Thank you Jesus for Gift of Reconciliation

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-23

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For ^[b]by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ He ^[c]is before all things, and in Him all things ^[d]hold together. ¹⁸ He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. ¹⁹ For ^[e]it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the ^[f]fullness to dwell in Him, ²⁰ and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say,whether things on earth or things in ^[g]heaven.

²¹ And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, ²² yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—²³ if indeed you continue in ^[h]the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, ^[i]was made a^[j]minister.

Colossians 1:16 always brings me back to my first love, Jesus. God used v. 16 to see He is my all and all. God showed me that my purpose was not about my self or my life but was about Him. ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN CREATED THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIM.  We learn much about who Jesus is in the above Colossian verses. He is the image of the invisible God. He has all the attributes. He is God in the flesh . God was pleased for all of Himself to live in Christ. All things were created by Him (to show that He is the one true God) and all things are sustained by Him and continue because of Him. We know He is above all  things and before all things.  He is to have the supremacy in everything.

We also hear that God made peace by the blood of Christ's death on the cross. Reconciliation is a word that we all need to hear. We can and have been reconciled back to God. We are no longer enemies. We don't have to earn his favor nor do we have to run and hide. We were once alienated but now through Jesus' death, we can come near. Jesus makes us blameless and holy in God's sight when we continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel.

After reconciliation with God, we can have reconciliation with others.  We can spread this ministry of reconciliation to others that are alone, afraid and in hiding.

Many of us are living with broken relationships whether broken marriages, broken in law relationships, broken family relationships, and broken friendships. We don't have to live like this. God has provided a way to be reconciled back to him by Jesus death on the cross. He has conquered death.  He brings us back into a relationship with Him. Our reconciliation with others is made through His forgiveness and sacrifice. We can forgive others through His power. God tells us that as far as it depends on us to be at peace with all men. This passage comes from Romans 12 where we are told to be a living sacrifice. It is good to read all of Romans 12 to see love in action in all relationships.  

I am learning through this gift of reconciliation due to Jesus death that I can bless those who persecute me. Through Christ, I can love and do good those who hate me. Through Christ, I can bless those who curse me. I am not to repay evil for evil. Through Christ, I can pray for those who spitefully use me. If my enemy is hungry, I am to feed him. If my enemy is thirsty, I am to give him a drink. Love needs to be sincere. 

Through Jesus Christ's sufficiency, I am seeing that I can have right relationships with others. I can't force them to love me but I can love as God gives me the power to love.

The Good News is that we were once alienated and enemies of God in our minds by wicked works yet now He, Jesus Christ has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death to present us holy and blameless and above reproach in His sight. We all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. Sin deserved death but God himself was born of flesh and died on the Cross. The grave could not hold him and He conquered death and sin. He rose again after 3 days.  If we believe in our heart He has been raised from the dead and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord you will be saved.(see Romans 10:9). Call on the name of the Lord. We are then to continue on in faith, remaining steadfast to the Good news we heard.

Thank you that we don't have to live  away from you God or others. Thank you Jesus that you promised that you will never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5-6). Call on the name of the Lord through Jesus Christ. May God's grace and peace be with you. May he heal your relationships and in all things, may he be your sufficiency. You were created for a purpose - to glorify God (reflect who He is) and enjoy Him forever. All things were created through Him and for Him. This means you - you were created FOR HIM.

Giving Thanks for Holy and Faithful Brothers and Sisters in Christ

I just finished up a study on Colossians with Good Morning Girls. Before beginning a new study, I really wanted to marinate in what God was already showing me and do what He was asking me to do. I wanted to say Thank you god for what He has done in me and what He is teaching me. God is faithful.

Colossians 1:1-14 gave me a new perspective on Brothers and Sisters in Christ. I think a lot about interactions with people. Sometimes, I over think. The draining part of relationships for me is the thinking after all the conversations are over. In some ways it is so good as God shows me where I have sinned and need to be cleansed. Others times He encourages.. Other times, I see where God wants to grow me.  However, many times there is just there long line of I should have done that or I should have said that. Conversations and interactions just keep playing over and over in my mind as Satan tries to attack me and cause much noise in my head so that I would believe relationships are too hard or too training or too much work.

I love people. However, I get distracted when I am around others. I tend to get drawn into their feelings and thoughts rather than spread God's joy, grace and peace. Maybe to them I am spreading God's joy, grace and peace but I feel distracted and a lack of peace as I am with many people. God made us to be with others and to encourage one another on.

Paul  calls His brothers and Sisters in Christ holy and faithful. Do I tend to think of my brothers and sisters this way?

Paul also gives a blessing by saying grace and peace to his brothers and sisters in Christ.  At first, we may want to just skip over this and get right into the meat of the scripture. I didn't this time. God keeps drawing me back to these first 14 verses. I am learning to give grace and draw on God's power, strength, wisdom to be at peace and share that with others.

We are to keep on praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ. These 14 verses gave so much to pray for.
Pray this for brothers and sisters:
1.  For God to fill all of us with knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding
2.  To have a life worthy of Lord and that we would please God in every way
3.  To bear fruit
4.  To grow in knowledge of God
5. To be strengthened with all power according to His glorious might
6. To have great endurance
7. To have patience
8. To joyfully give thanks

Purpose of praying for brothers and sisters in Christ is found in verse 10 "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way. Then in verse 10- 11 Paul goes on to say what a life that is worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him looks like: bear fruit, grow in the knowledge of God and are strengthened with all power according to His glorious might. Paul goes on in v. 11-12 to state that great endurance, patience and joyfully giving thanks comes from the bearing of fruit, growing in knowledge of God and being strengthened with God's power according to His might.

I just realized as I was typing that I am in included in here. Many times, I think I need to be the one praying for brothers and sisters without praying for my self. God has called me Holy and Faithful as His child based on Christ alone who has qualified me to partake in the inheritance.

Going back to feel distracted with others. Many times I have great joy and peace without others. Also, I think I get way more done without complaints, arguments, trouble, people asserting their ways, going in so many directions, being pulled. However, I realized once again God does not give me grace, peace and joy to keep to myself. It is meant to be shared with others.  It is easy for me to share food, money, possessions and to be generous with others but I don't know how to share grace, peace and joy with others.  Is it a hug with words that if we are God's children, He has rescued us from dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of son of His love. We have redemption and forgiveness.  I am to be faithful to just be and have God's light shine in the darkness so that the ministry of reconciliation to God is done. People need to know they are forgiven and can have peace with God. There is a hope stored up for them. People need to know there is a rescuer.

Colossians 1:11-12 reminds us that God strengthens us with His glorious might so that we can have endurance, patience and joyfully give thanks. These qualities are needed in order to continue faithful in relationships.

I start out as David did many times in the Psalms pouring out my heart to God about others but end up rejoicing in God that He is our power, our might, our strength, and our endurance.

Lord Jesus, may I continue to walk faithful in spreading your love, grace and Good news. A way to know I  abide in you and love you and others is to obey what your word says. May I continue to bless those who curse me, do good to those who hate me,pray for those who spitefully use me and persecute me. (Matthew 5:44-48). May I and my brothers and sisters be filled with the knowledge of yoru will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. May we have a life worthy of you and please you in every way. May we bear your fruit, grow int eh knowledge of you, being strengthened with your might, have your endurance, patience and joyfully give thanks to you. May we walk faithfully in your love.

PRAISE JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE

I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE

In the previous post, I posted how God in the Old Testament revealed Himself to Moses as "I AM" God says "I AM WHO I AM". It is important to know God's name JEHOVAH YAHWEH.

Jesus reveals Himself as I AM as well in the New Testament in John 8:58 when he says "Assuredly I say to you before Abraham was, I AM."  In  John 6:35, Jesus says " I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."

Thinking on the Bread of Life, my three year old son reminded me of Satan and Jesus in the dessert. Satan told Jesus to turn the rocks/stones into bread because he knew Jesus had not eaten in 40 days. Jesus answered "It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4).

About three or four weeks ago when we read devotionals on God being our bread these are the thoughts on bread that we remembered and talked about:

1. Jesus says He is the bread of life - John 6:35

2. Jesus taught us to pray "Give us each day our daily bread" in the Lord's Prayer - Luke 11:3

3. Jesus says we don't live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God - Matthew 4:4

4. Jesus says in John 6:35 and John 6:48  and John 6:51- I am the bread of life.

5. Jesus talked about how their fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and are dead. He goes on to say This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. "I am the living bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and that I give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." John 6:47-51. Jesus says these words in John 6:31-34.  

6. Communion and how Jesus body is the bread.  His body was broken for us.

It would be important to read all of John 6:22-59. The word bread is mentioned at least 13 times with other references to food, manna and loaves.

Jesus says "he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in Me and I in him." (John 6:56).

Jesus says something to the people who followed him to Capernaum. They had followed Jesus by boat. They wanted to know when Jesus came here. Jesus replied "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled." (John 6:26)  This talk of Jesus being the bread is right after the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand at the start of John 6. In v. 12 of chapter 6, we see the people are filled.  At first in verse two they followed him because of the His signs. Then they sat all day listening to Jesus. They heard His words.  After they were filled with the bread, there was more bread left over than when they started. There were 12 baskets filled. I am seeing this again how God's provisions are never exhausted even if it starts with just 5 loaves to feed 5000. His words are life.  Filled  and strongs word #5526 of chortazo came to signify being satisfied with food in abundance. 

Jesus says he came to give us abundant life. In John 10:10, Jesus says "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

In Philippians 4:19, we read "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

Jesus goes on to tell the people to not labor for food which perishes but for the food which endures to everlasting life which he gives. (John 6:27).

The Bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and GIVES LIFE TO THE WORLD. The food Jesus gives endures to everlasting life The people ask Jesus, What shall we do they ask that we may work the works of God?

Jesus replies "THIS is the work of God, that you believe in Him who He sent (v. 28,29).

In v. 36, Jesus says they don't believe. Jesus goes on to say in v. 40 that the will of Him who sent me is that everyone who sees the son and believes in Him may have everlasting lift and I will raise him up at the last day.

What is God's will - to believe in Him? How do we believe in Him - sees teh son and believes in Him. God is the one who draws us. Then we seek. In John 6:45 = "And they shall all be taught by God. Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me."

This discussion in Chapter 6 of John is what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman in Chapter 4 of John.  Jesus told the Samaritan woman that the water he gives will become a spring of water flowing inside him and it will give eternal life. After this encounter with the Samaritan woman, Jesus disciples are trying to get him to eat as he has not eaten all day. Jesus tells them that he has food to eat that you know nothing about. The disciples were confused and wondered if someone brought Jesus food that they didn't know about. Jesus said "My food is to do what the One who sent me wants me to do. My food is to finish the work that he gave me to do." Then Jesus goes on to say that the fields are ready for harvesting now meaning there are many people ready to believe onto Jesus, obey and be His followers onto eternal life.(John 4:31-39).

Believes onto Jesus means obedience. We cannot say we believe Jesus if we are not following His words. Many will look for a new "sign" or a new word. God does speak to his people and gives them truth and the truth will set them free. However, the truth Jesus gives of Himself and the truth that truly sets us free is given only to those who continue to obey His teaching. In John chapter 6 we read that the words Jesus speaks are spirit. The words in the Bible are spirit and life. They are not just words on a page not to be obeyed. The Good News is that Jesus came, he died and he rose again to conquer death and sin. Sin no longer has its hold. When we believe and obey and continue in what Jesus taught, we have eternal life. His Holy Spirit is born inside of us and the living waters flowing is the Holy Spirit at work in us. God's words are not burdensome now as He lives in us to accomplish all these. Our part is believing in him = obedience. We depend on Him and Submit to Him because He is our life.

Abiding in Jesus is continue to eat of his flesh and drink of His blood. This means obedience. This article explains this well.  http://loveintruth.com/amf-docs/flesh1.htm

I keep thinking of the story of the Israelites complaining of the manna sent from heaven to feed them during the 40 years in the wilderness. They kept thinking about the good food they had in Egypt but forgot the mighty hand of God that took them out of slavery. The Israelites were treated cruelly and harshly in Egypt. They had to work hard, long days. They were slaves. They cried out to God. God had hear their cries and sent a deliverer. Now they are complaining and wish they were dead or back in slavery.  I am sick of this manna. I am tired of eating it.  Likewise, many reject Jesus and would rather be in slavery serving their lusts and desires of the flesh. People walk in darkness and forgot the great benefits God gives through Jesus when our eyes are on our physical appetites. The people continued to murmur we read in Exodus 16 and God sends quail. There is so much quail that the people eat, eat and eat. They die. Likewise when we feed on our our desires rather than believing Jesus is from heaven and is God then we die in disobedience. God desires all men to know him. He has provided for all men. 

The manna got sent to his people was not ordinary bread. It fell from heaven during the night and in the darkness. It fell on the dew of the ground. It came every day except the Sabbath. This bread was sweet like honey. Likewise in Psalm 119:103, God says his word is sweeter than honey. The people could gather as much as they were hungry for. The only thing they were not to gather more than they could eat because it would spoil. It would not keep to the next day. Likewise, we need "daily bread" and daily relationship with the Lord. Each day is a new walk of obedience in collecting  what Jesus provides in His Written Word which is spirit and life and in Himself, the incarnate word who came down from heaven and lived among us.

In Exodus 16 where we read about the manna, God said he was doing this to see if the people will do what I teach them. Again, it was about obedience to what God says.  God told them that the food was for all of them. The people had to go out and gather what they needed for that day. On the sixth day was the only day they could gather twice as much or enough for the following day which was the Sabbath.  Some people gathered little and some gathered much. The person who gathered more did not have too much. The person who gathered less did not have too little. Each person gathered just as much as he needed. Moses instructed the people not to keep any of it to the morning as God had said. But some of the people did not listen. They kept part of it until morning (disobedience). God had said the reason he did this was to see if they will do what he taught. The manna they kept until the next day was full of worms and began to stink.   The only time you could keep it and it would not rotten was for the Sabbath.  

Moses instructed the people like God had said that they had to gather twice the amount before the Sabbath. Again some people did not listen and obey God's instructions. They went out on the Sabbath and did not find any Manny. Then the Lord said to Moses in Exodus 16:28 - "How long will all you people refuse to obey my commands and teachings?" God went on to talk about the obedience of the Sabbath.  "Look the Lord has made the Sabbath a day of rest for all of you. So on the sixth day he will give you enough food for two days. But on the Sabbath each of you must stay where you are. Do not leave your house." (Exodus 16:29).  This manna was provided 40 years until they came to the promised land, Canaan.


His is an article on the manna:

http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Gleanings_Exodus/exodus_23.htm

Praise The Great I AM

THE GREAT I AM

Last week in our family, we were learning Jehovah Yahweh, I am the self-existent, unchanging one.  In the story of the burning bush in Exodus 3, we see the bush burned and burned but it never burned up. Moses had turned aside to see this great sight and when the Lord saw that Moses turned aside to look that is when God called to Moses. Moses said "here I am". God goes on to tell Moses that he has seen the oppression of his people and Egypt and that he wants Moses to go to Pharoah to let His people go. Moses makes some excuses and then asks God when I come to the children of Israel and say "The God of your fathers has sent me to you" and they say to me "what is His name? What shall I say to them?" 

God's reply to Moses as to His name was "I AM WHO I AM". And He said "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you." (Exodus 3;14).

Then Jesus in John 8:58 said "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

Psalm 9:10 says "And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For you, Lord have not forsaken those who seek you."  It is important to know who God reveals Himself to be.  A person's name in Bible times revealed His character and purpose.  

I would try to write the significance of I AM means but this article does that well: http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/i-am-who-i-am.  I have focusing on the I AM of Jehovah YAHWEH as the one who never changes.  He is the one that makes and gives everything. He is not a God that needs to be served by our hands. He doesn't need anything. He is everything.

When Moses met God at the burning bush, he didn't know God's name and that is why he asked. It becomes easier to trust God when we know who He says He is. When we make up in our mind who we think God is and what His name is (meaning all He is) then we are worshipping idols.

Like Moses ask God, what is your name? Seek Him with your whole heart. He wants us to know Him as He is.  Jesus reveals Himself as the same name that God revealed to Moses "I AM". This I AM statement is significant. He remains who He is. He exists.  In the next week for my Thanksgiving praise, I will be writing about the seven I AM statements of Jesus as He reveals His name and who He is.

Further Application:
1. How does knowing who God is help you trust him?
2. What does I am who I am mean in the Word of God?
3. Who does God say He is?

Prayer:  Thank you God that you reveal yourself so that we can know you and worship you and spirit and truth. Where we have believed lies about you, fill our minds and heart with your truth. Thank you that those who know your name will put their trust in you. Thank you that you never leave us.

Praise God for Stability,God Never Changes

In Yesterday's post of Praise, I wrote about God's word. Today, I have been thinking about how God Himself never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. So many things in this world change - friendships, Church family, family, environment, jobs, our children grow up, our appearance, food supplies, financial market. Everything changes but God's Word says God does not. He does not grow weary. He never gets worn out. His love is constant. Even the heavens and earth will be changed but God will not.

Many times, we want stability but the only stability we can have is in God.  He can not be manipulated, coerced nor does he compromise like we do. His plan from the beginning of time since He created Adam and Eve has never changed.  We are His people and He is our God. He wants to live with us, be in relationship with us, and guide us. By his love, He created us, his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do the works he created us to do before the foundation of the world (see Ephesians 2:10).

We sometimes may wonder why we are joyful one minute and full of anger the next. We change with our circumstances. If our children are behaving, we are at peace. If they are not behaving or if someone says something unkind to us, our attitude changes. We go from one thing to the next seeking stability. God is our rock, our ever present help in trouble. He does not change. He does not waiver. His love does not increase when we do good nor does it decrease when we do wrong/bad.

Verses to think on:
Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 1:10-12 - “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands.
¹¹ They will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
¹² You will roll them up like a robe;
    like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
    and your years will never end.”^[a]Malachi 3:6 - I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.

James 1:17 - Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows.

Numbers 23:19 - God is not a man that he should lie nor a son of man that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

Psalm 102:27 - But you remain the same and your years will never end.

Lamentations 3:22 - Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

Lord, I praise you that you are my rock. You are my stability. I can have joy despite hardship, pain, loss as well as in good times. You are my treasure. Your strength is what lifts me above my circumstances. I thank you that I can always run to you. I thank you that you never leave me or forsake me. 

First Day of Thanksgiving Praise - Praise for God's Word

November is here. At our house, we like to write what we are thankful for on leaves and hang them on our Thanksgiving Tree. Then on Thanksgiving, we can recount our blessings and share them with each other. . This year, my son said we should use our big Christmas tree. I thought this was a good idea because we had more room to write lots of things we are thankful for throughout the day. We are also making loops of thanks to hang all over. We like traditions because they bring our family together to share and celebrate. The tradition for the giving of thanks starts on November 1st when we put up the tree and start writing our leaves of thanks. Then on the day of Thanksgiving, we take down all our leaves of thanks and loops of thanks and read them as a blessing unto the Lord for all He is, has given, has done and is doing in our lives. The day after Thanksgiving (when my parents always put up our tree), we start our Christmas blessings traditions. Actually, the whole thanksgiving four day weekend is filled with much rejoicing.

For the last five weeks, I have been thinking upon spiritual blessings (natural blessings too). In Ephesians we are told "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." Many earthly blessings we have will perish but the Word of God is eternal and unchanging. 

Psalm 119:92 - If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.

God's word brings hope, healing and comfort. We are so privileged to have God's written word to speak to us. We don't have to guess about God and who He is. We don't have to guess about how we are to live in Him.   

The word is eternal and it never changes. We have God's written word that He breathed out and Has spoken. 

The word is:
1.  a lamp onto my feet (Psalm 119:105)
2. a light onto my path  (Psalm 119:105)

3. Alive and active (Hebrews 4:12)

4. Sharper than any two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12)

5. penetrating even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrows (Hebrews 4:12)

6. judges our thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12)

7.  breathed out by God  (1 Timothy

8.  profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

9. gives life (Psalm 119:50)

10. Eternal and unchanging (Isaiah 40:8)

11. Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6)

God says in Psalm 1 that we are blessed if we delight in the law of the Lord, day and night.  Psalm 119 is a great psalm of thanks for God's word. We have been trying to memorize this Psalm as a thanksgiving praise for God's word. God's word is what brings me hope when all else seems loss. God's word is what spurs me on to His good works that He has prepared.  God's word is what fills me with thanks and without his word, I would just complain most of the day. God's word is what directs my life. God says he knows we love him when we do what His word says.  

Many times people believe they know God but they never read about Him. They made up who God is in their own mind without getting to know Him. In fact, we all have done that. When God comes to live in our lives and in our heart through being born from above where His spirit comes to live in our bodies (not in temples made by hands but in our flesh), He lives through us. The word comes alive. The words are no longer words on a page we have to read to try to be good. We can't be good. We are sinners. The law shows us what we are doing wrong. Without the hope of God sending his son, Jesus, to die on the cross we would feel hopeless as we try to fulfill the law's demands. We can't even love apart from God for God is love. This is love that he died for us while we were still sinners. We couldn't be good enough to come to God. He had to come to us. He came to earth from heaven to be born in a poor, unrecognized, humble way where only Shepherds were awake to hear the angels tell of his birth. Shepherds who were the lowly in society heard the Good news first.  We think our life may be full and that we don't need God or His word. We think we have everything we need. However, the truth is we are strangers and aliens and this world is fading, perishing and dying. Everything external is dying. God brings hope in Jesus death saying he conquered death and the good news is he died to bring you into relationship with Him. We don't have to run. We don't have to do it ourselves. We don't have to pretend we have everything we need. We don't have to hide from our past. We don't have to be defensive over what we did to hurt others. We don't have to lie. We can come into the light of truth and see God loves us and He wants us to believe onto him and worship Him in spririt and in truth.

God's word is not burdensome but a light. In God's presence is fullness of joy. I pray we pick up His word and have faith for unbelief dies as we read His Word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. May we decrease and He increase as our faith in Him flourishes.

Lord Jesus, I am so thankful that you are the living Word. I am thankful for your written word as an expression of you that I can pick up and read anytime. Thank you that i don't have to hide my Bible and that I can freely read of you. Others may talk to you, preach you, teach you, share you but really You already did that in my heart and in your word. I thank you that your word never changes even though people's opinions of you do. I don't need to live in confusion or fear wondering who you are or basing my opinions of you on what others said. I can see in your word who you really are. You are awesome, full of glory, deserving of all praise. May every knee bow and every tongue confess that you are Lord. Praise you God.

Article that I found interesting:
http://calvaryhillchurchofgod.com/Sermon_Outlines/I%20AM%20THANKFUL%20FOR%20THE%20WORD%20OF%20GOD.pdf

   

http://www.proverbs31.org/devotions/sparkling-confession-2012-10/

http://www.proverbs31.org/devotions/sparkling-confession-2012-10/

Embracing Serving Our Children, Because Time Goes Quickly

Embracing Serving Our Children, Because Time Goes Quickly

Made in His Image

2 Corinthians 3:18
      But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Have you ever really pondered what it means to be made in the image of God? God does not just say in His Word once that we, humans are made in His image but instead He says it three times. Genesis 1:26: "Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth,".... Genesis 1:27 - "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female He created them." In verse 26, we see we were made in God's image and then in verse 27 God repeats it two more times.

In the past, I always thought of "In His image" as our reasoning abilities, our abilities to worship Him, our abilities to reflect. The more and more God reveals Himself, I see that made in His image has to do with Him and how we are to reflect who He is like a person looking into a mirror.  We have learned that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. In the Word of God, we are told in Isaiah 43:7 that "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yes, I have made him." Our purpose is to glorify God. Our image does not bear the resemblance of God many times because we want to be God and sit on the throne of our Kingdom. I say this about myself. I love God and I read His Word and with Help do what it says but there are many days where I try to figure it out and accomplish it according to my own plans.

I think the very first sin of Adam and Eve in taking the bite of fruit is that they desired to be like God. Being made in God's image and being made to reflect God's image by Glorifying God does not make us God or like gods. Even after having the Spirit of God in us, we are not God nor are we like gods. We are still human and He is still God. Our ways are still not His ways and our thoughts are still not His thoughts.  After being born again, meaning the Spirit of God comes lives in me through Jesus life, death and resurrection, God lives in me. Our only part is that we have been saved by grace THROUGH FAITH.  It is not me becoming like God. All of me is crucified and buried so that He can reign and live in me.

Additional Scripture Readings
 Genesis 1:26-27
Isaiah 43:1-7

Walking the Road

1. Am I trying to be like God or wanting to be like God rather than let God reign and live in me?

2. When I look in the mirror who do I see, who does God see, who does others see?

3. What does it mean to reflect God's?

4. If my purpose is to glorify God, what does it mean to glorify God?

His Sufficiency, My Submission

I have been greatly encouraged by studying Proverbs 31.  I saw areas where God was encouraging me to remain steadfast and I saw new areas God wanted me to grow in. When God puts something on my heart to do, I am encouraged. Satan may want us to despair, feel overwhelmed, or sad but our Great God always wins His battles. God used an ordinary people all the time to accomplish His great purposes. We are all ordinary but our God is extraordinary. He sees the great things He has planned for us to accomplish through Him.

Many times we despair because we try to do God's law without His power and strength. Trying to bey God's Law and rules is a system of religion not a relationship. We can not fulfill the law's demands. The law was a schoolteacher/tutor to lead us to Christ. Everything Christ did on the Cross was sufficient. Jesus' last words were it is finished. God is our sufficient savior. We will be discouraged if we take God's commands and just try to do them. Practices without foundational truth become a system of religion without power. It is like having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof as found in 2 Timothy 3:5. We can not put practical application before proper theology and a right relationship with God.

I have grown in the areas of using my words as an instrument of peace. I have learned much about grace, humility, a gentle and quiet spirit, working hard with hands rather than being idle. As I studied Proverbs 31, God really showed me more about His Sufficiency and my submission.2 Corinthians 3:5 says
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God ... (NKJV) . As I studied the virtues of the Proverbs 31, I rested in God knowing that I was not sufficient in myself. These virtues - hard work, doing good to husbands, gentle and quiet spirit, kind words, clothed with humility were not mine based on my sufficiency. Everything I am and have is from the sufficiency of God. Likewise 1 Corinthians 4:7 says "For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" No one is superior to another. If you have any qualities it is because you received it from God.

Apart from God, I can not do anything the Scripture says. John 15:5 says "

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.   The last verse of Proverbs 31 states  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.  Christians are to bear fruit as they submit to God's ways and walk in God's ways. Our part is submission to what God says. We can not obey half heartedly. We have  to live wholeheartedly unto the Lord doing everything with thanks to Him. We are to love Jesus with our whole heart. We are to obey ALL through Him who gives us strength and power. We know that the Proverbs 31 was a wise woman because she feared the Lord. In Proververbs 14:26-27 says "In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life to turn away from the snare of death." Since this Proverbs 31 study, I have gained more confidence in the fear of the Lord that I have rather than in my false belief of self. My part again is submission. I don't need false confidence, false pride, reverse pride or boasting because I have strong confidence due to my fear of the Lord. He is my refuge. I don't have to act as if I am nothing and don't compare to others and I don't need to exalt my confidence. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. I am learning to be satisfied from above. Proverb 14:14 says "...But a good man will be satisfied from above." As I submit to God, praises rise up. I have much to praise God for. Praise and worship is submission. Psalm 67 is a a great Psalm to read to see the importance of our submission, praise and worship. It leads to the blessings of God so that all the earth shall fear God (which is the beginning of wisdom).  As we,Christians, praise and worship God then God's ways are known on the earth that salvation comes among the nations. (Psalm 62:2). God makes us fishers of men as we submit, praise and worship. The Proverbs 31 woman was a lady of praise and worship as she did all to the glory of God. Additional Resources: www.discipleshiplibrary.com/pdfs/A487B.pdf http://www.slideshare.net/rdc2506/theology-i-gods-attributes-sufficiency http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Books,%20Tracts%20&%20Preaching/Printed%20Books/PTP/ptp-chap_02.htm http://bible.org/seriespage/sufficiency-god-through-his-spirit-2-cor-212821146

True Humility

Proverbs 27:2 says "Let another man praise you and not your own mouth; A stranger and not your own lips." As I read this verse and ponder its meaning, I realized that many times people are praising themselves because they don't feel worthy or they feel worthy based on what they do or know. Then there are those who don't praise themselves but put themselves down by feeling like they don't measure up. These people too don't feel worthy. They also don't feel worthy because they feel they don't do something or don't know something. The people who don't boast look at those who do with jealousy, contempt, envy and bitterness (even if they will not admit it). Those who boast go around having an inflated self image that they are better than others. Both sets of people do not realize that true humility is based on who we are in Christ not on what we do or what we know.

Psalm 100:3 says "Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people..." This verse tells us that it is about God. It is He who made us. We are His people. This helps the person who is always comparing self to others and feeling like they come up short. It helps the person who thinks they are better than others.

As I observed Proverbs 27:2, I saw that our lips and mouth are to praise others as gifts from God. We need to work at valuing others. The more we value others, the more freedom we will see to value ourselves for who we are in God's sight. True humility is not putting oneself down or denying God given gifts.

We learned in Church that it is "reverse pride" to feel like you don't measure up. You are actually the same as the prideful person (just another side of pride) to think of yourself more lowly than you should. These people struggle with comparing self to others. They feel they are not worthy or don't measure up. These feelings prevent people from becoming what God has for them. These feelings also cause jealousy, envy, bitterness and anger against others and who they are and what they have.  They end up having a critical spirit and think about self too much. The problem is they do not know worth in God's eyes and that all gifts are from God not self.  Saul ended up feeling jealous of David due to the people praising David. Saul's jealousy resulted in anger that then resulted in attempted murder of David. Saul failed to appreciate David's talents. It is important to take any jealousy to God and ask for help to appreciate others; talents while showing us how best to use our God given talents.

We are extremist people. We usually struggle with reverse pride or regular old pride. If we are not putting ourselves down, we end up praising ourselves and elevating our worth based on what we do or know rather than praising God and others.  We end up thinking we are better than others. We too can get a critical spirit because we think others are lazy or not doing a good enough job because we can do it better.  We too need to work on valuing others for who they are in God's sight.  Blessing others and thanking God for other people and their gifts helps to develop humility because we see we are dependent on God and others. We can not do everything by ourselves.  In James 3, we are told that we should not bless God and curse others as men have been made in similitude of God. We should be blessing others.  We are to encourage and build each other up in the Lord.

As I think about application steps, I see I tend to fall more in the regular old pride. God has been working on me over the last 8 years on this and I see that I am seeing His fruit of pride being rooted out of me and developing the proper image of Who He is, who I am and who other are.  God has gifted me with many good gifts and I praise Him for them. He has also gifted others and I am praising Him and others for these wonderful gifts and talents. I have to remember when others are jealous of what they see that I need to pray for them and share how God is the giver of every good gift. He gives us all gifts and talents so there is no need to compare.  I am also learning how to respond to praise from others. Many times the problem I am seeing is that others do praise me and my family. I don't need to do it. However, there are others who look on and get jealous because someone other than themselves are receiving the praise. The people who feel jealous end up saying hurtful things or acting distant or making faces. I am learning, however, to hug them and praise them for what God has given them. This requires thinking soberly and with absolute honesty. We don't want to praise them for what they know or what they do but because of true gifts God has given them and who He is in making them. I am learning to direct their attention to our Great God. It is not because of what I did or know that resulted in praise but because of who God is and what He has done.

My prayer continues to be that God increase and I decrease. I pray that I continue to have gratitude and sing praises to God for Who He is. I also have been reading a lot about blessing others and giving thanks for people.  I thank God that He is developing true humility in me and I am seeing His grace abound.
posted by a friend - Patty Birchard.

Appearing Beautiful on the Outside

This weeks Bible Study virtues was fear of the Lord and humility. I have been thinking a lot about hypocrisy. In Matthew 23, Jesus delivered a series of woes to the Pharisees. Jesus says "Woe to you, scribe and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done without leaving the others undone. Blind guides who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."

Many times if we see good behavior, we think a person must be inwardly good. This is not always the case. A person can be deceptive for a time. Eventually the bad fruit will show but we can not look at behavior alone. The Pharisees on the outside looked very good. They did all the "right" things. In fact Jesus said they "appeared beautiful outwardly". Jesus compared the Pharisees to a tomb with dead men's bones. They may have looked beautiful and appeared to obey everything but inside they will filled with all evil and lawlessness.

Clean Heart

As I read today's verse in Acts 13:22 for a Proverbs 31 study, the song Create in Me a Clean Heart started bubbling out of me. The lyrics to this song are:

Create in me a clean heart, oh God
And renew a right spirit within me
Create in me a clean heart, oh God
And renew a right spirit within me

Cast me not away from Thy presence, oh Lord
And take not Thy holy spirit from me
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation
And renew a right spirit within me

Scripture: Acts 13:22 - "And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as King, to whom also He gave testimony and said " I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all my will."

Observations: (1). Being a man/woman after God's heart involves doing ALL God's will and not most or everything but just one thing; (2) God raised up David to be King; (3) God gave testimony of David so that the people knew what it meant to have a heart after Him/God; (4) God is the one who removes and puts people into power.

Applications: On Friday, I had worked hard mopping all my wood floors. I did laundry, cleaned the house, mowed the lawn, homeschooled my three year old, played with son, made a lasagna and did many tasks in our home. I hardly ever think to clean under our one bathroom sink or to clean our one desk going down to our basement. However, on this day both came to me to do. It was an impression on my heart that would not leave I was tired from all the other tasks that I had done. I didn't want to ignore what I believed God was telling me to do. I really didn't think it made much sense as I did so much else that day however I knew I better listen.  I started with the desk and tried to organize all the mail. I opened all the mail and put it in a nice, organized pile on the top of the desk. I cleaned the first shelf well. I thought I had done well since that is the most important but I failed to do the other two drawers. I said "that is good since I am tired and I did obey by cleaning the mail shelf." Then later on in the day, medicine spilled in the cabinet under the sink. I cleaned up the medicine and straightened out the cabinet. I, however, did not clean every box or bag under the sink. I interpreted clean under the cabinet as just straighten it out and quickly clean the spilled medicine. There was an impression upon my heart that I was to clean it all but  my son was in the bathtub and I had already worked a lot that day.

Now, I thought my husband would be pleased with having all the mail neatly organized. However, I gave room for the enemy, Satan, to work by not doing all God had said to do. Of course, I could blame my husband and say well he should be putting his mind on all the good things done (which I did) but the fact remains I didn't obey ALL God said to do. I halfheartedly cleaned the desk and cabinet rather than do it all and all for the glory of God. This may seem rather small but it is not because it brought on some really big issues in our home. God says that we are to be faithful in small things.   Luke 16:10 says "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." I thank God that we saw the lack of obedience, Satan's attacks and how it all affected our family but there were consequences.

As for the desk, Saturday night my husband went cleaning the desk. Now why did he start that? He hardly ever does that and we did not talk about what I knew i was to do the day before. He already had all the mail/bills on the top of the desk. However, when he went looking through the other messy drawers he thought he found another bill. This is upsetting as there may be other missing bills. Of course this interaction could result  in the blame game but the fact remains God had put it on my heart even before all this to clean the whole desk. I wanted to clean what i wanted to clean. I did not obey in all of it.

It wasn't just the desk my husband started to look at this weekend . On Sunday after great time with my family, my husband decides to go look in the cabinet under the bathroom. He never usually needs to go it. Why this weekend?  It was a bit frustrating for him. Now he has not thought about this cabinet in years but it is interesting that this was the weekend he did especially when God had put it on my heart to clean it two days before. This frustration led to an incident with my husband and son that stole peace from our home and also caused a sin.

I am a list maker and a schedule maker but it is important for me to do all God tells me to do rather than what is on my list or what I planned to do. I am learning to heed all of what God says (clean all the cabinet and all the desk). It is important to be in faithful in all God says to do in His word and that He guides and speaks us to do throughout our day. When I fail to do what God tells me to do with all my heart, I see sin passing on to my family members. Also, I gave occasion for Satan to come in and attack. Also, God's name is dishonored.

Sometimes we may not see all the effects of failing to do ALL God tells us to do. We may think oh God doesn't instruct us to clean a cabinet or a desk but He does. He guides us in all things. He prepares us for things before they happen. Isaiah 30:21 says "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." We hear God through His Word. The Holy Spirit reminds us of what Jesus says to do and what we are to do. We will hear a voice saying "This is the way; walk in it."

Application Regarding my Desk/Cabinet Siutation:
1. What did God instruct me to do today (what weighed on my heart to do and I made excuses, what did I not do with all my heart, what did I rush through just to get it done).
2. If there was something I rushed through just to get it done - I need to go back and pray for God's strenth and power to do it for His glory.
3. Go back and redo it and do it all well

God sees and knows how Satan will try to divide our families. God sees the end from the beginning. Being obedient to God in all things in His Word and what He directs us to do in our daily tasks shows that our heart is submitted to Him.  1 Samuel 15:22 says "And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."

 

Prayer: Father, thank you that we can cry out to you to clean our heart. Thank you that if we disobey we can run to you. Thank you that you do tell us the way to walk. Thank you that your Word is a lamp onto our feet and a light onto our path. Thank you Lord that you give us the armor of God to wear. Thank you that you tell us the enemy is not our families but Satan. Father, create in me a clean heart. I am sorry for not cleaning all of the desk and all of the cabinet and that I did not do it wholeheartedly onto you. Please forgiving me for thinking partial cleaning was complete obedience.

The Inheritance

Last Night, I watched The Inheritance based on a book by Louisa May Alcott. The character Edith may quite an impression on me. To write that she was humble, kind, gentle and quiet would be an understatement. One who have to read and see her character come to life in order to have those character traits take meaning. In the story Edith was an Italian orphan that was saved by a very rich family, The Hamiltons. Edith grows up with the Hamiltons as "their help". She is a companion to their daughter. At the end of the story, Edith finds out she truly is a heir (her Father is the brother of Mr. Hamilton).  There is so much I would like to write about this movie/book but in case you haven't seen it, I will save the details.

It was very fitting this morning when I woke up and saw Today's Proverb 31 verse for the study. It is Proverbs 31:31 -"Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates."

As I observe the verse above, I see Edith from The Inheritance. She didn't force being a heir or tell everyone when she found out she was an heir. She in fact doesn't tell anyone despite the fact that she could have used it on three occasions for her benefit. She didn't use words as tools to argue or defend her case. She didn't look for praise yet she received that and more. She didn't try to get men's attention but everyone was attracted to her even if she was not in their "social class".

Also when I think of the "fruit of her hands", I am reminded of Psalm 1 where it says "he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither and whatever he does shall prosper."

The application for me is that throughout my life, I may not look like a "heir". People may not treat me like a "heir". I may be accused of things I didn't do. I may be accused of wrong motives. I may be persecuted. I may be looked down upon. However, I see a picture of my heavenly Father telling me to come as I am a heir, a heir of the king. He says we are a royal priesthood. In 1 Peter 2:9 it says "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

It is hard at times for me to be silent when falsely accused. Sometimes, I want what I want right now. If others do something that is wrong, I want to tell them exactly what they did. If others speak to me in a malicious tone, I want to retaliate. However, I see God at work in me changing me from the inside and out. I am not who I once was. Also, I see God changing me more in how I respond to situations in life. God truly is my inheritance.

To Him be the praise and may I may I always sing His praises.

My prayer is the Hymn Blessed Assurance:

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine O, what a foretaste of glory divine Heir of salvation, purchase of God Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood Chorus: This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior, all the day long This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long Perfect submission, perfect delight Visions of rapture now burst on my sight Angels descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love

 

 

The Fall

I WILL BE LIKE GOD

To be like God! How many of us want to be on high, be exalted and praised, be seen, have the light shine upon us and be all we can be?  The Fall of Satan is described in Isaiah 14:12-14 "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground. You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High."

Satan said these things in his heart. He may not have said them out loud. God looks at the heart. He sees our heart's intentions. Eventually we act out of these heart intentions. Satan said at least five things in his heart:
1. I will ascend into heaven
2. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God
3. I will sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north
4. I will ascend above the heights of the the clouds
5. I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH

Lucifer's  (Satan) name means light bearer. Here in this passage, he is called son of the morning. He was meant to bear God's light not his own.

Satan used the same deception on Eve that caused his own fall .  He whispered "For God know that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD, knowing good and evil. So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree desirable to make one WISE, she took of the fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her and he ate." (Genesis 3:5-6). The fall of humanity too was wanting to be like God in our own arrogant pride.

Proverbs 16:18 says that pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.  In 1 John 2:16 we read that "for all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world." A long time ago, in studying the Bible I learned that there was a connect between the fall of humanity and the three temptations in 1 John 2:16.

Lust of the Flesh = good for food
Lust of the Eyes = fruit desirable to the eyes
Pride of Life = to make one wise/be like God

In thinking upon my own pride, I am reminded of the passage in Luke 14:8-11
which says When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.  If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.  ¹⁰But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. ¹¹ For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Our Proverbs 31 study today is about humility and the fear of the Lord rather than pride. The Proverbs study today focuses on bearing God's light rather than our own light of how good a wife we are or how much we accomplish. 

PROVERB 31 STUDY SCRIPTURES

Proverbs 15:33 - The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility.

Proverbs 22:4 - By humility and fear of the Lord are riches and honors and life.

OBSERVATIONS

1. The fear of the Lord is not only the beginning of wisdom but also the instruction of wisdom

2. Humility and fear of the Lord comes before riches, honors and life and not the other way around

3. We are to be instructed in wisdom and not seek to be wise in our own ideas or to be wise for wisdom sake.

4. Humility needs to come along wisdom or we may be puffed up with pride.

APPLICATIONS

Our Church has five core values. One of them is Gospel Humility which is defined as "an attitude that causes us to submit to one another and to listen intently to godly counsel. On the one hand, it prompts us to be gentle and forgiving, and to admit when we are wrong. On the other hand it prompts us to walk in spirit led boldness. Gospel humility requires a healthy self assessment. It liberates a person to pursue God's way of living - regardless of the interpretation of others."

Humility is defined as the quality of being modest and respectful. Humility comes from the Latin word humilitas meaning grounded, from the earth, low. It derives from humus which means earth. It is a quality by which a person considering his own defects has a "humble" opinion of self and willingly submits to God and others for God's sake.

The first verse that came to my mind as way of application was Psalm 131: 1 which is "Lord my heart is not haughty nor my eyes lofty Neither do I concern myself with great matters nor with things too profound for me." My prayer is that I can say that. Many times I am trying to figure it all out. I am trying to fix and change everyone and every thing. I have liked being right. I want to be wise. I like to learn but the problem is we should not learn for knowledge or learning sake to have power over others. We are to be wise in the Lord's eyes and for shining His light not our own.

For where envy and self seeking (selfish ambition, pride) exist confusion and every evil thing are there. James 3:16.  This verse says every evil thing exists where there is pride. Also in Proverbs 11:2 "When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom."

As a wife, many times I want to be right. I think of things too lofty for me at times. I think I need to work and fix everything. This many times can cause pressure for my husband instead of a safe haven and peaceful sanctuary. My husband helps me to see, feel, touch, smell and taste the wonderful gifts God gives. He helps me to be grounded on this earth.  Many times, I think my way of seeing things is right and that he must be wrong. I failed to see at times that God makes people different and to appreciate the differences that keep me grounded.  God is guiding me and teaching me in his Word to humble myself and submit to my husband. It is so precious in the sight of God.

PRAYER

Lord, may I shine your light rather than trying to shine light on myself. Lord, forgive me for trying to be right a lot rather than humble myself in your sight.

I don't want to be wise to have an advantage over others or to lift myself up. Please forgive me for wanting to be you and have your rightful place. May I decrease and you increase. May I always wait on you.