Sunday, January 31, 2016

Foggy Day

After a pitiful night's sleep, I woke up to a foggy morning. Two cups of coffee are not going to do it today! The birds do not seem to be singing much this morning. The squirrels are racing around the yard and gobbling all the bird seed they can while the Hawk is hunting elsewhere. At certain times of year a hawk visits. I know he must eat, however, I prefer his fine dining does not consist of birds and squirrels caught in my yard.

Satan is similar to the hawk. He lurks, prowls, hunts, and devours. We may put him on the back burner, we may think the concept of satan is archaic and is not worth a second thought, but that is contrary to what the Bible says about him.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

Matthew 4:1-11


Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After he fasted forty days and forty nights he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the highest point of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Once again it is written: ‘You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur. And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and began ministering to his needs.

Satan is not God's equal or opposite. He is a created being who sinned and fell. His time is growing short and he is on the prowl.

Ladies, arm yourself with the Word of God and prayer. Stand firm. Our Bridegroom is coming.

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Looking at the Calendar

January has flown by at warp speed! Just over a month ago, we celebrated Christmas. Well, to be honest, I did not celebrate it, I was in bed ill with walking pneumonia. (My body was unaware it should be walking that day.) Sometimes I marvel at how time flies especially in the Winter due to dreary days which seem long and endless. I also catch myself saying why is it sunny all week and rarely on the weekends? (Which is not true.)

The Super Bowl (Sorry, I do not care about it one way or another.) and Valentine's Day are around the corner. I refuse to believe time passes quickly because I am older. (Anyone remember as a child on December 24th, thinking Christmas morning would never arrive?)

Time passes, this transitory life is short. Don't put off forgiving someone, calling someone, serving the Lord, praying, reading the Bible, helping those in need, the lost sheep, enjoying a walk around the block, time with family...the list is endless.

This is the day the Lord has brought about. We will be happy and rejoice in it.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Hearing Clearly


I heard a repetitive noise as I filled bird feeders. I stopped what I was doing and listened, I found the source of the noise, a beautiful Woodpecker. So often we want to hear from God, but we never stop to listen. We remain in constant motion, we talk, we watch TV, log onto Facebook, Twitter etc. Be still and know He is God!

Saturday, January 9, 2016

Ahab

What do you think of when you see the name Ahab? I think wicked, married to Jezebel, spoiled, and weak - let his wife carry out his dirty work for him. I first read about Ahab in 5th grade when we studied the Judges and Kings in the Old Testament. Maybe it shaped my opinion pertaining to Ahab or maybe reading about him each year, somehow I zoned out and missed the end of the story.


I Kings 21:

Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. And after this Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house, and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money.” But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.

Ahab wanted a vegetable garden close to his house, did not get it, went to bed and pouted. Seriously - the king was in bed pouting and like a child would not eat.


But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, “Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?” And he said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money, or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ And he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’” And Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now govern Israel? Arise and eat bread and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

Jezebel takes control and sets Naboth up to be stoned and Ahab takes control of the land. The Lord sends Elijah to deliver a message to Ahab.

Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord. Behold, I will bring disaster upon you. I will utterly burn you up, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel. And I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the anger to which you have provoked me, and because you have made Israel to sin. And of Jezebel the Lord also said, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel.’ Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat.”

For some reason in my mind, this is where the story ends for Ahab. He was evil, the Lord gave him a message, and at some point Ahab died. The End.

But that is not how it ended!

(There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited. He acted very abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord cast out before the people of Israel.)

And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son's days I will bring the disaster upon his house.”

Ahab truly repented and had a life changing experience. He humbled himself before the Lord. It was sincere. Though I would love to say I was like Stephen with the face of an angel (See Acts 6.) or had to wear a veil like Moses because the glory of the Lord radiated from me...it is not so. I fear I have more in common with Ahab. I've sinned along the way - idolatry (other things were like a god to me), gossip, judging others, murmuring and complaining and the list continues. God is a God of second chances. Ladies - take it before God, repent, and live in freedom. It is not too late.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.



Sunday, January 3, 2016

Goldfinches

We've been in a cold, wet, and dreary pattern the last several days. I have not been outdoors much except to feed the birds. We have winter visitors in our area. The Goldfinches have arrived. They are cheerful and fun to watch as they crowd each other to eat seeds. I hear Woodpeckers calling each other. I have not seen any yet. There are probably House Finches too. There is so much beauty all around us, but I think sometimes we get in a rut going about everyday life and see beauty without really seeing it.

I think too we can see the poor around us and turn the blinders on because we are not prepared to deal with it at that moment or think what difference can one person make? The thing is, if we all work together we can make a difference. We are not the Lone Rangers of Christ. We are the Body of Christ. Do what you can with donations, volunteer if you can, and pray for the poor, the ill, and the lonely.

Lord give us the eyes to see what we can do and a heart for those who need us.

Friday, January 1, 2016

2016

2015 was filled with many blessings and many trials, as it was for you, too. My heart is still reeling from my cousin's death December 20. God has comforted me and will continue to do so as my grief wanes. I rest assured I will see Bill again, he was a man of strong faith who trusted completely in the Lord.

I pray in 2016 I grow more in Christ each day and keep my eyes focused on Him - not on family drama, terrorism, politics...Etc, Etc! My goal is to abide/remain in Him, running the race set before me. I want to have His heart for the poor, the grieving, the lonely, the lost. I don't want to judge, criticize, gossip, or become distracted with things of this world.

Love is my word for 2016. (I hope I do not cross paths with an annoying driver when I leave the house today!) Ladies, I hope 2016 ia year filled with love, joy, and peace for each one you. Keep your eyes on the finish line!


So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.