One and Seven

I like to do an interview with my kids on their birthdays, asking about some of their favorites, things they like and dislike, etc. My daughter's birthday was recently, so she has some of the questions and answers still on her mind. Today at lunch, she was talking about her favorite numbers. I started thinking about my favorite number. For the last 15 or so years, I've said that my favorite number was 7. Today, though, I realized that I really like 1 as well.

My daughter asked me my favorite number, and I shared with her that for a long time it was seven, but I think right now, I really like one as well. I was wondering if she would leave it there or not - and she didn't. :-) That was fine with me. I was just going to wait for her to ask, though. Before she asked I had already been thinking about it and here are some of the thoughts I had and shared with her, and a few verses I found for some of them:

1 God
1 Savior
1 Man without sin (Hebrews 4:14-15, 1 Peter 2:22, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
1 Son of God (Jesus) (John 3:16)
1 Death (Jesus only had to die one time for all. The price has been paid once, not repeatedly.) (Romans 5:19)
1 Way to Heaven (John 14:6)
1 Salvation (Once you are truly saved, you don't lose your salvation.)
1 - for unity
1 - one church body with Jesus as the 'head' (Romans 12:5, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:4)
1 - man leaves his parents and becomes one with his wife (Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5:31, Mark 10:8)
1 - Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-13, Ephesians 4:4)


So, are you now wondering why 7 has also been a favorite? :-)

Seven in Hebrew is closely related to the word for Sabbath. It symbolizes completion, fullness, perfection. It is used throughout the Bible. Here are a few of the references.

7 Days of creation (Genesis 1)
7 Of every clean animal taken on the ark with Noah (Genesis 7:2)
7 Days in the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 23:15)
7 Lamps/lights on the lampstand (menorrah) in the first tabernacle (Exodus 25:31-40, especially 37)
7 - The seventh day of the week is supposed to be the Sabbath, a day of rest, a holy day. (Exodus 20:8-11, Exodus 35:2)
7 Days of isolation for people who get sick/infected (Leviticus 12-15)

There are so many more uses of the number seven in the Bible, but let me just end here with some of the uses in the book of Revelation:

7 churches, spirits (or sevenfold Spirit), golden lampstands, stars (in Revelation 1-4)
7 seals, horns, eyes, spirits (or sevenfold Spirit) (in Revelation 5)
7 angels, trumpets (in Revelation 8)
7 thunders (Revelation 10)
7 heads, crowns (Revelation 12)
7 angels, plagues, golden bowls, heads, hills, kings (Revelation 15-17)


There are other amazingly significant numbers used in the Bible, such as 12 (tribes, disciples...), 40 (days and nights it rained during the flood in Noah's time, days Jesus spent in the wilderness after being baptized..., maximum number of lashes that could be administered as punishment), and 42 (months - a time, times and half a time [years...3 1/2 years, which equals 42 months], 1260 days [again, 42 months]). The references for 42 months/time, times, and half a time/1260 days are from Revelation 11:2-3, 12:6, 12:14, 13:5 and Daniel 7:25. It refers to a time of tribulation, the time of the anti-Christ. Interesting side-note: The extermination camps in Nazi Germany during the Holocaust were operational for 3 1/2 years (http://www.1260days.com/1260days.htm). Another interesting side-note: 3 1/2 is half of 7.

It just amazes me how precise God is. He has a plan, a schedule, a perfect time worked out for everything. He has chosen to reveal pieces of it to us. How is God revealing Himself to you?


P.S. - Following our talk about favorite numbers, my daughter's mind wandered to favorite colors. Today, she said her favorites were red and purple. Red reminded her of Jesus' blood shed on the cross for our sins. Purple reminded her of the wine at the Last Supper, when Jesus referred to it as a symbol of his blood. Oh, this girl is always thinking!

Voices in the Night

Last night, I was trying to fall asleep and started rehearsing Bible verses. During this time, the words, "Eloi, Eloi, Shabbat Shalom" started running through my mind.

These words are in Hebrew, of which I know very little, although I've heard some words and phrases through church and Bible studies. I knew that "Eloi" referred to God and "Shalom" means "peace," but I didn't know or remember what "Shabbat" means.

I looked it up this afternoon. It turns out "Shabbat Shalom" is a common greeting among Jews between sundown on Friday evening and sundown on Saturday evening. It basically means "peaceful Sabbath" or "May your day of no work be peaceful."

"Eloi" means "my God."

"Shabbat" literally means a ceasing or stopping and is the Hebrew word used to reference the Sabbath.

"Shalom" actually has more to do with being whole or complete than just being at peace. I love the definition provided by one website: "Peace, hello, goodbye, health and wholeness, tranquility, safety, well-being, welfare, contentment, success, comfort, wholeness, integrity, also a common greeting." (http://briangan.ms11.net/personal/dictionary.htm)


So, late on a Saturday evening, I find myself talking to God, my God, about a peaceful, whole, complete Sabbath. I'm not sure what to take from it, but being more intentional about observing the Sabbath day has crossed my mind many times recently.

Exodus 20:8-11  "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."

 Deuteronomy 5:12-15  "Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey, or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day."

Genesis 2:2-3  By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.




(Websites referenced: http://jewsandjoes.com/what-is-the-meaning-of-shabbat-shalom.html, http://yehudafm.wordpress.com/2012/02/18/what-does-shabbat-shalom-mean/, http://briangan.ms11.net/personal/dictionary.htm. Please know that I don't endorse any of the content of these websites, as I have not reviewed them more than the specific pages viewed for this post.)

Promotions and Firings

I always intend to blog more frequently, but it just doesn't work out at this time! I have so many ideas that come to me and get jotted down. Some are still on paper at this time. I hope they make it here some day. :-)


The other afternoon, my daughter and I were having a conversation. It started with her saying that she loved Jesus' cross best because he didn't stay on it. Then she mentioned the two criminals who were crucified with him - one who would be with Jesus in heaven, and one who wouldn't (Luke 23:39-43). She then said she was praying for a family friend of ours, because they don't believe in Jesus as the Son of God as we do, and she prayed that this person would some day. She wants to see this person in heaven some day.

I don't remember all of the conversation, but it got me thinking - and I don't know quite how it took the course that it did, but here it is. In a very small way, it can be related to promotions and firings in a place of employment. We are all working together and then someone gets promoted or fired. If they are promoted, we are happy for them and we know they have gone on with achievement, recognized for their work, to better benefits, etc. If they are fired, we hurt for them because we know they will have hardships - searching for a new job, loss of pay and benefits, etc. Both ways, they are not in the same "office" any more and we've lost some physical/social relationship with them.

We all have a purpose in this life, whether we choose to accept it or not. God has a will about what we will do, who we will impact, etc. When that job is completed, whether successfully (leading to promotion) or unsuccessfully (leading to firing), we leave the position. Maybe the position is left empty or eliminated. Maybe someone else will come to fill it, continuing the mission set before the person who was there previously.

Earlier this week, we attended a visitation for an individual from our church and the discussion came up with the family that they felt both happy and sad - happy that they knew she was in heaven, and sad because she wasn't still here with them. That is how it is for believers who know their family member/friend knew God and believed in Jesus. It is a far different story when believers know the individual did not have such a faith. It hurts more. There is not a happy/sad feeling. It is a sad/sad, a heart hurt, a mourning. There is not the joy of knowing they have a renewed body, unspeakable peace and joy, and are living with the almighty king and others who have gone before. You know, I sometimes feel the same pangs of grief and pain for those who are still living, because I know they are so turned against or away from God. It really will take a miracle for some of them to turn to Him, and I don't see anything in them that even wants to consider it.

So, after you complete the job that has been given to you, what's your next step? Are you going to be one whom the Boss says "well done," (Matthew 25:21,23; Luke 19:17) and you get promoted, or are you going to be to be fired. By the way, did anyone else catch the connection between being "fired" and the fires of hell?

I can tell you sincerely that I pray for you with all earnesty for you to know God and live for Him - even if I don't know you personally. Maybe we'll meet some day in heaven! (...if not before then.)

People-Watching

In early July, my husband and I spent a little less than 48 hours to ourselves over a weekend. One morning at breakfast, I was watching others around me and noticed that they were all doing the same thing - watching people around them! How interesting that just about everyone was people-watching.

It really is part of our human character isn't it? We always watch others. We want to see what they are doing and how they are doing it, what they have or don't have and what they can get, who they are with, etc. People-watching can lead to things considered sin in the Christian life - envy, jealousy, coveting, sense of entitlement, sense of self-importance or "better than them" attitudes, gossip, judging incorrectly, etc. Ouch. But it's true, isn't it? We think things like, "Look at what they're wearing," or "I can't believe they just spoke to their children like that."

Maybe we should avoid people-watching. Then we could avoid all those opportunities to sin, right?

Then again, I realized the good that can come from watching others as well. What we see in others can have a positive effect on us, not just a negative one. Like the "pay-it-forward" concept - one person does something nice for someone else and, in turn, the second person does something nice for someone else. If we see a person helping another individual pick up their spilled popcorn, then we may think how nice it was that they helped, and hopefully then think that we could have done the same thing, or something similar.

As Christians, we are called to be examples of God's love.
*James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
*1 John 3:17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be that person?
*1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
*Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
* 2 Corinthians 5:20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

 

Some thoughts to take away from this:
1. When you people-watch, look for the good. Give people the benefit of a doubt, because you don't know them and everything they have going on in their lives. Don't be too quick to judge.
2. Pray for the people you see. I read something about this once and really started just praying for people that I've seen walking down the street, sitting in restaurants, etc. It can be amazing to intercede for people you don't even know. I think about it as "pray as you go" praying.
3. Be the good example. Live in such a way, with such an undeniable integrity, that others will be drawn to that and want to live what they see in you. Show them Jesus through your words, actions, gestures, etc.

Choices, Choices...

Daughter is finished with school for a few months, but we're still working on some things together. She has a workbook to do to help "bridge the gap" between the grades. I'm reading to her; she's reading to me; we're doing character studies. In my readings to her, we read from the Bible, a book we love from her curriculum this past year called I Heard Good News Today, and other books as she requests and we have time. I got a whole bunch of character studies (about ten?) from Confessions of a Homeschooler (www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com) and thought this summer would be a good time to use them.

Last week's character study was on humility (vs. shifting blame and making excuses). Daughter was interested in the topic and was ready to discuss and talk about examples of situations with me. One day, we were talking about taking responsibility for our own actions and words, and not blaming others. We were talking about how some people in the Bible had blamed others and what the consequences were for their choices. For example, Adam blamed Eve for giving him the fruit. Eve blamed the serpent for tricking her. Aaron blamed the Israelite people for forcing him to make a golden calf for them to worship.

I don't remember exactly how it came up or how it was worded, but Daughter said something about God knowing beforehand what each of these individuals were going to do. Then she asked something like, "If God already knew that they were going to choose the wrong thing, then why did He allow it?"

I told her that God gives us choices. He doesn't want to force us to love Him - He wants it to be our choice, because wouldn't it mean more to both us and Him that way? I told her that it's like me asking her if she wants ice cream or watermelon? I know what her answer is going to be (ice cream) but I still ask and allow her to make the choice herself. Then I asked her if she would rather be kind to her brother or hit him and receive a consequence? She said she'd rather be kind. I pointed out again that, although I knew what her answer would be (not wanting a consequence), I still gave her the opportunity to make her own decision.

Later in the day, Daughter asked why the tree (of the knowledge of good and evil - the forbidden one) was in the Garden of Eden and why God would have even put it there. Why wouldn't He just remove all sin. We talked again about how God gives us choices. We must learn to trust Him and not ourselves. We will love more purely if it's our choice and not forced upon us.


A similar topic came up this evening as we were reading about Cain and Abel in the Bible (Genesis 4) - when Cain killed Abel and then God asked, "Where is your brother, Abel?" Daughter asked why God had to ask where Abel was? Instead of answering her directly, I asked what she thought about it. She said God was giving him a choice. Good answer, Daughter! Yes, God knew, but He gave Cain the opportunity to own up to his sins, to turn from them and repent. Instead, Cain chose to answer angrily to God and lie about it saying, "I don't know," adding yet another sin to his list (anger, murder, lying...).


So, what choices are you making? Are you choosing God and His ways?


But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." - Jeremiah 24:15

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. - Matthew 6:24

You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. - James 4:4

Bickering Kids

There has been a lot of arguing between the kids lately.

* Yesterday morning, I read this verse during my quiet time:
Titus 3:9-10 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.

Hmm, I should help my children avoid foolish arguments that are useless and unprofitable. I should help them to recognize their arguments as such. I may warn the person causing the argument a few times, and then separate them from me and/or the other child.


* This week's character study with the older child is on arguing. During yesterday's reading, the Titus 3:9-10 verse came up again. Another one that came up was Proverbs 17:14 - Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam, so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. Commentary with the verse said "Help children stop quarreling before it starts. Remove the child who insists on arguing, enforce a stop to argumentative conversations."

Well, that really spoke to me, too. I need to continue teaching my children ways to avoid arguments. I've also been working to remove the argumentative child.


* Then, one more verse from our character study today:
Proverbs 22:10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.

Again, remove the child who is causing the disturbance with his/her unkind words and actions, and the rest of the negative situation with diffuse.


*Another verse that came to mind today while dealing with such an issue with unkindness and arguing with the kids was Proverbs 15:1 - A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.


Of course, these verses could be applied in more situations than just with our children, but they have particularly blessed me over the last couple days.

The Potter's Fingerprints

I have always loved the visuals of God being the potter and us being the clay.

Jeremiah 18:1-6  This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2“Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. 5Then the word of the Lord came to me. 6He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.

Isaiah 64:8 Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Romans 9:20-21 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ”  Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?


I love the idea of God getting His hands dirty with us when he made us (Genesis 2:7). All other parts of creation, He spoke into existence, but when he created man, he "formed the man from the dust of the ground." So here's some imagery for you: He reached down and scooped up some dirt. He started to shape it, molding it and pressing it, until it became the shape He was wanting. He got his hands dirty. It reminds me of my kids pretending to be "Egyptian brick makers" last week (who would have actually been the Israelites from the time they were discussing). They got their hands all dirty with the dirt, grass and water they used to make little bricks. Back on topic - get this: God "breathed into [man's] nostrils the breath of life." How personal and intimate is that? He didn't breathe life into the other animals, or the trees and plants - just man, who alone were created in His image (Genesis 1:27).

I recently finished a Bible study by Gari Meacham entitled Spirit Hunger. The last section of it talked about the potter and the clay imagery and gave three pottery principles. 

#1 - We don't want to be the clay; we want to be the potter. How true is that? We want to make the plans and say how things should go. We want God to get in line with us rather than us having to change and be flexible to get in line with Him. We want to decide the courses of life for ourselves, our spouses, our children - and sometimes even other people! 

#2 - We want to look like other pots. This principle is all about the comparisons we make. We look at others and what we can see about their lives, and we want to be like them. But sometimes that is not what God has planned for us. We want to be a pitcher, pouring out the word of God, not the vase, living the Christian life He has for us, day in and day out in our current location (home, neighborhood, apartment complex, church, local community, etc.). Or maybe it's the other way around. Do you get the idea? During this study, I found myself thinking about a certain friend one day. I have looked up to her and the wisdom she has dispensed, that has shaped my life. I love how she lives what she believes, even when they are tough convictions that not everyone else will support. I used to always think I wanted to be like her and do things like she does. The thought came into my mind that day that, although I never said it quite like this, I wanted "to be that pot." As I've grown, and as I've gotten to know her better too, I see how we are similar and how we are different. I am thankful for both. I am thankful to be "this pot."

#3 - We want the process of becoming useful to be painless, quick, and explainable. Again, another true point in our drive-through, 3G/4G (or is it even higher now?), immediate-access kind of society? We have a question and we go to the internet - either on a computer or on our phones - to find ten different answers within just a few seconds. Or we go to the drive-through at a restaurant so we can have our food right away. We want to be presented with options, make our own choice, and then get our choice right away. Same thing with life. We want our children to behave, but it's not fun to go through the process of disciplining/training them. We want a certain job, but it requires years of training. We want to look a certain way, but it takes dedication to exercise and proper nutrition. We want a perfect marriage, but we aren't willing to change, to seek outside help, to make the extra effort - we just want things to be fixed immediately with as little effort or pain as possible. And we want all the answers. Obeying "just because I said so" can be hard, no matter what age we are. There are times, we might never know the outcome of the actions we take or the words we say. It's like sending money to a cause benefiting a far-away country, when you don't get an answer about exactly how your money helped a specific person, family, church, or group of people. You have to trust and obey.


A couple months ago, I ran across a previous Bible study I'd done by Jennifer Rothschild called Fingerprints of God. During that study, all the participants tried to write down each day at least one way they had been able to see God act - the fingerprints of God - in their lives. I decided I wanted to do that task again, to keep my mind focused on how God is working around me and in me. I encourage you to do the same, if you feel so led. 

So, how is the Potter getting His fingers dirty in your life today? Are you letting Him mold you and shape you? Are you willing to trust and obey? What a beautiful vessel He wants to make you!

Women and Self-Image

Many women struggle with self-image issues. I had a friend just contact me tonight asking for verses on the topic. Here are some verses I found as well as some additional thoughts from me. I'm just praying that they are helpful for you or anyone else in your circle of family, friends, etc.

Proverbs 31:30 - Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

All of Proverbs 31 (because, other than the verse above, it mentions nothing about how a woman looks).

1 Samuel 16:7 - But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Psalm 100:3 - 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.

Psalm 139:13-16 - 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. (The whole of Psalm 139 might be good to read, but these verses pertained to this topic.)

1 Peter 3:3-7 - Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

Something that came to mind for me as I looked at these verses tonight is that God is looking at the inside, not the outside. I'm thinking of many verses that say for us to consider and improve our minds, hearts, and tongues - but nothing about improving our outer beauty. If anything, it says to downplay the outer appearance and not be too showy (See 1 Peter 3:3-7 above).

I know I have struggled sometimes with self-image and the passage that I always remember in my relationship with my husband is 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 (especially 5). It says: The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. Even when I didn't/don't feel beautiful (or even "pretty"), I remember how important my man and our marriage is to me and that I adamantly don't want Satan to come between us - and where my attitude, avoidance, or whatever else has caused a void, I want God to redeem it - and I have to move in such a way so that He has the opportunity to do so. That often entails purposely fighting and putting aside my thoughts about myself and what I think my man thinks about me and changing the statements (lies) I hear into more positives.

I flipped through Song of Solomon tonight, too, because it is often true that our men do not see us the way we do. They think we are beautiful and incredibly desirable. It is hard at first, but if we persevere, we can begin  to see ourselves closer to how they do. We have to voice it to ourselves, though, and really believe it when they say it. Take it into your heart and know it is true - that his opinion is all that really matters. You have to tell yourself, "He loves me," "He wants me," "He is happy with me and wants me to be happy, too" and other statements like this.

I don't know if it makes sense to you, but I feel love for all of you reading this and pray for you. May God free your minds from any bondage you may have regarding self-image.

That Which We Call a Rose...

A rose is a rose. Other flowers have different names: tulips, hydrangeas, daisies, carnations, chrysanthemums, and the list goes on. But these other flowers are not roses, not even if that's what we choose to call them. Neither is a lie or sin the truth or the right way, even if we try to call it the truth or the right way. A rose is a rose. A daisy is a daisy. A tulip is a tulip. That is not going to change. Absolute truth is always true and does not change, no matter what individual people want to believe.

A current topic in the news right now that is being discussed in the Supreme Court and commentary from people on social media has prompted this post, although I intend to stay away from the specific topic at this point. Instead, I'd rather talk about sin and what the Bible says. There are so many more verses that could be included, but these are the ones that have jumped out to me in the last few hours.

The current popular worldviews in the American society (and many other places of the world) are in conflict with the Christian worldview. A worldview is how you see the world and the way you suppose it should be. It the "lens" through which you view everything. We all have a worldview, even if you haven't realized what yours is yet, and everything you say and do reflect your worldview.

Today's popular worldviews often quote the Bible and say "do not judge," "love your neighbor as yourself," and other verses like this and today I hope to address the use of these and provide some other verses for your consideration.

"Do Not Judge"

Matthew 7:1-6  "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces."

Luke 6:41-42 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

Yes, these verses say not to judge. But they do not say to accept or ignore sin. They say to remove your own sin and then confront your brother's sin.

There is a model for Biblical confrontation of sin in the Bible - again, not saying that we should ignore or accept sin. Matthew 18:15-17 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 

We are called to judge - circumstances, not people. Luke 7:24 says Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment." None of us can ever fully know the heart of another the way God can, but we can know the Bible and judge whether something is sin or not sin, a situation we need to get into or avoid, a person we need to be close friends with or not, and more. There is right and wrong, dark and light, evil and good. How can we ever distinguish the difference if we don't make judgments about them? You must judge circumstances. We need to judge and address sin. Luke 17:3 "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him."  Also, there's James 5:19-21 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Too many people have followed the worldview issue that there is no absolute truth any more. What is true for one person may not be true for another - as this belief goes. People, please know that God does provide absolute truth! Do not ignore Him!

"Love Your Neighbors"

Matthew 22:36-40 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replies:" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Mark 12:29-30 "The most important one [commandment]," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Yes, we are to love our neighbors. More than that, we are to love our enemies (Matt. 5:43-47, Luke 6:27-36). But love does not negate consequences. Love does not negate judgment. Love does not mean to accept and make-as-your-own the sin and beliefs of others. Love does not equal tolerance. Love is not separated from the Law.

Jesus did not excuse sin, yet he loved. He did not accept what was done by the Pharisees and Sadduccees.

As a parent, does one not put down boundaries and rules for their children? Are there not consequences for breaking those rules? If you discipline your child, do you believe you are not loving them? That's not true, is it? Yes, we have boundaries and rules that hold consequences for our children. Yes, we discipline them - because we love them! There are so many verses about training up and disciplining children, but here are the ones that jumped into my mind as I was preparing for and typing this post: 

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Proverbs 3:12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Proverbs 10:17 He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

"That's why people are leaving the church."

The above is a statement I read someone make yesterday - and it's true. Instead of changing their beliefs and behaviors to be like God's, they want God and the church to change to fit their personal beliefs. Unfortunately, many churches have caved to the social and public pressure and have made aberrant changes that fit more closely with society and have begun turning away from God. Again, we must judge - you need to know what your church believes and if it is in-line with sound Biblical doctrine. Are the church's words and actions in line with God's word? It is important that you know - or find out.

John 3:30 He must become greater; I must become less.

It needs to be more about God and less about us. It needs to be about His values and beliefs, not our personal ones. Please, dear friends - turn back to God! Lean on Him! Trust Him, follow Him, believe Him!

Truth in You

One more thing that came to me was that we must have the truth in us. Walk in light, not darkness. Turn from what is evil. Be salt and light.

1 John 1:5-10 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

1 John 2:4-6 The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Here are some other verses that came to my mind for you to look up on your own:

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Deuteronomy 11:18-23

John 15:12

Romans 12:19-21

Matthew 5:14-16

Deuteronomy 7:26

Deuteronomy 8:5-6

James 4:4

James 5:8

Matthew 24:13

Matthew 7:14

Mark 13:13

1 Timothy 3:12

1 John 2:21

John 8:31-37 (Verses 35 and 37 really stood out to me.)

Mark 2:17

Luke 11:42

May we turn to God and spend time in His word so that His truth may be in us.

Needing Attention

Last night, my husband expressed some disappointment with me. He just wanted me to sit next to him on the couch for a little while, but I kept busy with other tasks that I wanted and felt like I needed to get done. I got defensive about his wanting attention and my being too busy because I was getting things done and the only way I can figure out not to be so busy is to drop some of my commitments, which I'm not sure I want to do in some cases, or realistically can in others. I want to go to Bible studies and help with the Homebound ministry. He encourages these activities. I need to be active and doing different things with and for the kids. Not everything, I know, but kids do take a lot of time, energy, etc. If I'm outside playing with them, preparing for a birthday party, craft, or science experiment, etc., it takes time. My husband said he did not intend for me to drop all my activities - he just wanted some time with me. I apologized too and told him he had just entered my own personal battle and welcome.

Anyhow, enough of my gripe and justification and back to the point of this post.

I was thinking about this and the thought came to me, "He's being just like God our Heavenly Father and like Jesus to the church!" Wow, that's exactly what I want and what God wants! Then I started thinking further about what that meant.

My husband was just asking for me to be still for a little while and spend some time in relationship with him. Psalm 46:10 says "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  God, our Father, wants us to stop the busyness sometimes and be still. Just 'be' for a little while. Spend time in conversation with Him, not just talking as in a monologue, but by listening and allowing it to become a two-way conversation. Just be close to Him for a while and recognize who He is and how much He loves us.

Ephesians 5:22-27 says "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any ore blemish, but holy and blameless." My husband really does love me greatly. Those of you who know him personally can see this. I need to show more respect to him - as the head of our marriage and family. I try, but need to continue to improve.

I am also reminded of some of God's messages about needing rest, about taking a break. These passages mostly refer to keeping a Sabbath day, which I'm not good at, but I can take steps in the right direction. Some of the passages I'm thinking about are Genesis 2:2-3 and Exodus 20:8-11.

So, here's what is needing attention in my life: I need to find the opportunities and make myself stop the busyness, be still, and spend time. I've gotten better at making time with God, but it needs to be mirrored in my relationship with my husband, too. He needs (and deserves) my attention. He is seeking it. Looks like I've got some work to do.

Making Plans

I haven't written a post in so long, almost two months now. I had plans to write but found it difficult to find the time to sit down and do it, especially during the holiday season (which also holds two children's birthdays for which to plan parties - not done with that yet).

I am in the habit of making New Year's resolutions. No, I'm not especially good at keeping them all, but it does give me a good reference point to refer back to and keep record of my progress. Some things get accomplished very well, but others fall to the wayside, no matter how good-intentioned. Some things accomplished this past year were memorizing at least 12 new Bible verses and maintaining previously memorized verses (currently up to 81 verses that I practice); have at least four dates with my husband; develop a chore list for the kids (developed, but not well-implemented - that goes for my chore list, too, though); do aerobic exercise at least one day of every week (okay, so it wasn't every week, but I think 27 out of 52 weeks is pretty good for me); earn 10 CEUs to maintain my licensure and certification; complete at least one sewing or craft project (did at least 3, which made Christmas presents); complete Pre-k curriculum with Daughter; potty-trained Son. Some not accomplished well: having a devotion time with my husband once a week; instituting quiet times for my children at least three days a week (they're a little young, probably, however Bible Time in the mornings is going very well right now); finishing our wills; reading a couple specific books; selling unwanted/unnecessary items to raise money for the family; do toning exercises 4 out of 7 days a week (major failure!); play piano at least once a month; play oboe at least once a month.

Now I'm in the process of developing new goals for this year. I had plans to scale them back, and still might, but there are some really important ones I want to keep/add. I plan to increase quality time spent with my husband; read those books I never got read last year; earn 10 more CEUs; complete at least one sewing project; save money to use for our family's next vehicle; finish our wills!!!; and do some removal of excess in our home and schedule. I plan to teach Daughter to tell time, tie her shoes, and memorize the Lord's Prayer. I plan to teach Son letter and number identification, among other undetermined goals at this time.

I was taking out the trash this morning and thought about the nandina and holly berries that Daughter had collected with plans to plant them all and grow a whole bunch of new plants. She is definitely our little gardener; we currently have four bean plants and two airplane plants growing in our kitchen that she recently started. She always has grand plans for some kind of project, game, imaginary play activity, etc. Unfortunately, she has a couple of parents that manage to dash some of those plans. It can be so hard to work out all the details of the projects along with other activities that need to be done for the family - you know, things like fixing dinner, getting ready for bed... Ten minutes before dinner goes on the table is not the best time to pull out the paints, glue, scissors, etc. The nandina and holly berries were thrown away without Daughter's knowledge yesterday evening, by the way. She'll remember them and ask about them, I'm sure. She almost always does. The time of collection was just not a good time to be planting a whole bunch of new plants. Plus, they were moldy by now and needed to go.

How many times do we make plans only to have God tell us 'no' or 'not right now?' I can be very good at making lists and plans to do things, only to realize that there is not enough time to get them done, that there are other important things that need to be done, that they are just not feasible at the current time. Sometimes I learn that I am just not the right person for the task.

No matter what we may try to plan, God has a better plan.

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Proverbs 19:21 - Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.


May God bless your plans today. May your plans be ones that He would desire to bless, ones that would bring glory and honor to Him alone. May you seek Him first - His kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33).