"It is better to spend your time at funerals than at festivals. For you are going to die, and you should think about it while there is still time." Ecclesiastes 7:2
Taken a leisurely stroll through a cemetery lately? The writer of Ecclesiastes (likely Solomon) would probably recommend that you consider it once in awhile. Believe it or not, my husband and I actually like to visit old cemeteries from time to time. Kind of gets your perspective back to where it should be--you know what I mean?
There is one tiny little cemetery nestled deep in the heart of the Catskill Mountains that we often visit when we are there. As so often was the case in years past, it is right next door to a sturdy old house of worship. You can feel the history as you approach the first tombstone. The ground feels very--well, almost "holy". As we move from marker to marker we wonder about each life. What were they like? Did they go to war? Did they die young? How many lost children, husbands or wives at an early age? How many worn old leather shoes walked on these very paths as they said good-bye to those most precious? How many collapsed in utter grief and despair around the newly prepared mounds of mountain soil?
The most important question for all of them and for us as well will someday be, "Did they know the Lord Jesus as their Savior and Lord? Did they have that anchor through the joys and sorrows of their day to day lives?" As we take in that fresh mountain air we realize that they, too breathed that same air and looked at the same awesome and amazing views that still take our breath away. Were they ever mindful that they were on a brief journey?
Psalm 90:12 reminds says, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
Visited any cemeteries lately?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
A Truly Wise Person
"A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered." Proverbs 17:27
Some scriptures need very little explanation. I think we have one of those right here. Speaking from a "mid-life" viewpoint, I've learned the hard way that when it comes to words--less is more. Ever stop to think how in a split second we are somehow able to stuff quite a large foot into our relatively small mouth? I've been known to attempt cramming both of mine in at once! After accomplishing such a feat (no pun intended) we then spend the next hour, day, week, month, year, etc...trying to pry those multi-toed wonders back out again.
Sadly, I must admit that oftentimes at the same time I'm about to open my mouth unnecessarily, a faint voice in my ear says, "I really wouldn't say that if I were you". More often than not--I ignore the Holy Spirit get myself into some hot water.
Proverbs 18:4 says, "A person's words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook."
Lord, please forgive my thoughtless chatter. Make my heart desire to speak "life-giving water".
Some scriptures need very little explanation. I think we have one of those right here. Speaking from a "mid-life" viewpoint, I've learned the hard way that when it comes to words--less is more. Ever stop to think how in a split second we are somehow able to stuff quite a large foot into our relatively small mouth? I've been known to attempt cramming both of mine in at once! After accomplishing such a feat (no pun intended) we then spend the next hour, day, week, month, year, etc...trying to pry those multi-toed wonders back out again.
Sadly, I must admit that oftentimes at the same time I'm about to open my mouth unnecessarily, a faint voice in my ear says, "I really wouldn't say that if I were you". More often than not--I ignore the Holy Spirit get myself into some hot water.
Proverbs 18:4 says, "A person's words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook."
Lord, please forgive my thoughtless chatter. Make my heart desire to speak "life-giving water".
Friday, March 6, 2009
No Other Name
"There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them." Acts 4:12
As the news stations and newspaper headlines scream uncertainty and panic where should we turn? As believers our hope should have never been in those things that will soon fade away. Wealth, possessions and reputations slip through our grasp in a fleeting moment. Who will save us anyway? We know--don't we?
The above scripture tells us that there is salvation in no one else. Jesus Christ is the only name that carries any weight in the life saving department. Our relationship with Him is the only thing of lasting value in all of the uncertainty and turmoil. Living for Him is all that really matters.
When our children were young we used to sing a song with them called "Live For Jesus". I can still hear their little voices as they belted out the chorus:
"Live for Jesus, that's what matters,
And when other houses crumble mine is strong.
Live for Jesus, that's what matters,
That you see the light in me and come along."
I think I need to sing that more often.
As the news stations and newspaper headlines scream uncertainty and panic where should we turn? As believers our hope should have never been in those things that will soon fade away. Wealth, possessions and reputations slip through our grasp in a fleeting moment. Who will save us anyway? We know--don't we?
The above scripture tells us that there is salvation in no one else. Jesus Christ is the only name that carries any weight in the life saving department. Our relationship with Him is the only thing of lasting value in all of the uncertainty and turmoil. Living for Him is all that really matters.
When our children were young we used to sing a song with them called "Live For Jesus". I can still hear their little voices as they belted out the chorus:
"Live for Jesus, that's what matters,
And when other houses crumble mine is strong.
Live for Jesus, that's what matters,
That you see the light in me and come along."
I think I need to sing that more often.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Not My Favorite Scripture
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." Jeremiah 17:9
Ever stop to think about how many ways we use the word heart? Come on, put your heart into it! He's all heart! Bless your heart! She has such a good heart! What a sweetheart! And so on, and so on... We tend to look at our hearts most often with warmth and affection don't we? But what about God? What does He think? After all, he is the one who has his finger on the "pulse" of things anyway, right?
The scripture paints a different picture than the one we like to carry around with us. "Deceitful above all things and desperately wicked." I have to say that Jeremiah 17:9 is not my favorite scripture--how about you? However, I learned a long time ago (and am continuing to learn) that just because I don't like something doesn't mean it isn't good for me. Just because "I'm not feeling it" doesn't mean it's not true. I can't trust my heart all the time. In fact, rarely can I trust the old ticker. That's why I need the Bible. That's why I need prayer and fasting. That's why I need godly mentors. For goodness sake--that's why I need God!
Let's face it. The only good heart is a surrendered heart. Father, forgive me when I keep taking back the very heart that I just finished surrendering to you. I don't deserve you, Lord. But you already know that. I'm the one that always needs reminding.
Ever stop to think about how many ways we use the word heart? Come on, put your heart into it! He's all heart! Bless your heart! She has such a good heart! What a sweetheart! And so on, and so on... We tend to look at our hearts most often with warmth and affection don't we? But what about God? What does He think? After all, he is the one who has his finger on the "pulse" of things anyway, right?
The scripture paints a different picture than the one we like to carry around with us. "Deceitful above all things and desperately wicked." I have to say that Jeremiah 17:9 is not my favorite scripture--how about you? However, I learned a long time ago (and am continuing to learn) that just because I don't like something doesn't mean it isn't good for me. Just because "I'm not feeling it" doesn't mean it's not true. I can't trust my heart all the time. In fact, rarely can I trust the old ticker. That's why I need the Bible. That's why I need prayer and fasting. That's why I need godly mentors. For goodness sake--that's why I need God!
Let's face it. The only good heart is a surrendered heart. Father, forgive me when I keep taking back the very heart that I just finished surrendering to you. I don't deserve you, Lord. But you already know that. I'm the one that always needs reminding.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Remaining Faithful
"If we are faithless, he will remain faithful; for he cannot disown himself."
2 Timothy 2:13
At the beginning of each year it has become my practice to ask the Lord for one specific scripture that will be "my scripture" for that year. In the past I have attempted memorizing so many scriptures at once that I have become frustrated and given up. In my discouragement I felt the Lord speaking, "Why don't you just ask me for one and then build on that?" I did. He answered. Why does that surprise me?
2 Timothy 2:13 was the Lord's choice for me for 2009. It reminds me of how often I am so faithless. How often I ask for faith and direction and then without even waiting for the Lord to speak or act I just move right on with my own agenda. You'd think that after nearly 49 years on this earth I would finally "get it".
My God is so faithful! He just keeps doing what He does best--being himself. He can't help it! That's just who he is. That is such a comfort to me. He is not moved by situations or circumstances (whether they be in the government, the economy, the church or in my own little circle of family and friends).
The scripture says, "...for he cannot disown himself." It seems to me that means that if he were to stop being faithful he would cease being who he is---GOD!
Be encouraged, ladies. The faithfulness of our God is more than enough to see us through any and all trials that WILL come our way. (John 16:33)
Bless you!
2 Timothy 2:13
At the beginning of each year it has become my practice to ask the Lord for one specific scripture that will be "my scripture" for that year. In the past I have attempted memorizing so many scriptures at once that I have become frustrated and given up. In my discouragement I felt the Lord speaking, "Why don't you just ask me for one and then build on that?" I did. He answered. Why does that surprise me?
2 Timothy 2:13 was the Lord's choice for me for 2009. It reminds me of how often I am so faithless. How often I ask for faith and direction and then without even waiting for the Lord to speak or act I just move right on with my own agenda. You'd think that after nearly 49 years on this earth I would finally "get it".
My God is so faithful! He just keeps doing what He does best--being himself. He can't help it! That's just who he is. That is such a comfort to me. He is not moved by situations or circumstances (whether they be in the government, the economy, the church or in my own little circle of family and friends).
The scripture says, "...for he cannot disown himself." It seems to me that means that if he were to stop being faithful he would cease being who he is---GOD!
Be encouraged, ladies. The faithfulness of our God is more than enough to see us through any and all trials that WILL come our way. (John 16:33)
Bless you!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Weary in Doing Good
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9
The Apostle Paul surely knew how hard just trying to do the right thing can be. Sometimes it seems like doing the wrong thing would actually be much easier.
It's easier to hold unforgiveness than to release the person and the pain to the Lord. It's easier to pass along some juicy gossip in the form of a "prayer request" than to keep the information to yourself and pray earnestly for God to work in a person's life. It's easier to wear our feelings on our sleeves and come back with a quick "what did you mean by that?" when our spouse or friend simply points out an area we may need to grow in. It's easier to give into feelings of despair and hopelessness than to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. " (2 Cor 10:5)
I like the promise at the end of this verse: "for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up". Notice it doesn't say we might or could possibly reap a harvest. No it says that we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
I realized a long time ago that the enemy doesn't believe he will have victory in our lives because he's more powerful than the Lord--he knows that's not true. He's just hoping that we will give up before he does.
Giving up is not an option, is it?
The Apostle Paul surely knew how hard just trying to do the right thing can be. Sometimes it seems like doing the wrong thing would actually be much easier.
It's easier to hold unforgiveness than to release the person and the pain to the Lord. It's easier to pass along some juicy gossip in the form of a "prayer request" than to keep the information to yourself and pray earnestly for God to work in a person's life. It's easier to wear our feelings on our sleeves and come back with a quick "what did you mean by that?" when our spouse or friend simply points out an area we may need to grow in. It's easier to give into feelings of despair and hopelessness than to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. " (2 Cor 10:5)
I like the promise at the end of this verse: "for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up". Notice it doesn't say we might or could possibly reap a harvest. No it says that we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
I realized a long time ago that the enemy doesn't believe he will have victory in our lives because he's more powerful than the Lord--he knows that's not true. He's just hoping that we will give up before he does.
Giving up is not an option, is it?
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Jars of Clay
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed,but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed...So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal!" 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, 18
2 Corinthians chapter 4 is hands down my favorite chapter in the Bible. It reminds me what I am (a clay jar), it reminds me that the trials in my life are an opportunity for my God to show His power, and finally it reminds me that what I'm looking at right now for the most part is temporary. It's the things that I don't see with my eyes that really matter--they are the stuff that eternity is made of.
This past week I have experienced the highs and lows of life here on this earth. I got to meet my newest grandson, Garrett Randall, and the next day I drove several hours to be with my father and the rest of my family as my Dad had by-pass surgery. With each passing day I am more keenly aware that whether I like it or not, most of my life is pretty much out of my control. The only things I really have any control over are my own thoughts and attitudes and my willingness to surrender myself to Christ.
There is an old song that ends with these words"...Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow and I know He holds my hand."
2 Corinthians chapter 4 is hands down my favorite chapter in the Bible. It reminds me what I am (a clay jar), it reminds me that the trials in my life are an opportunity for my God to show His power, and finally it reminds me that what I'm looking at right now for the most part is temporary. It's the things that I don't see with my eyes that really matter--they are the stuff that eternity is made of.
This past week I have experienced the highs and lows of life here on this earth. I got to meet my newest grandson, Garrett Randall, and the next day I drove several hours to be with my father and the rest of my family as my Dad had by-pass surgery. With each passing day I am more keenly aware that whether I like it or not, most of my life is pretty much out of my control. The only things I really have any control over are my own thoughts and attitudes and my willingness to surrender myself to Christ.
There is an old song that ends with these words"...Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow and I know He holds my hand."
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