BEWARE THE ANGER

Make no friendship with an angry

man, and with a furious man do

not go lest you learn his ways and set

a snare for your soul.

Proverbs 22: 24,25

Not sure if anyone is paying attention, but we are living in the midst of a culture made up of alot of very angry people.  We see them in politics, varied demonstrations, but see them even in our own lives.  It could be that others might be seeing this issue in us as well.

We are given a real caution in the above verses.  First we are given a NO when it comes to a friendship with someone who seems to be angry alot of the time.  The why follows the what and who...anger is catching, contageous even though we might not think so.

Anger can  the produce most unfortunate of consequences.  I'm thinking of some friends who taught at a Christian college.  A student approached the couple with the grand announcement that she and another student from the college were engaged.  She was hoping for their congratulations.  However, the couple knew the young man very well and wasn't too terribly exited for the girl.  He was known for his hot temper and tendency to having an overall spirit of anger.  I asked this friend of mine what they said to her.  One of them simply took out a slip of paper and with pen wrote on that paper "Proverbs 22:24,25" and handed it to her.  Unfortunately in a few years, the young lady paid dearly for deciding to go ahead with the relationship.

There may be times to feel a certain anger but it can be done without sinning.  Scripture tells us that it is possible.  The above anger is one of temper, sometimes loss of emotional control and at times loss of physical control.  Jesus cleaned up the temple on occasion with a righteous anger while the rest of His life we see a Man, always in control of Himself in every situation, especially with all the confrontations with political and spiritual big-wigs.

May we, with Holy Spirit power, learn to keep in control of our thoughts and actions that will glorify our Father.  Second hand anger is always a threat, that is being angry because someone else is.  May our temperament reveal Jesus in our lives as much as possible.

Father, forgive me for the times I've been angry when it wasn't necessary.  There have been times I've been boiling inside but You know that as well as I do.  May I keep my focus on you with help from Your Holy Spirit to maintain a spiritual calm in my life that will honor You and serve others.  In Jesus' precious name...Amen

 

THE GRAND PLAN

For I know the thoughts that I

think toward you, says the LORD,

thoughts of peace and not of evil,

to give you a future and a hope.

Isaiah 29:11

Ladies must become very bored with me when I suggest to them that when God works in our lives, He always knows what He is doing.  In our individual lives, God has  a  grand plan.  He's so smart and knows every detail of our lives.  He knows what is best in our every situation.  

God's plans are perfect, down to the smallest detail.  There are times when things come into our lives that we can't imagine what is going on.  However, if we are in tune with our Father, we've got to know that He is in charge of our lives.  At times, we don't get choices, much as human parents would deal with their own children. 

When God has a particular plan for us, it will always be a custom fit.  His plan for us will be personalized and precise.  Some plans may seem the same for several believers all at the same time, but God's planning for you and me is a custom fit...designed for we individuals.  You see, God sees each of us in a very personal light.  What works for one person, would never apply to another.  What I love about this thought is how God views each of us in a very personal way, away from the crowd...one on one with Him.  This way, there can be no confusion as to God's plan designed just for me.  Some plans can be tough, but we realize how personalized His plans are. 

God's plans are very timely and  He is very prompt in His timing of events.  So many times, I have wished God would move a little faster in solving a concern of mine.  Sometimes, I am waiting for an answer regarding a particular situation but God's answer is rarely in sync with my expetations.  He sees so much further down the road than we can see.

What God's plan has in store for us is nothing but perfection.  Going through some difficulties may not ring with perfection but God does everything pure of motive and with our best interest at heart.  He makes no mistakes, especially in His relationship with each of us.  He can be trusted with our very lives, even when we don't understand what is going on.

Father, I often don't understand some things happening in my life but know you are at the wheel of my circumstances.  I know Your plans for me in this life will always be for my good and Your glory.  In Jesus' name...Amen 

THE RIGHTEOUS MAN

The righteous man walks in

his integrity; his children

are blessed after him.

Proverbs 20:7

Father's Day is a bit touchy for me.  The children and I used to make a big deal of it with Brian even though he didn't much want any fuss.  He didn't like the pastor asking the dad's to stand up in church on this holiday although he did it.  It might have lookied a  little odd if he hadn't done it.

Brian was a husband any woman would  have loved to have.  He was loving, thoughtgful and one of the dearest Christians I had ever known.  When I saw the above verse, I thought about him because of that word INTEGRTY.  He was a man of integrity from the top of his head to the soul of his feet.  The only lie (I put that lightly) he was known to tell was to our children when they would ask his age.  His answer was always the same....23.  When the children got old enough to do some addition noting that I would have been many years older than him, he would explain by telling them that I had adopted him.

Church attendance was never a question.  If we had company on a Sunday, they either went with us or stayed home while we went.  One time, I was ill over a weekend and we had two little girls, hardly kindergarten age and a younger baby boy.  I remember him preparing the diaper bags and took off with all three to church even though they would have been separated in the nursery facilities somewhere.  How he  got in three lines at the end of the service I'll ever know.

I must say from my standpoint that I grew spiritually under his leadership.  He practiced his faith and service.  He was a student of the Word and was my extra commentary source when preparing Bible studies of any sort.  

Someone asked me one day what I missed about Brian having gone to Heaven.  I told her that it was everything, but miss his influence in my life in so many ways.

I guess this is too personal for a blog but many others I know could write some of the same things on this day.  I'm a blessed wife that God would bring such a person into my life.  All dad's aren't alike and can't be compared.  Dad's become much of who they are because of their family of wife and children.  God knew Adam would need an Eve but also knew ahead of time that we Eve's would need our Adams.

Thank You Father for the privilege we have of the loving and godly influence of our men on Father's Day.  Perhaps even just as blessed are our children who have benefited in so many ways through strong dads.  In Jesus' name...Amen

DON'T QUIT!

 And let us not grow weary
  in well doing  
for in due season we shall
reap if we do not lose
heart.
Galatians 6:9

We are right here at the onset of the summer months.  Folks are making all sorts of plans for coming days.  Many will travel to places of interest, get together with family members who may live at a distance or just plan events closer to home.  Perhaps it's the hot weather and general climate of things but somehow, these three months seem so much different from the other nine.  Yes, climates, holidays and so many things make our seasons different, but the summer months are just something else.

Spiritually these months can pose some risks.  They aren't different in physical ways but spiritually, we can experience a slow down in feelings we either don't notice or don't understand.  It's during these months we can quit doing some things that are normal for us the rest of the year.  We can lose faithfulness in our church attendance, in our Bible reading, in times of prayer and in being of service to others.  It's like for some that many things are put on hold until September.  We can't quit those things that are an in-depth part of us.  We should plow on without quitting.

There may be some things, however, that might merit our quitting-ness. 

Hot weather often brings on anger and negative attitudes.  Be it anger, complaining, selfishness, there are those things we should in God's power quit.

Just as children go to chuch camp in the summer, perhaps we can plan our own spiritual times for these months...a new book to read, a different Bible to study and mark up, getting out into nature frequently even if it's sitting in the car by a mountain stream, putting a jig saw puzzle together or doing a craft project that isn't too complicated.  The key is to keep God a part of all we plan.  I've done this before and found it refreshing.  I didn't do all those things at once but made some changes for the sake of variety.

Above all, we just can't quit on Jesus.  For sure, He didn't quit on us when circumstances were worse than a hot, steamy day.  He didn't quit on us and we mustn't quit on Him no matter the season we face.

Father, we love you even though a times we may not show it as much as we should.  You are so faithful and loving to us and that hasn't stopped.  You never quit on us and may we be consistent in our love for you.  In Jesus name...Amen

 

     REMEMBER WHEN    

I will remember the works of

the LORD; surely I will remember

Your wonders of old.

Psalm 77:11

The other day, I saw an item on my computer where someone had duplicated the inside of the average home back in the 60's.  As I looked at the tour, it looked very much like my house in the 50's even with the clotheslines in the backyard with laundry hanging on them.  I felt such a sentimental warmth because it all looked so familiar.  The kitchen, with appliances is always a feature.  I don't recall a TV anyplace but there were some radios here and there.  From drapes to pictures on the wall, that of course included a yearly calendar with all of the hangings, would be so very dull in our day of fancy furnishings, no matter a person's income.

It's interesting at certain ages the things we remember from time past including both positive and negative memories.  Hopefully we have dealt with the unfortunate times but the sweetness of life's memories should be keepers.  It's interesting how we remember events, people, special relationships, places lived and jobs held.

What concerns me about me is that I have a life full of great memories of family, friends and life in general.  What I fail to remember are so many of the things that come under the category of GOD'S BLESSINGS.  I realize the it might seem a little odd having a time of thanksgiving in June when we usually reserve such for the month of November, but God often gets slighted in this area.

I don't look back often enough to that sunny day in our church when I went forward to accept Jesus as my Savior.  With some chagrin, I remember baptism the next Sunday evening when six of us were to be baptized.  The water heater had broken, it was very cold weather, but we went on with the baptism anyway.  Don't think I've been that cold since.  There were church camps I loved and learned.  God led me and sustained me in a four year Christian college.  Through the years, He gave me so many opportunities to serve Him and still does.  He has held me in the palm of His great hand through the thick and thins of life.  He's taught me to love His Word, to study it and teach it to dear ladies I love.  

There are more and more sweet memories of God's working in my life.  I never want Him to think I don't remember His love and goodness.  No matter our age, what a blessing remembering the former years of regular life but even moreso, remembering how God has worked His marvelous wonders to the present .  

Father, Thank You  so much for the memories.  There have been smiles but tears as well.  Through Your loving care, I can remember where You have brought me from up to and include this very moment. I never want to forget your goodness.      In Jesus precious name...Amen

ANSWER THE DOOR

Behold, I stand at the door and

knock.  If anyone hears My

voice and opens the door, I will

come into him and dine with

him, and he with Me.

Revelation 3:200

 It was a typical December Friday night in our small town.  It was the last basketball game prior to our Christmas break and as usual most of the town had turned out for the game.  Somewhere into the game, all play on the floor came to an abrupt stop.  Players went to their sidelines and an announcement came over the speaker system.  An urgent request was made for any doctors in the building to immediately go to a certain coal mine.  Our town was a coal mining town.  Any man working there was known well by family and friends.  

There was a moment of being stunned.  Then players ran for their dressing rooms and the crowd began to move out to their cars.  We soon learned there had been an explosion killing 120 men.  Only a couple of men had survived.  

The media was nothing like it is now.  Information was slow coming for their consumption so the great crowd of them began just going from door to door, banging on doors, hoping someone would open up and share information about victims and their families.  My Mother gave strict orders to NOT answer or open our front door to anyone.  As it turned out, there were only a couple of reporters that came to our house but were refused.

There are times when it just isn't safe or sane to open any door in our lives, not just a residential one.  We may have in past opened doors to people or activities not good for us in any way.  There is, however, a time to open the door of our lives and that is to the knocking of Jesus, Who wants to fellowship with us anytime of day or night. He won't force His way into our lives...we have to open the door to Him and then we will know sweet fellowship like with no other.

Dear Jesus, may I never refuse to open to You the door of my life.  May I always welcome You that I may learn from You and learn from You.  I'm so grateful for Your sacrifice on my behalf and love You so much....Amen

 REMEMBER WHEN

I will remember the works of

the LORD;  surely I will

remembesr Your wonders of old.

Psalm 77:11

Years ago, I used to hear older folks talk about how the older they had gotten, the shorter their memories.  That just didn't compute for me at the time.  However, I've come to look at things from a different angle now.  So many folks my age are often mistaken as having dimentia or some form of it.  Now I logically look at the things I have a problem remembering and can feel for those ladies in years gone by. When in my younger years, there just wasn't as much information stored in my memory as there is now with so much info to recall now.

When we get down to all the remembering we do, we often leave our Heavenly Father out.  We don't mean to because we have far more to remember about His love and provision than anyone elses.  We have spiritual things to remember, such as:  primary Sunday school, favorite pastors, day of our salvation, evening of baptistm, first Bible, church camp, and Chrisstian education.  

A little later came dating a godly man, marrying that godly man, privileged opportunities of serving the Lord using gifts He instilled in me for purpose, God's continued care and protection. These days, I remember my dear hubby who  is with Jesus and that God has provided for me to join along with a multitude of saints when He sees fit.  It's all a tribute to a wonderful and loving Heavenly Father. 

What would your spiritual memory list look like?  There's no way we can list every possible thing He's done and imprinted on our hearts, but as they come to recall, we should be a rejoicing people remembering God's goodness.  Let's choose to pause and remember how precious He's been and continues to be.

Father, You have poured the sweetest of things into my life through the years.  There have been the difficult things to remember but can remember how You brought me through them.  Thank You, Father, for the memories.  In Jesus name...Amen

COMFORT AND JOY

I, even I, am He who

Who comforts you,

Who are you that you

should be afraid.

Isaiah 51:12a

 It's odd the things that come to mind just out of the blue.  I was having breakfast this morning, a breakfast I never ate when Brian was here.  He wouldn't have liked it in the least, but may have eaten it out of courtesy.

Brian hadn't been gone very long when while getting my hair done in the home of a very dear friend, her husband walked into their kitchen to fix some breakfast for himself.  I asked what he was going to have and he told me he was fixing sausage gravy on biscuits.  I'm not really a biscuit person, but thought the gravy might be good on toast.  I asked where to get that toast topping and was directed to the gravy section of the grocery store.  I've never liked commercial gravy or mashed potatoes in a restaurant so had no idea what this would end up being.

Needless to say, I literally bit and made the purchase.  I was more than skeptical, so put extra butter on the toast before adding the topping.  With the first bite, a word came to mind....COMFORT.  I've heard folks speak of comfort food, but haven't thought of food in that way very often.  This comfort delight is something I can eat any time of day.  It warms the body, soul and spirit

I've been thinking how God's Word is our comfort food beyond what physical food can produce for us.  We are more than encouraged in so many ways to find comfort in it that can result in a joy we can't begin to imagine.  A Christmas carol refers to "tidings of comfort and joy" which became available to us upon the coming of Jesus.  We may avidly seek comfort and even joy from so many sources, but bottom line, He's our only real source of both of those things...no matter what someone might tell you about sausage and gravy.

I don't know, Father, what I could ever do without You in my life.  You are always giving, healing and comfort.  The topping You pour onto  my life is the joy You give in abundance.  Thank You so much.  In Jesus name...Amen

GOT'CHER  BACK

Fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am

your God;

I will strengthen you, yes, I

will help you with My

righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:9,10

Growing up around lots of country relatives, I came to learn all sorts of phrases, slang and otherwise.  The above title was one of those statements that when young I didn't understand it.  I wondered how on earth anyone could just get your back  and what would they do with it when they took it from someone.

I came to know the statement as one that speaks of looking out for another person, no matter what situation could arise in the life of another.  Such a statement, however, is one of genuine commitment and even though crude in sound, is one a friend might take very seriously.

Defending or looking out after anotherone's best interest can be a serious undertaking.  People may feel the statement is more often a promise of financial help.  There are so many other ways, however, we can look out for each other.  It will begin with a genuine interest and love for a particular person.  Our concern for another may not mean huge undertakings.  It may not mean going to bat for someone that indicates some kind of conflict.

I've been a people watcher, not starer.  When with other Christian friends, faces or posture can indicate not feeling well, discouragement and yes, even abuse.  When concerned about another, I might say, "Well, what can I do for you today."  That doesn't mean they have to tell me a thing and will often say, "Pray for me."  I promise to do so and don't pry any further.

We're in a weary world where Christian friends often find themselves in situations they never saw coming.  Often, the best way to "got'cher backs" is to be caring, loving and praying.  Afterall, the only Person who really has our backs is our Heavenly Father and He's more than able no matter what's going on.

Father, You are so faithful in keeping me close when at times I don't even recognize it.  I'm so grateful for your care and attention to my every need.  Your power in my life means more than I can say.  In Jesus' name...Amen

LISTEN UP

 My sheep hear my voice, and

I know them, and they

follow Me.

John 10:27

In today's world, we are bombarded with voices of various types.  One of the main ways we recognize folks is by their voices.  We talk on our phones to friends and families, knowing those folks by their voices.  Science is telling us that soon, anyone's voice will be able to be copied so that even close relatives won't recognize a phony voice.   Aside from voices in general, I have been disturbed how voices are used.  On television, news reports, medication ads, etc. are voiced with or without pictures that are meant to cause the general public to be frightened if they don't adhere to such productions.

Recently, I've been reading John 10 where most of the chapter is given to Jesus speaking of Himself as our shepherd.  He knows the nature of sheep, the animal.  They are for the most part pretty dumb.  They will gnaw on grass even if it takes them to the edge of a cliff.  They rarely know when to rest and picky about what water source they drink from.  However, they are very intelligent when it comes to knowing they have a shepherd enough to know that shepherd's voice.  It's almost to the point that if their shepherd even clears his voice, the sheep may at least raise their heads.  When he speaks, one sees immediate, attentive obedience on the part of the entire flock.

Jesus sees us as direly needing leadership in our lives.  He knows all about sheep...He was a sacrificial lamb following in obedience to His Father.  He clearly heard His Father's voice and followed without hesitation.  Jesus is now our Shepherd and speaks in this chapter referring to the human voice and need for His sheep to not only hear His voice, but to do His bidding. T

Voices are calling out to us from every place we can think of to turn our attention away from our Shepherd.  To follow Him, however, we first must know His voice or we'll follow others we shouldn't.  Without the relationship, there's no communication. When we know the bidding of Jesus on our lives, we make a choice...being loved and provided for, or worse, falling off a cliff the world calls us to.  

Thank You Jesus for being my Shepherd.  I need Your care and leadership in my life.  Help me to not stray from you and to faithfully hear and obey your voice.  In Jesus' name...Amen