4 And I wonder, “Why are people so important to you? Why do you even think about them? Why do you care so much about humans? Why do you even notice them?”
5 But you made them almost like gods and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You put them in charge of everything you made. You put everything under their control.
7 People rule over the sheep and cattle and all the wild animals.
8 They rule over the birds in the sky and the fish that swim in the sea.
9 Lord our Lord, your name is the most wonderful name in all the earth!” Psalm 8 ERV

I encourage you today to find your quiet place – your garden and go alone so He can walk and talk with you and tell you of His great love!

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