Be Right Back...

I'll be away from my computer for a few days, but trust that the Lord will continue to richly bless your time with Him. ~Carol ^_^

Prepare My Heart

Tuesday, July 21; 2Chr.12; Prov. 16:8; Acts 8:1-8

Rehoboam's troubles began with a heart that was not prepared to seek the Lord. He was not inclined to fear the Lord, and didn't turn his feet to follow the Lord's paths. When the winds of change and trouble came, he had no strong roots to hold him fast in godliness.

How do I 'prepare' my heart to seek the Lord? There are many possiblilties, including asking Him to do so. First, and foremost, must be a reverential fear; acknowledging His sovereignty in my life, and embracing my position in Him. An important first step in my own life has been to learn to actively give Him thanks in all things. Not just trying to work up an attitude of gratefulness, or adopting a perspective of resignation... but verbally giving Him thanks in every situation. In so doing, I remind myself that He knows the end from the beginning and will keep His promises to provide for all my need.

This first step will build my trust in Him, and choosing to obey the direction of His Spirit will complete my part of the process. Praying, speaking, studying, being still, rejoicing, giving thanks, helping others... all theses are part of the obedience. Prov.16:3 teaches us to take care of our part--obedient works--and He will take care of changing and establishing our thoughts.

Mama's Boys

Sat-Sun, 18-19 July 2009; 2Chr. 9-10; Prov. 16:4-6; Acts 7:35-50
Moses and Rehoboam were both called of God to rule the Israelites, and their mothers' influence was strongly reflected their individual leadership.
Moses, whose humble beginnings and past failures posed no obstacles to God when it was time to lead the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. During the forty years of wilderness wanderings, Moses carried with him the humble and reverent spirit his mother, Jochabed, had worked so hard to instill.
Rehoboam, on the other hand, was the son of Naamah, an Ammonitess; born to privilege and named the successor to King Solomon. How is it that Solomon had justified his forbidden marriage to one of the pagan children of Lot? How much did he invest in the spiritual life of his son? Rehoboam seemed to have no fear of God, nor any respect for his father's godly counselors.
Ironically, had he followed the recorded wisdom of his father, the kingdom might have been spared the schism resulting from his proud foolishness. Apparently anxious to impress his peers, Rehoboam rejected the mercy and truth admonished in Prov.6:5-6. Makes me wonder if that might have even been part of the counsel given him by the aged ones.
As with the Pharisees who questioned Stephen, in Acts 7, Rehoboam was more concerned about his own power than he was about righteous judgment. Lord, let me always be careful to teach my children the fear of the Lord. And let my own heart bow in humility before You; never forgetting that any authority I have comes from You alone, and solely for Your purpose and glory.

Deeds To Thoughts

Friday, 17 July, 2009: 2 Chronicles 1:1-18; Proverbs 16:1-3; Acts 7:30-34

"All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits." I can usually find a good reason for my deeds, but the Lord shines His holy light on the thoughts that preceded them. What were the motivations behind the actions? Whatever I tell myself--or others--the Lord knows if I do things to glorify His name, or my own.

If any good comes out of my mouth, it is only because the Lord prepared my heart. (Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh... Matt. 12:34) Only He can subdue a sinful spirit, and fill the void with His goodness.

Pro. 16:3 gives us the summary formula: "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established." Disciplining myself to do what the Lord asks will give Him space and authority to alter the attitudes that shape my motivations.

If my enemy is hungry, I am to give him food. If someone reviles me because of my faith, I am to pray for them. If I am abused or despised, I am commanded to give blessing in return. The actions are done out of a trusting obedience, leaving the final resolutions to the Lord. Submission to His sovereignty and Lordship will create in me a humble heart, ready to speak as His Spirit leads.

New Arrival

I'm so sorry I've been absent... things have been a little busy in our family. Our first grandson was born on Sunday, June 14th.

His name was chosen by his 2-1/2 yr-old sister. Her parents asked "What is baby brother's name?" "Toby!" was her unhesitating reply.

We are rejoicing in the birth of a healthy boy whose name, Tobias, means, "God is Great!" ("Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, thou hast perfected praise...") Thank you all so much for your prayers. I will be back with more posts after the first of July. May God continue to bless your time in his Word.

Attack Dogs, Nipping At My Heels

Friday, 5 June: I Chron.7:1-12; Prov.13:16; John 19:12-15

When Pilate allowed the trial of Jesus to get out of hand, he soon found himself overwhelmed and unable to turn the tide. It began simply enough... the Jewish religious leaders bothering him about some annoyance that Roman law forbade them to resolve themselves. Despite their political position, any respect he had for them had likely been whittled away by their self-righteousness and marked hypocrisy. We can take a warning from this... the world can often see more clearly than we do, the gaps between our profession and our faith.

As the scene wore on, the Jews became increasingly inflamed by Pilate's cool response. They were determined to convince him of the justice of their cause... and equally determined to have their way. He, on the other hand, found himself ever more concerned about the obvious innocence of their latest victim. It was one thing to avoid a riot and give them what they wanted, but quite another to condemn a clearly innocent man to a horrible death. A riot would cause trouble big for him with Caesar, but an unjust sentence would would ultimately make his job more difficult by further reducing his esteem with those he governed. In the end, his appeals for Jesus were drowned out by the now incensed crowd. He was left with little choice but to give them their way.

In my own life, how often have I too passively poked at sin that was dogging me? If a dog is pursuing, I'd better not just hope I can outrun it. I must turn and face it; rebuke it or ask it's owner to do so. The apostle Paul speaks many times about saying "NO!" to fleshly appetites; the first step must be a conscious, whole-hearted decision to do right. Then, Jude 9 gives the pattern for crying out to the Lord. When Michael the archangel was contending with Satan, he did not presume to rebuke the Prince of the power of the air himself, but said, "The Lord rebuke thee."

Humbling myself to make the Lord my refuge, pleading with Him to deliver me from the Enemy who is too strong for me... then alone will I find His victory.

Don't Let The Car Drive Itself

Thursday, 4 Jun: I Chron.6:54-81; Prov. 13:14-15; Jn. 19:1-11

The Jews accusation that Jesus "made himself the Son of God" struck fear into Pilate's heart. Throughout the trial, he had heard about Jesus's claims of being a king, which the Jews asserted was rebellion against Caesar. Pilate was unmoved by the evident bias in the accusations of the Jewish religious leaders. When his appeals for the apparent innocence of the young rabbi fell on deaf ears, Pilate's main concern was to avoid a ruckus that would bring Caesar's notice and displeasure.

But when they spoke about diety, it became another matter. Was it because of the Roman belief in many gods, who were believed to sometimes present themselves as mortals? Were his superstitions stirred by his wife's dreams, and her warning that he have nothing to do with "this just man"?

"Behold the man!" Was it a cry to make the Jews stop and think about what they were doing? Did he hope that if they observed the punishment Jesus had already suffered, they might be satisfied? Was he backpeddling, suddenly afraid of his prior indifference and the escalation of passions?

How often do I neglect, or run roughshod over my conscience and the conviction of the Holy Spirit? Whether driven by pride or passion--or just plain passivity--how great is the loss when I allow the momentum of circumstances to take me out of God's will! May I be willing to 'put on the brakes', and instantly, completely obey the direction of the Spirit.

Crooked or Straight?

Tuesday, 2 Jun; I Chron. 6:1-28; Prov.13:12; John 18:28-32

When Pilate asked the Jews what Jesus had done wrong, they retorted with a self-defensive question, "If he wasn't a malefactor (evildoer), we would not have delivered him up unto thee." Moral of the story... If you can't get a straight answer out of someone, they're probably up to something crooked!

The religious leaders' position and esteem in the eyes of their followers had been badly damaged by the light of truth. As Jesus taught the people with the authority of Scripture and the power of the Spirit, the hypocrisy of the Pharisees et al. was fully exposed. Their best plan for revenge was to kill this new threat, but they were forbidden by Roman law to do so. Their only hope was to trump up some kind of political charge, but they knew it would not withstand close scrutiny. Their manipulation of the system would only work if they could bluff and bluster their way through the process.

When confronted by spiritual truth, what is my response? Do I dodge the question, and defend myself by rehearsing my good works? When the Holy Spirit prompts me to speak to someone about their need of a Savior, do I offer up excuses about my busy-ness? Do I allow a person's appearance to provide a sputtering rationale about how unreceptive I think they might be? Lord, keep my heart plowing a straight furrow with You, and let my mouth be taught to speak accordingly!

Manasseh: A Warning

Saturday, 16 May: 2 Ki. 21:1-18; Pro. 12:15-16; Jn. 15:9-17
A noteworthy postscript to the life of Hezekiah is his son, Manasseh. Because he was only twelve years old when he began to reign, it is possible that this young prince was born during the fifteen years that were God's miraculous gift to Hezekiah. Was he the only heir--were there no other children born to Hezekiah before his illness? If there were older siblings, why was Manasseh particularly chosen? We're told that he was the most wicked king of Judah: that his abominations even exceeded those of the ancient inhabitants of the land. What happened to the good example that his father's life should have been to him? Was he just a willful boy, or did his aging father not have the vitality to engage fully in the process of raising him? Did Hezekiah count on his Godliness 'rubbing off on' his son?
I find here a cautionary tale. As I am now one of the 'older women' charged with the training of the younger, there is the temptation to 'rest on my laurels' a bit. My Pastor calls it coasting... the tendency to disengage, even in small ways, from the source of real power and go along in one's own momentum. As Jesus encouraged us to abide in Him, He knew--and lived out the example--that His Father was His strength. He had to abide in His Father (His 'true Vine') in order to walk unfailingly in His will.
Our children--and others over whom we have influence--often go boldly where we have tread only lightly. They have responsibility to God for their choices, but let it never be said that a heedless or over-confident guide led the way along a path to destruction.

Abiding in Him

Friday, 15 May: 2 Ki. 20:1-21; Pro. 12:14; Jn. 15:1-8
According to John, the key to bearing spiritual fruit is to abide in Christ. It is essential to remember that our fruitfulness comes solely from the nourishment of the True Vine.
It seems that Hezekiah may have missed out on this principle when he boasted to the Babylonians about his prosperity. Here was a man who had received a miraculous blessing from the Lord--recovery from fatal illness, and the promise of fifteen years added to his life!
It might be said that he had "I" trouble in his old age. In contrast to his wicked father, he had tried to live righteously in his youth. Did he feel that because of his efforts, he deserved the blessing of God? Lord, preserve us from the presumptuous spirit that can overtake us when we forget that our apparent strength is merely the evidence of God's grace overcoming our weaknesses.

Seeking God's Glory

Wednesday, 13 May: 2 Ki. 19:1-19; Pro. 12:11; Jn. 14:15-21
King Hezekiah gave us a great lesson on responding to overwhelming circumstances. When Sennacherib's general delivered his threatening letter, Hezekiah went straight to the Temple and spread it out before the Lord. You can almost hear him saying, "See what these heathen are saying about You, Lord?"
Because He focused on their blasphemy--and not on his own consternation--we see in him the example of 'seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.' His trust in God was so complete, that he didn't even address is own perplexities.
Psa. 119:157-8 teaches us how to respond: "Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from Thy testimonies. I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not Thy word."
I love the way he 'spread it out before the Lord.' It is very encouraging to physically lay out the things for which the Lord's help is needed... whether letters, bills, grocery money, or whatever. Speaking to Him about tangible things helps me to remember that He is real, and sufficient for every need.

"...but served their own gods."

Sunday, 10 May: 2 Ki.17:24-41; Pro.12:8; Jn.13:31-38
The question today--"What is the distinctive characteristic of Christianity according to Jn 13:35"--is a good one that I will leave for another day. I was struck by a phrase in Kings and want to discuss it with you.
"They feared the Lord, and served their own gods..." (17:33) These people knew enough to fear and revere the God of heaven, but wanted to keep the gods with whom they were familiar and comfortable. What a sad state of affairs we find ourselves in when we try to 'mix and match' spiritual things. One might argue, "But I don't worship other gods!" C'est vrai? Are all 'other gods' made of wood or stone? Is 'worship' always the bowing of the knee?

What comes between me and my Savior? What comfort do I seek outside His Spirit and His grace? What diversions consume my personal time? Do emotions--fear, anger, bitterness--occupy my subconscious thoughts? Could it not be said that anything to which I am more devoted than I am to Him, is a god in my life? If I give higher authority to anyone or anything else, is that not a kind of worship?
The first of the Ten Commandments is "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." How often, when I allow entertainment or preoccupations to displace the Lord, does His Spirit's still small voice reprove me! Let us cry out with the Psalmist, "Let I pray Thee, Thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Thy word unto Thy servant." (119:76)

Secrets?

Saturday, 9 May: 2 Kings 17:1-23; Proverbs 12:5-7; John 13:28-30
The Northern Kingdom of Israel was captured by Assyria because they had persisted in idolatry and wickedness. Despite the Lord's pleadings and warnings through His prophets, 19 wicked kings had spent some 250 years leading their people in the ways of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. 2 Ki. 17:9 says they "did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God..." How often do we try to fool ourselves into thinking something we do or think is a 'secret'? Ezekiel 8:12 speaks of the things done "in the chambers of [our] imagery... for [we] say, The Lord seeth us not..."

How do we behave when no one's watching? Where do our thots go when our mind is idle? Godly character is evident when one walks perfectly in their own house (Ps.101:2-3), and keeps a close watch on the secret chambers of the mind. Even David, who so loved the Lord and His laws, still cries out in Ps.119:176, "I have gone astray..." Let us pray with him in 119:167, Let my soul love & keep Thy testimonies, O Lord!

Reputation

Thursday, 7 May: 2Kings 15:23-38; Proverbs 12:2-3: John 13:12-17
All of the kings of Israel's northern kingdom followed in the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. What a lesson we can learn from the oft-repeated phrase that almost invariably follows this man's name..."who made Israel to sin." The name and accusation are inexorably linked for eternity. Sin doesn't only "find you out", it follows you for a very long time. A reputation, once damaged, can be very difficult to repair.
In my own life, I must continually beware of even the 'small' sins that will diminish my effectiveness for my Lord--idle or careless words, unreliable behavior, disrespectful speech or actions. Any of these can become some of the sneaky little foxes that 'destroy the vines' of my testimony.
When I think of past failures, I find myself praying with David in Psalm 119:22, "Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies." I can be encouraged when I look closely at the genealogy of Christ. Rahab (no longer) the harlot, Ruth (no longer) the Moabitess... Their reproach was removed, and by God's amazing grace, they were included in the most highly honored list of all time!

A Royal Heritage

Today's Scripture: 2 Ki. 11:1-24; Pro. 11:23; Jn. 12:20-28

Faithful Jehosheba protected baby prince Joash, and became God's instrument for preserving His covenant with David. Now an orphan, with no family left, God adopted Joash for Himself.

So it is with all of us who are fatherless. Even though our place in God's plan may not be as regal, are we any less children of the King? Though our personal family and heritage may be unknown to us, are we alone and abandoned--without purpose?

Jesus entered Jerusalem as a King, knowing that the worshipping crowd would soon turn and call for His death. His Father's back would be turned because of the sin He would bear for us, and for them. In all this, He thought only of God's glory. "Father, glorify thy name" was His prayer before all the people.

Will I completely trust God's providence in my life, and fully commit myself to His glory? Will I release the pain of abandonment, and fully rely on His protection? Lord, let me give You my whole-hearted obedience, trusting in the heritage You have chosen, and my earnest expectation of one day resting in Your arms. Let my life--all my words and deeds and thoughts--glorify You!

Indiscretion is a scene stealer.

Today's Scripture: 2 Kings 10:18-36; Proverbs 11:22; John 12:20-28

A woman's beauty can easily be eclipsed by the rudeness of her speech or actions. Interesting to note that the "fair woman" in Proverbs 11:22 compares only to the small jewel, while her indiscretion is like a sloppy, disgusting sow. Lord, please put a watch on the heart that teaches my lips and hands what to say & do. May I not ever excuse idle or unnecessary words, or inappropriate behavior with rationalization from a bitter heart.

Introduction

"... For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Sometimes we doubt the Lord a little when we read these words... the Christian life doesn't always seem so easy, and burdens are rarely ever light. Perhaps it is that we misunderstand Jesus' meaning.

This concept is maligned in our 'do your own thing' society, but Jesus isn't just locking us into some random servitude. His yoke is for two... we plow alongside Him. I'm told the word for 'easy' is translated in other places as "kind". It is kindly designed to perfectly fit our abilities and talents. The only time it chafes is when we pull in a different direction, away from the Master.

If my burden seems too heavy, it bears close examination... how much of it did Jesus put on my shoulders, and how much did I add myself? He knows better than anyone how much I can carry. Is He to blame if I load up things that are not my business?

The more I learn of Him, the better I'll understand His absolute justice, His unfailing care, His unchanging holiness... and find rest to my soul.