Be Careful Little Mouth

As children, we're taught not to call each other names.  Again, as Christians, those identified with Christ as joint-heirs, we're taught that we are not to call each other names.  Its hard not to at times.  We all have feelings of anger and some of us are quicker to judge than others.  How many times have you "vented" to a friend or co-worker?  Or "let off steam" to your spouse about a situation at work?

Today I received a new perspective on this type of action... we would never talk bad about someone in front of their spouse, or belittle a child... especially in front of their parent but do we ever stop to think that God is the silent listener to every conversation?  He even knows our thoughts before we speak the words.  And when we talk about ANYone, we are either talking about his bride (the church) or his child (a fellow Christian), or one of His creations.  Wow... that was a sobering thought.

God, please forgive me for my judgemental thoughts, words, and uncaring actions.  Whenever a bemeaning or belittling word would come to mind about someone, remind me that they are precious in your sight and lead me to pray for them rather than belittle them.  Let me show your love to the world around me today.

"Be careful little mouth what you say,
Oh be careful little mouth what you say,
For the Father up above is looking down in love,
So, be careful little mouth, what you say."

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Our God is a Jealous God.  In our Life Group last night, we watched the 4th lesson in "The Truth Project".  If you've never heard of "The Truth Project", it's a DVD series that compares the common world view with the Biblical world view.  The professor, Dr. Del Tackett, asks a lot of profound questions and, using much scripture, explains the answers or at least opens your mind to discovering the answers the Holy Spirit would reveal to you.

Anyway, last night the question was "Who is God" and the name that was discussed the most was El-Qanna (meaning jealous).  Some have asked, if jealousy is a sin, how can God be jealous?  Good question... God isn't jealous as in coveting something he cannot have or selfishly wanting everything that his neighbor possesses, no, He is jealous over our relationship with idols or false gods.  He jealously protects our covenant relationship with Him as a husband would rightfully be jealous of anything that would destroy the bond he has with his wife.

So, bring this down to this morning... I've been reading (or should I say trying to read ) Ezekiel ... it's a tough book to read.  Having finished our study of Romans, I was trying to think what I should study and decided to try to tackle some prophetic books.  You know, some of those books that aren't quoted in Bible Study lessons much and I'm finding out why... it's a tough book to understand.  

However, this morning, a verse popped out that wasn't hard to understand at all.  Ezekiel 8:5-6a says, 

"Then said he unto me, son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north.  So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold, northward of the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.  And he said unto me, son of man, seest thou what they do?  Even the great abominations that the house of Israel do commit here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary?"

Ezekiel was having a vision and the Spirit of God was pointing out that the "worshippers" in the temple were actually worshipping other Gods.  Their abomination was so bad that God left the temple which was supposed to be His dwelling place.

Ok... attitude check... is our worship acceptable to God?  Do we enter into His gates with Thanksgiving and Praise and an expectant heart?  Do we open His Word with anticipation waiting to hear what the Spirit would say?  Or, do we go to church and read our Bible because that is what we are "supposed to do"?  Are we just going through the motions but really thinking of what we're going to do next (either after we get out of church or after we finish reading our daily devotion)?

God is a jealous God... He's looking for an acceptable sacrifice... a living sacrifice.

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face.
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."

Only Trust Him

We hear the world say that there are many ways to heaven or that an individual goes to heaven by being a good person... Living a "good" life.  But this couldn't be further from the truth!  If we could earn our salvation, Christ would not have died to provide it.  If there was more than one way and man could do it on his own, than Christ's sacrifice would be meaningless.  No, there is only one way to heaven, please don't miss His message.  Call on Him today.

"Yes, Jesus is the truth, the way, that leads you into rest.
Believe in Him without delay and you are fully blest."

I've Got a Mansion

When you think of heaven, what comes to mind?  Angels with harps floating on clouds?  Golden gates in a mist with an angelic St. Peter standing guard?  Some have said heaven sounds boring because all we'll be doing is singing.  But, when we read God's word, we find all these images are far from the truth... Revelations talks of colors that I've not seen here on earth.  Luke 22:30 talks of us eating and drinking at the Lord's table in His kingdom,  Rev. 22 describes a river, tree, street, and fruits for every month, and in John 13 & 14 Jesus tells His disciples that He is going to prepare a place for us.

So, heaven is not just a bunch of mist and clouds with mindless beings singing for all eternity... no, it is a tangible place where we will have a forever relationship and communion with the God of the universe... we will walk on streets, eat of the fruit, see rivers and animals in living color and we will know a peace like we've never known before.  

When I stop to think about heaven, I look around me at all the beauty... I've said, so many times, how wonderful it is to lay in bed in the morning and listen to the birds singing and chirping outside my window.  So, if earth, in it's dead and dying state, is so beautiful, can you just imagine what this beauty would be like without the curse?  In all it's perfected glory?  I'm so looking forward to heaven.  But, at the same time, I'm still enjoying my fellowship with those I love and the family God has blessed me with here on earth.  I don't want a single one of them to miss this joy and fellowship.

"That where I am, there you may also be up where the truth, the truth will set you free...
In the world you will have trouble but I give you my peace that where I am there you may also be."
- Rich Mullins - 

"I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we'll never grow old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold."
- Ira Stamphill -

I'm hoping you'll be there to hold my hand and roam those hilltops and streets of gold with me.

Bless the Lord

Psalm 145:2 says, "Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever."  Have you ever thought about the word "bless"?  How could I ever bless God... isn't it God who is in the blessing business?

Until this morning, as I was reading this verse and I stopped to wonder about that word, I had always thought to bless someone was to grant them special favor.  You know... along the same lines as mercy and grace.  But according to the dictionary, one of the definitions of bless is to give thanks.  We need to give thanks, show our gratitude, and constantly show God how much we appreciate all He has done for us.  So, bless God today and sing praises to His name.

Bless the Lord, Oh my soul 
And all that is within me 
Bless His holy name 

-Andrae Crouch-

My Anchor Holds

This weekend has had a theme running through it... I keep hearing "anchor"...  It all started on Saturday morning when the "Our Daily Bread" devotional talked about a picture of a tiny boat caught in a storm in the midst of the ocean.  The devotional ended with this saying, "When we face desperate circumstances, we tend to look to other people for guidance and comfort. They are in the same boat, however—lost in an ocean of life’s ups and downs. Only God is outside the boat, sovereign, stable, and strong enough to calm the storms." 

Then there was a little verse about an anchor... not only reminding me that God is strong enough to calm the storms but He is my anchor in the midst of the storm and will keep me secure until the storm is over.  

So, if you know me at all, you know this brought several songs to mind, one of which was Ray Boltz' "The Anchor Holds".  The chorus says:

"The anchor holds, though the ship is battered.
The anchor holds, though the sails are torn."

Then, yesterday morning, the soloist in church started singing, "There's an anchor for my soul..." It was beautiful.

Now, this may seem a change in subject but, trust me, God brings it all around...

This weekend was so wonderful, I don't want it to end.  Yesterday was Mother's Day... traditionally, for me, a migraine day.  See, I've struggled with migraines for the past 27 years... some years are better than others and, for this reason I haven't had a major migraine (lasting more than 8 hours) for a few years now.  But my migraines are stress related so whenever there is a day that revolves around me, it becomes a point of stress and usually ends with a migraine.  I'm so happy to say that this was not the case this weekend.  

The weekend started with my wonderful husband taking me to Six Flags.  He bought be season passes so that he and I could go to the concerts there this summer.  And, when you get season passes, there is  always a coupon book that goes along with the passes but you have to go to the park to pick it up and make everything official.  So, here's the wonderful part... he took me to the park before it opened and stayed as long as I wanted to stay.  You ask, why is that so amazing???  My husband does not ride any amusement park rides... not one!  He spent the day watching me enjoy the rides and letting me have fun while he sat off to the side.  And he didn't say no... if I wanted to ride something that meant standing in line for an hour, he would either stand in line with me for a while or sit under a tree and wait... no objections, no complaints.

The kids (now all grown adults) put together a beautiful picture for me... a collection of handprints... theirs, their spouses, and all 8 grandchildren.  And our son composed the handprints, along with a wonderful/original poem, into a beautiful picture.  And, the even better part?  Since he did it himself, he will be able to add handprints throughout the years (because we know there will still be more grandchildren).  :)

Then, as if that didn't bring enough "mommy tears", our youngest daughter dedicated her blog to me and wrote the most wonderful words and then the words were seconded by our oldest daughter.  I feel so honored and this is what brings me back to the anchor for my soul.  For you see, these wonderful people in my life "get it"... they understand what is important... God and relationships... moments captured in time.  I'm so happy that we all share the same anchor and that our time together will never truly have an ending.

Does your anchor hold?  If you're not sure, ask Jesus to show you the way.

How Deep the Father's Love for Me

How deep the Father's love for us... how rich/vast beyond all measure...

I feel so blessed.  Every morning, when I wake up (to my husband's kiss), I hear the birds outside chirping and singing.  This morning, the nature sounds even included the voices of squirrels or other little creatures.  I felt like I was in a fairy tale with all the woodland creatures coming to my window sill.  Can they make a dress for me and make my bed too?  Oh, that's only in dreams?  ok... I'll just enjoy the melody of nature then.

The other day, when I walked outside, we had a baby bunny on our porch (eating our welcome mat) and there was another bunny and two squirrels in the neighbor's yeard.  I guess it was breakfast time.

It made me stop and think of how loved I am... not only by my husband but by my wonderful Lord and Savior, the creator of the universe.  When I stop to think... God is SO big that He is indescribable.... the earth is but a spec compared to the sun and other stars in our universe but yet God holds them all in His hand!  And if the earth is but a spec, how minuscule I am upon that spec!  Yet, God, in all His mercy, loves me and cares about every detail of my life.  He provides for me, protects me, and blesses me.

Yes, how deep the Father's love...

"Why should I gain from His reward?  I cannot give an answer.  But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom."