Category: Relationship

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Opposing Functions

I love spending time with our grandkids. Last night we took Sam, our eight-year-old grandson for his belated birthday dinner.

We had been in Greece on his actual birthday and had Face Timed with him before he went to school that morning, but this was our night out. We went to Wendy’s. His choice.

We were talking with him about the things he likes and what he’s doing in school. He’s in third grade now and he’s learning division. I was impressed. We talked about addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, when he said this, “Those are opposing functions”.

I don’t think I even knew what a function was when I was in 3rd grade but yes, you’re right. They are opposing functions.

That phrase stuck with me the rest of the evening. I knew the Lord was trying to get through to me so, I stayed up after Dave went to bed and listened.

I realized there are several opposing functions in Scripture. We’ve looked at one the last two days, patience and impatience. However, it goes deeper than that.

“Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God.” II Corinthians 5:21 ERV

Now, that’s a mammoth opposing function. Christ took our sin, although He had never done anything contrary to God’s will and gave us His right standing with God, although we had never done anything worthy of righteousness.

“ He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” Romans 4:21-24 NLT

For a long time, I couldn’t see myself as righteous. That’s a religious word meaning in right standing. Every time I looked at my past, I saw all the ways I didn’t measure up and looking to the future, I had no hope that would change.

It was all about me! And I wasn’t good enough.

I had known verse 8 of Romans 5 from the time I was a little girl, but I remember the first time in my adult life when it rang true in my heart. I was sitting at my kitchen table, in a little rented house in Glendale, AZ. Dave was at work, Kim was at all-day kindergarten and Koy was napping in his room.

I had my Bible open and was praying for God to give me something to live by.

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” Romans 5:6-11 NLT

I cried then and I have tears in my eyes now.

Christ took my sin and made me a friend of God – now that’s an opposing function!

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Better Than

The theme of my morning Bible reading seemed to be “better than”. Let me explain.

First, I was reading in Isaiah, the last chapter, and I came across these words:

“My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine.
 I, the Lord, have spoken! ‘I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.'” Isaiah 66:2 NLT

It goes on to say that those who are trying to look religious and spiritual with all their actions have false and deceptive hearts. What God is looking for are the humble and repentant.

“But Samuel replied, ‘What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices
or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. 23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.” I Samuel 15:22-23 NLT

Samuel, the priest, was correcting King Saul because of his disobedience to what the Lord had said. Saul tried to cover up his rebellious acts by offering sacrifices but his heart wasn’t repentant.

Obedience is better than sacrifice.

From there, I went to the book of Proverbs. Solomon, in chapters 22 and 23, gives thirty wise sayings. He’s giving instruction to young men.

He says being wise is better than expending all your energy to get rich.

“Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.” vs 4

He goes on to say that keeping silent is better than wasting your advice on fools.

“Don’t waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.” vs 9

His next wise saying has to do with raising children. Discipline is better than letting our children live a disobedient life.

“Don’t fail to discipline your children. The rod of punishment won’t kill them. 14 Physical discipline may well save them from death.” vs 13-14

At this point, I encourage you to read the whole chapter, Proverbs 23, and look at the wise sayings of Solomon. I’ll end with this one. Avoiding drunkards and gluttons is better than joining in their ways.

“My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course. 20 Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons, for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in rags.” vs 19-21

These all seem like such obvious instructions, don’t they? Our heavenly Father cares about every area of our lives and He doesn’t want us to be caught unaware of its dangers. His loving instruction and compassion is better than life without Him.

“Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! 4 I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.” Psalm 63:3-4 NLT

This is what our Father intends for us:

“So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.” Colossians 1:9-10 NLT

We are promised wisdom and understanding and a life that produces good fruit as we grow in our knowledge of the Father.

A life of knowing God is BETTER THAN anything else!

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Do You See It?

Last night I heard someone use the expression, “I can see the handwriting on the wall”.

Do you know that expression is from the Bible? It’s from the book of Daniel. In Daniel chapter 5, a new king had replaced Nebuchadnezzar and his name was Belshazzar.

He decided to have a party for his rulers, their wives and his concubines. As the party went on he called for the golden goblets that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem years earlier. They filled them with wine and began toasting and praising their gods of gold, silver, bronze and stone.

“Suddenly, a person’s hand appeared and began writing on the wall. The fingers scratched words into the plaster on the wall, near the lampstand in the king’s palace. The king was watching the hand as it wrote.

6 King Belshazzar was very afraid. His face became white from fear, and his knees were shaking and knocking together. He could not stand up because his legs were too weak… His face was white from fear.” Daniel 5:5-9 ERV

The king’s wisest men couldn’t provide him with the answers he needed. Enter Belshazzar’s mother. She reminded him that Daniel had always provided the answers to King Nebuchadnezzar.

“12 The man I am talking about is named Daniel. The king gave him the name Belteshazzar. He is very smart and he knows many things. He could interpret dreams, explain secrets, and find the answer to very hard problems. Call for Daniel, he will tell you what the writing on the wall means.” Daniel 5:12 ERV

Daniel boldly proclaimed what God put in his heart. Daniel recounts how God revealed himself to Nebuchadnezzar. And then he finishes by saying, “You knew all this but you didn’t learn a thing.” He went on to hold Belshazzar accountable for his arrogance and worship of false gods. And then he interprets the writing on the wall.

“You gave praise to the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone. They are not really gods; they cannot see or hear or understand anything. But you did not give honor to the God who has the power over your life and everything you do. 24 So because of that, God sent the hand that wrote on the wall. 25 These are the words that were written on the wall:

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPARSIN.

26 “This is what these words mean:

Mene:

God has counted the days until your kingdom will end.

27 Tekel:

You have been weighed on the scales and found not good enough.

28 Uparsin:

Your kingdom is being taken from you.

It will be divided among the Medes and Persians.” Daniel 5: 22-28 ERV

And at the end of this chapter, Belshazzar gave Daniel the reward that he had promised to the one who could read the handwriting. And then he was killed and a new ruler, Darius the Mede, took the kingdom.

There is so much happening in our world today that can be seen as the handwriting on the wall. Not the scribbles of a child but the intervention of God into our lives. Daniel’s stand for God continued to bring him before kings. His boldness is an example to us.

When asked to give an answer, let God give us the words. Don’t apologize – but speak boldly what He puts in our hearts.

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Lighted Path

Recently I sent out a memo reminding our neighbors to take a flashlight if they were out walking after dark.

Living on the edge of the desert there are many animals that live nocturnal lives and it’s necessary that we are aware of our surroundings. We have javelina, coyote, and even snakes. Our home is backed up to a wash so have a series of solar lights lining the back edge of the property. We wouldn’t want to fall off in the darkness.

Light is good. At times, the darkness can be scary.

Have you ever been in a situation when you knew there was something out there – something out there in the dark – and you were afraid? However, when you saw it in the light of day it was only a tree branch or a strange rock formation or a small animal, something insignificant. Maybe you didn’t wait till light of day but instead you got out your spotlight or turned on the flood lights on the porch – when you could see things clearly, it wasn’t scary at all.

Well, that’s how I feel looking at things through the light of God’s word. It tells us that the Lord is our light and our salvation, whom shall I fear?

When we let God light our circumstances, we see that His light is bigger than our fears. We can trust Him and not be afraid!

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? 2 When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. 3 Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.

4 The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. 5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;  he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. 6 Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music.

7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! 8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” 9 Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! 10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.

11 Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me. 12 Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I’ve never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence. 13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.

14 Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” Psalm 27 NLT

God’s word will light our path and keep us safe!

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Making an Impact

Yesterday morning shortly after I finished writing this blog our grandkids started waking up. It was time to set aside the computer and instead of posting I watched the sunrise, all the while snuggling in the blanket and getting hugs and kisses…this blog needed to wait.

How will I be remembered? As I went to bed last night that was the question running through my mind.

Three little grandkids tucked in beds. They are 8, 6, and 4; Dave and I are not. We have 2 older grandchildren, 30 and 26. They will remember more about us than the younger ones. I thought about my grandparents. They lived in Iowa, and we lived in Arizona. I only remember them visiting a few times and we only made a couple of trips there.

My one grandmother came to Arizona for a few years after my grandfather died. She remarried and sadly, the only “grandpa” I really knew passed a few years later. Grama moved back to Iowa shortly after that but while she was there, I would walk to her house from my elementary school and have lunch with her.

She was a godly woman, short and always joyful. She was a prayer warrior. Each morning she would pray for her children, her grandchildren, great grandchildren, stepchildren and their children. She prayed for missionaries and friends, her siblings and their children. She did this for decades. She died and went to heaven at the age of 93.

“ I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” I Timothy 1:5 NLT

Will my grandchildren remember my faith and my love for the Lord? That’s the legacy I want to leave for them.

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 NLT

They will remember the baby chick pancakes and the big box of craft stuff. They will remember the donuts we bring ea.ch time we come and the special one-on-one time we share around their birthdays. The hunting for rocks, rides in the Razor and swimming together

“In the future your children will ask you, ‘What is the meaning of these laws, decrees, and regulations that the Lord our God has commanded us to obey?’

21 “Then you must tell them,…‘22 The Lord did miraculous signs and wonders before our eyes,…24 And the Lord our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear him so he can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as he has done to this day. 25 For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us.’” Deuteronomy 6:20-25 NLT

When our grandchildren ask, “why do you love and serve the Lord, why do you read your Bible and pray”, my answer will be “The Lord did miraculous signs and wonders before our eyes”, He has always been faithful to us, and He will be faithful to you!

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You Are Loved

This morning I have spent some time looking at pictures from four years ago. You see, this is a very special day, it’s our youngest granddaughter’s birthday. This afternoon, all three of our youngest grandkids will be coming for a sleepover. I love being a Bestamor.

I don’t imagine that God has photo albums; He doesn’t need them. We are always present in His thinking. From the day we accept Christ as our Saviour and become a part of His family He takes special interest in us, He even knows the number of hairs on our head.

“What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

8 “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels.” Luke 12:6-8 NLT

Even before we accepted Christ He loved us.

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:6-8 NLT

Do you see that? Willing to die. There’s a common expression, “that’s to die for”. It’s used to describe excitement over a new car, a good meal, a vacation – but when God used that expression, He was talking about us.

We are that precious and valuable to Him.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NLT

As a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother I feel I have a big capacity to love but as much as I love it isn’t even close to the depth of the love God has for us.

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:18-19 NLT

May your day be filled with the thought of this very thing, you are loved so deeply that you were “to die for”.

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Today

Thinking about “today”. Living in present; the past tries to get us to look back. Looking back never gives us the best view.

The future with its promises and hopes is also filled with what if’s. Today is a gift from God. So, let’s praise Him for who He is!

” Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100 CEV

I know you’ve heard it said before, but it bears repeating. The “present” is a gift from God so we need to unwrap it and cherish it.

“Come, let us sing to the Lord!  Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. 3 For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. 4 He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. 5 The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too. 6 Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
7 for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!” Psalm 95:1-7 NLT

“My friends, watch out! Don’t let evil thoughts or doubts make any of you turn from the living God. 13 You must encourage one another each day. And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called “today.” If you don’t, then sin may fool some of you and make you stubborn. 14 We were sure about Christ when we first became his people. So let’s hold tightly to our faith until the end. 15 The Scriptures say, “If you hear his voice today, don’t be stubborn like those who rebelled.” Hebrews 3:12-15 CEV

“Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 CEV

Enjoy the gift of today, the present – God’s grace and strength is ours!!

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Light the World

In my quiet time, I began to sing. The first song that came to my heart was “In My Life Lord be Glorified”.

We talked about it the last week – David was able to defeat Goliath so all the world would know there was a God in Israel (I Samuel 17:46). Daniel spent the night with lions and came out unscathed and the king proclaimed that God, was the true god, to be worshipped. (Daniel 6:26-27). Esther went from being a peasant girl to queen that saved the Jewish people from annihilation, “for such a time as this”. (Esther 4:14) Finally Paul stood before the elite of Athens at the altar they set aside for “the unknown god” and said let me tell you who this unknown god is – then he told them about Jesus. (Acts 17:22-24).

God wants to be glorified in our lives!

When we honor and exalt Him we are bold; we are strong; we are confident. Not in our own abilities but in His. Jesus said about Himself:

“However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. 38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. 39 And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.” John 6:37-39 NLT

We also have a calling from the Father to do His will.

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” II Corinthians 5:17-20 NLT

God will always have a voice, it is yours and mine.

“For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” II Corinthians 4:6-7 NLT

Let’s be that light, be the voice; let the world see God through us.

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Through & Through

This morning my thoughts went to a Scripture I had memorized as a child in Sunday School. It made an impression on me because of one word. The word was thoroughly.

I’m not sure why I was so intrigued by that word, but I was. And as I sat here this morning that word came up in my heart with the same intensity that it had all those years ago.

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary the following words are synonyms that can be used in place of, but keep the meaning of, thoroughly.

  • completely
  • comprehensively
  • detailedly
  • exhaustively
  • fully
  • roundly
  • systematically
  • through and through
  • totally

Now that you know the background, let’s look at the verses I’m referring too.

“and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:15-17 NKJV

Timothy was a young man and Paul, the Apostle, was mentoring him in his walk with Christ. Timothy’s mother and grandmother were godly women who had raised him to know the Scriptures. Paul was reminding him of the importance of that early upbringing.

This is also a good reminder to all of us. It is through the Scriptures that we obtain faith for salvation. It is also through God’s written word that we have the pattern for godly living.

God never intended for us to attempt this lifestyle on our own. No, to the contrary, it is through the instruction of God’s word that we are complete and thoroughly equipped. We are changed from the inside out, through and through, systematically, totally, comprehensively fitted for every good work.

WOW!

On those days when you feel like quitting, giving up and giving in you are thoroughly equipped. in those times when you are discouraged and disheartened you have been systematically and totally undergirded by the power of Almighty God.

“ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLT

We were created as a masterpiece of the Father’s love. He planned for us to do good things.

“ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

I hope this has been an encouragement to you today. You are totally, completely, fully, exhaustively equipped through and through by the power of God’s word!

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Reach Deep

I want you to reach deep this morning – reach deep into your pocket or your purse, possibly you’ll have to go out to your car and reach deep into the cup on your console but reach deep.

For it’s there you will find the message that God asked me to deliver, “In God We Trust”.

Are we truly trusting God? When our currency was first minted, our nation’s founders wanted everyone to know where we placed our trust. It wasn’t in the strength of our new nation, instead it was in the goodness and providence of Almighty God!

Listening to the news will either make us cynical or fearful or it can be an opportunity to build our faith. There seems to be very little truth. Truth has been replaced with speculation and accusation. No wonder the Bible says that in the last days men’s hearts will fail them for fear!

“And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. 26 People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:25-27 NLT

We need to have our trust in God’s word that than of the news commentators, the financial experts, the medical experts and the military experts. Trust the One who knows the beginning from the end. Trust the one who knows the number of hairs on our head and the One who sees a sparrow when it falls.

Every one of us have a Bible in our pocket or purse; it’s small, round, and shiny. Take it out and read it – read it several times each time and remind yourself “In God we Trust”.

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39 NLT

These verses are a promise from our heavenly Father – In God we Trust!

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