YES INDEED, GOD WILL HAVE THE LAST WORD!

1 Peter 5:8-11 (NLT)

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

¹⁰ In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. ¹¹ All power to him forever! Amen.

1 Peter 5:8-11 The Message (MSG)

He Gets the Last Word

 ^8-11Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

          Once again I find I get more from the paraphrase than the translation. The Message often gives me the positive outcome where translations leave us with a bold “get it together” type message. The Message tells us to keep our guard up and to keep a firm grip on the faith but it also tells us that God gets the last word. How great is that? It’s like turning the book to the last page in the middle of the nail biting sequence. Yes, indeed, God does get the last word!

Dr. Seuss Fare

The other day my husband smiled as he ate our “Dr. Seuss” fare! I’ve known for a long time now how blessed I am to have a hubby who is not a picky eater. But the other day when he got some leftover chicken stir-fry we both got a good laugh. We belong to a CSA farm so I am often experimenting with new veggies. As he looked at his plate of food he asked, “Okay, what did you get this time that would turn chicken PURPLE!” I told him I thought it was a combination of the sauces I added. He was fine with that explanation and ate it telling me it still tasted fine.

Yes, indeed, God has blessed me with a keeper!

Anyone Have a Pair of Scissors?

Psalm 27:14 (NLT)

“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”

I looked up “wait patiently” on Biblegateway word search and found 10 instances where we are told to wait patiently, or told about someone who waited patiently. I like Hebrews 6:15, “Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.” I like that because when I look back on the story of Abram and Sari, I see many times where they did NOT wait patiently, but took matters into their own hands. BUT God kept His promise; He was patient with the weak humans, constantly giving one more chance when asked. That gives me hope! My faith in God’s promises gives me hope!

          I am generally not a patient person and when things are tough I want to see the light at the end of the tunnel-NOW! I find myself doing as Abram and Sari did...using MY plan B, only to find myself farther from that light.

          Over the years, I have gotten better at this but there are still times when my old self wins over my new self. Maybe it’s that bungee cord thing again--giving the onus of impatience to the Lord in a suitcase strapped to my wrist with a bungee cord.

          Could it be that it is when I turn my back on God that the cord causes the impatience to come springing back at me, smacking me in the head? I know I have asked before but I truly would like a good pair of scissors that could cut through that bungee cord once and for all!

         

My God Looks at My Heart

1 Samuel 16: 7 (NLT)

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

          How blessed I am that my God, the Creator of the Universe, looks at my heart. I don’t have to worry about putting on my “twirlers smile” for Him. My God knows I am a weak human that is striving to be better. My God knows my love for Him. I am blessed that my God is a loving God, who looks for the best in all His children.

Thank You, God, for looking past my failings and peering into my heart!

MY PILLAR OF LIGHT

Exodus 13: 21-22 (NLT)

“The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and He provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from the people.”

          I am presently struggling and long to see that Pillar of God before me. The other day in our church Bible Study, as we were studying 1Kings, a young member of the group asked, “Why doesn’t God speak to people anymore?” A number of us came up with answers of how God speaks to His people today. But as I sat here clawing my way out of the mental pit of darkness I found myself in this morning, I realized he was asking why God doesn’t speak audibly to us.

          I would love to say then I heard God say, “Debbie, get off that chair and sing my praises.” But that did not happen. What did happen was I began thinking about Joyce Meyers’ book, Battlefield of the Mind. That’s when I realized I had to call out to the Lord and ask for His help to release me from the negative thoughts that surrounded me. His peace surrounded me like a nice cozy comforter.

          As I look back to this morning’s sketchy start I realize God does audibly speak to us every day! Besides the Bible, God speaks to us through authors, speakers, pastors and most of all through the people with whom He surrounds us. We just need to sit still long enough to hear His voice.

          I praise God for the Pillar of Light He gave me this morning as I sat alone searching for His peace.

Give it all to God

Bitterness or Worry; which is the most destructive? 

Bitterness ruins relationships; worry causes paralysis.

God loves us and wants good for us, all we have to do is seek God's Kingdom first. So read over Matthew 6:33.

Remember to cut the strings on the suitcases filled with our faults and anxieties. If we don't they act like bungee straps and come back and smash us in the face!

Even if we make a wrong turn God has our backs!...Romans 8:28.

God Always Opens a Window

Matthew 22: 9-10

“… ‘Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.”

          This is the parable of the king’s servants being ignored and killed while presenting people with an invitation to the king’s son’s wedding feast. After the destruction of those that killed his servants the king sent out the invitation to anyone who would come to join him in his celebration.

          This parable is aimed at those that had ignored or killed the prophets that God had sent. The good news is that God then sent an open invitation to all of us to join Him at His eternal banquet. My mother used to say, "When God closes a door He opens a window." Thank you God for opening the window to allow sinners like me into Your banquet.

I am so thankful to have a merciful and loving God.

THOUGHTS BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS...

KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS

For the past several years there has been a wide open campaign throughout the United States to “Keep Christ in Christmas”.  This campaign deals with verbal and written comments giving homage to Our Lord Jesus Christ. My question is how far will this homage go?

I’ve seen campaigns on Facebook, videos on YouTube, even billboards along the road; all spouting the importance of the keeping the precise spelling of the holiday. We’ve come up with catchy sayings, besides “Keep Christ in Christmas”, like “Jesus is the Reason for the Season”.

I am hit with a question each time I see these statements, “What about after the season?”  There was a song I heard many years ago on a Children’s Christmas Special called, “Keep Christmas with You all Through the Year”.  I must ask, “If we did keep Christ with us throughout the year and truly were His hands and feet to those around us, would we even need a campaign to remember Jesus at Christmas?”

According to the website,  http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/medieval_xmas.htm, “The first recorded use of the word "Christmas" was in 1038 when a book from Saxon England used the words "Cristes Maesse" in it.” The on-line Catholic Encyclopedia site, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm, translates "Cristes Maesse" as the “Mass of Christ”.

Don’t get me wrong, I love wishing people “Merry Christmas”, but I am not insulted if someone wishes me “Happy Holidays”! For me it is not only the words that count but the actions.

This year, I want to remember the words of Pastor Mark Slaughter, “It’s Not Your Birthday!” Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Our Redeemer! But Christ’s birth was just the beginning of an incredible journey that continues today in each believer. This year I want to remember, I AM HIS HANDS AND FEET AND MOUTH to all those around me; I want to cause a ripple effect.  If I truly strive to be Christ’s embodiment to others than perhaps more people would see Christ in the Holidays and not need to be reminded that “Jesus is the Reason for the Season!”

Focus on God for a Merry Heart

PSALM 63:1

“O God, You are my God; I earnestly search for You. My soul thirsts for You; my whole body longs for You in this parched and weary land where there is no water.”

This psalm is said to be written by David while he was in the wilderness of Judah.  Although I live surrounded by mountains and have had more than our share of rain recently I can totally identify with this verse.

At times I have felt that desperate longing for God; some call it the “Dark Night of the Soul”. I think David describes it perfectly, because just as the body cannot survive without water, the soul cannot survive without God.

I used to have those desolate days where I seemed surrounded by darkness. Sometimes I screamed out to God seeking His comfort and heard nothing in return. Fully consumed with despair, all I can hear are the negative tapes spinning in my head.

Recently, the Lord put on my heart to develop a Bible Study about truly living as a citizen of heaven. The first part of the Bible Study involves a self-assessment; the second part involves making the appropriate attitude adjustments. These two steps have allowed me to see the folly of allowing negative thoughts to control my attitude. I have come to realize the self-assessment and attitude adjustment are lifelong processes. The third step of the Study is to develop a more intense personal study discipline of God’s Word.

Through the study of God’s Word I discovered a few appropriate truths. In Proverbs 15: 15, we are told, “For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.” (NLT) A few verses earlier in Proverbs 15:13, the writer states, “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” (NIV)

GOD IS MY ROCK

Isaiah 26:4

“Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.”

Recently I read a Christian Fiction Book where one of the main characters asked why she always had to hit the rocks and holes in the road of life.  When I was younger I often felt that way, because like the character from the story I felt I had to transverse these roads by myself.

Now I look at the rocks in the road differently. I read a book many years ago that asked if those rocks were stumbling blocks or stepping stones. It has taken me many years but I am much closer to using them as stepping stones. The image of a Rock is often used in the New Testament to refer to a safe, solid place or person of strong faith. For instance, the wise man built his house on a Rock (Matt. 7:25) and Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter-meaning Rock (Matt 16:18).

When watching Adam Hamilton’s, Journey to Bethlehem DVD, I learned that poorer people in Jesus time would sometimes form their homes out of the rocks. They used the rocks to provide safe shelter for their families.  I pictured the Pueblos in northern New Mexico when he was talking.

Now I know that I do not have to stumble over the rocks only to fall into the holes beyond them. I know God lives inside me (if I don’t shut that door). I know God provides people to help me use those Rocks as building blocks to shape a closer relationship with God. I know that God and the people He provides will help me sidestep the holes in the road of life. I know all this because over the years I have learned above all else to TRUST God; HE IS MY ROCK.

I Have Come to Trust in God

1 Peter 1:21

New Living Translation (NLT)

^“21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.”

I have come to trust in God, because when I trust in Him I have hope. Hope for a better tomorrow. Hope that the medical flairs I experience will pass. Hope that one day I will be able to type without pain. Hope that one day I will be able to sit and walk without pain.

I don’t know what Paul’s “thorn in his side” was, although I have heard many theories. What I do know is that Paul persevered in spite of his physical limitations.

The facts are I have physical limitations, which are not always apparent to others,  and I must learn to accept them. That doesn’t mean that I must sit and wither away. No, I pray each day for the strength to continue this journey God has granted me. Although I may never be fully healed on this side of heaven I know Jesus is with me. I believe what is says in Luke 1: 36 “…Nothing is impossible for God…”

WE NEED TO PUT GOD FIRST

LUKE 9:59-60 (NIV)

He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

He said, “Certainly, but first excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have to make arrangements for my father’s funeral.” Jesus refused. “First things first. Your business is life, not death. And life is urgent: Announce God’s Kingdom!” (The Message)

          Today I wanted to write on a scripture that has always really bothered me to the point where I thought the translation must be wrong. I checked different translations and all of them basically say the same thing whether it's the NIV or The Message. In Luke 9: 59-60 Jesus tells a man not to go bury his father. Having been extremely close to my dad I can't imagine a loving God telling me I couldn't bury him. Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary warns us about 3 temptations we must deal with when becoming a disciple of Jesus. One is not seeking a close, constant relationship with Jesus. Another is putting off discipleship until we have become successful and have a nice bank account to fall back on. The third is waiting until our family is secure, our children are grown, or my parents are dead and buried.

When I look at this admonition in view of these temptations it seems correct. We must not put anything before our duty to God. God does take care of our needs, this I know first hand (another perk of being around for more than half a century).

JESUS TELLS US TO BE "STREETWISE"

Matthew 10:16 (NLT)

“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.”

          I’ve always questioned this verse and the parable in Luke 16:1-9, where the dishonest employee is admired for his shrewdness. Consider verse 9, “here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.”NLT

            It is during these times of questioning that the paraphrase, The Message; by Eugene Peterson usually helps to clarify things. Peterson restates Matthew 10:16 as follows, “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.” He summarizes Luke 16: 8-9 this way, “Now here’s the surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way-but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior.”

            Checking the Dictionary of Bible Themes I found it says of shrewdness (5948)—that scripture commends shrewdness when it is directed towards a worthy goal.

          This is something I will have to continue to pray about because I still think of shrewdness or cunning as being sly and manipulative. But something that does help is to think of the King James Version which uses the word, “wise” instead of shrewd or cunning.

          So perhaps what I am being told is to not sit quietly and let others take advantage of me or others. That I can wrap my brain around!-)

         

God Doesn't Keep a Scorecard!

JEREMIAH 33:11 (NIV)

“…Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; His love endures forever…”

          Recently I read a devotion from Adam Hamilton’s Church and the comments by Darren Lippe on the devotion included a quotation from a sign outside a church in Georgia. The sign said, “What if today was filled with only the stuff you thanked God for yesterday?”

            Wow! That really hit home for me! I pondered how often I went to bed without thanking God for His blessings throughout the day. I was not happy with my scorecard. I am forever grateful that our God does not keep a scorecard!

          I often read about the lack of etiquette these days because people do not write thank you notes for gifts. I wonder if the same people complaining about the lack of thank you notes remember to send their thanks each day to our Creator.

          A priest I know once gave the shortest sermon I ever heard but it was also one of the most meaningful to me. He said, “Above all else God is Merciful…I don’t know about you but as a sinner that is the best news I’ve ever heard.” To me that says it all.

          So now I make a conscious effort to thank God for His daily blessings. But I will continue to be forever grateful that even when I forget, God does not keep a scorecard!

           

Nothing is Impossible for GOD

1 Corinthians 2:14 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁴ But people who aren’t spiritual^[a] can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

1 Corinthians 2:14 New Life Version (NLV)

¹⁴ But the person who is not a Christian does not understand these words from the Holy Spirit. He thinks they are foolish. He cannot understand them because he does not have the Holy Spirit to help him understand.

          The gift of faith is an awe inspiring phenomenon not easily understood by those who are steadfastly logical. FAITH is not logical, according to dictionary.com it means “belief that is not based on proof”. So it is very difficult for an extremely logical person to accept anything based on faith.

          I see this verse speaking to that difficulty; there are many things that we Christians take on faith alone. With no logical basis for our beliefs it remains difficult BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE for those without faith to accept.

          At first glance, the New Life Version seems exclusionary to me, because it is saying that only Christians can understand. In my opinion, as Christians, we need to be extremely careful about our choice of words, because NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD!! So we must be careful not to alienate others who are seekers.

          Jesus told us not to judge, He even said He was not a judge but only the Father could judge. When we make statements such as, ‘if you’re not a Christian you don’t understand’ it may come across as arrogant and that would definitely not be helpful.

          Jesus wants us to share the Good News but then let the Holy Spirit do the rest. It is not up to us to judge whether someone will understand or not.

         

"Do Not Fear"

LAMENTATIONS 3: 55-57 (NRSV)

“I called on Your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit; You heard my plea…You came near when I called on You; You said, ‘Do not Fear!’”

          Oh, what an awesome, loving God I have! How blessed I am to have a deity that gives me hope. How blessed I am to have a loving creator who cares about my little pits and my grand craters of life.

          Honestly, I rarely look at the Book of Lamentations; let’s face it, even the name is depressing! I go to Scripture to give me strength, not feed my lows. But recently a new devotional book I’m using has been going to this book as part of the readings for the day. Wow! Once again, it blew me away how faithful and true my Lord is to His word. God never turns His back on His own. No matter what I go through…small or large trials…He is right by my side.

          “Fear Not” appears 63 times in the King James Version of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelations, according to www.BibleGateway.com. We are told in 2 Timothy 1:7 that, “…God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.” (NKJV)  “Fear Not” appears 48 times in the Old Testament. Paul, the author of this letter, studied the Hebrew Scriptures. I’m sure he knew, as one of my pastors often told us, that when something is repeated in the Scriptures God wants us to take note of it. Paul wrote this letter to Timothy to encourage him in his ministry of sharing the Good News with others. Paul knew without a doubt that God did not want His followers to fear anything.

          So when I am faced with the inevitable pitfalls of life, I need to remember to “Fear Not” because the Lord is beside me. And you know what; I peeked at the end of the book, so I know that God wins the final battle!-)

A Different Kind of Devo

A DIFFERENT KIND OF DEVO

Sometimes It’s Good To Be Invisible

          I received my Smithsonian magazine this week; I always enjoy reading their articles. This time though one made me sit back and think. Apparently, Thomas Jefferson had cut and pasted his own version of the New Testament together by using different translations and had them bound together so he could use this for his private prayer time. The article entitled, “Jefferson’s Bible” by G. Wayne Clough states that “Jefferson’s views of religion were complex and he was reluctant to express them publicly. “I not only write nothing on religion,” Jefferson once told a friend, “but rarely permit myself to speak on it.”  To me that statement means he did not intend for this book to be published. Yet, the article goes on to say, with pride, that the Smithsonian is sharing this handmade book with the world.

          It made me think; sometimes it is good to be “invisible”. I frequently write my thoughts and prayers in my journal. I know many others who do the same. I don’t know about you but the thought of my private prayer journal being made public—even to my family bothers me. I want my journals destroyed after my death, if not before.

          Perhaps I am the only one who feels this way and that’s okay too. I write because that is easier for me to concentrate when I talk with God. To be perfectly honest, sometimes I write letters to my hubby because it is easier for me to put my thoughts together on paper.

          At any rate, as the title states, this is a different type of devo, one to make us more aware of the importance of privacy. Where do we draw the line? When do we think, okay this was between him and God and that privacy should be respected.

          On the other hand, is the publication of this “Bible” somewhat akin to the publication of the Psalms, which were poems and songs written to God during good times and bad?

          Looking at Psalm 137 we see a people raging in desperate grief. Do you think the writer of this thought that thousands of years later people would still be reading his vile hatred spewed out in verse, 137:9, “Happy is the one who takes your babies
      and smashes them against the rocks!”

Christ Accepts Us as We Are...

Romans 15:7 New Living Translation (NLT)

⁷ Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

          How easily I fall into the role of judge and jury. Not only when watching reality TV but also while living my daily life. Being brutally honest with myself I must admit I do this regularly. I know all the Scripture verses about judge not lest ye be judged but put me behind the wheel of a car and all those verses seem to drift away. Actually some days they blast away, far, far away! There is always someone driving too slow or too fast in my opinion.

          Looking at my life outside the car I definitely am more aware of my critical attitudes with others. Yet just today I have been reminded that sometimes (honestly-more often than I care to admit) I forget that accepting attitude when I enter my home.

          Sometimes I cross that threshold and I seem to become someone no one outside the home would recognize. How awful is that? The people I love most bear the brunt of my human weaknesses.

          I need another attitude adjustment…I need to accept my family members as they are and not hold them to unattainable standards. I need to accept me as I am while still being willing to make the needed attitude adjustments. I need to look at this verse and realize that Christ has accepted each of us and living in His light can only bring glory to God. 

God's Got a Plan for Each of Us

Jeremiah 29:11 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

          This verse is SO comforting to me. I love knowing that SOMEONE has a plan for me; when I realize God is that someone it’s even better. One of the good things about living for more than half a century is that fewer things throw me into a panic! I believe the reason for that is because God has shown me His presence over the years.

          I can look up and say, “Ok, God, what am I supposed to learn from this?” instead of screaming, “Why me?” I am not saying it is easy to get to this point because it is not at all easy. As a matter of fact sometimes the journey is devastatingly painful. The difference now is I know without a doubt that God is truly concerned about ME. I know God will work to make all things right in the end.

          I have spoken of my father in the past and once again I can use him as an example of integrity. Yet no matter how faithful and trustworthy my dad was he was still human and at times made mistakes. The awesome thing about my heavenly father is that He NEVER makes mistakes. He totally stands by His word.

          So next time you feel lost or have no idea where you are headed turn to the Lord because He has a plan just right for you!

Turn to God first!

Ephesians 4:30-32 (ASV)

³⁰ And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.

³¹ Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice: ³² and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you.

            BITTERNESS one of life’s awful destructive powers, it cannot only destroy my relationships it can also destroy me-from the inside out! According to Dictionary.com, bitter is “having a harsh, disagreeably acrid taste.” Merriam Webster defines bitter as “harshly reproachful, marked by cynicism and rancor.”

          Bitterness is a pill I often swallow and allow to fester inside me. This causes not only my sarcastic, cynical nature to burst forth but it also throws me into a physical flare up of my chronic conditions. I once read a saying about when we don’t forgive it is like taking rat poison and then expecting the rat to die! I have experienced the results of such poisoning and I refuse to allow it to take hold of me again.

          That harsh, acrid taste started to rise up in me again this morning after reading a post on facebook. Even though I thought I had cut the cord that bound that suitcase full of bitterness the last time I handed it to Christ, I found that cord became a bungee cord as that bitterness snapped back into my gut, knocking me over. In my Bible Study, My Life as a Citizen of Heaven, there is a section on Personal Attitude Adjustment.  This time, when I felt that bile rising in me, I realized I truly needed an attitude adjustment and  I turned to God’s Word.

          This time I pleaded with God not to allow that bitterness to take hold. I searched the Scriptures because I knew He had to have something to say about bitterness. I no longer would allow that bungee cord to have the last word. With God’s loving words I was able to cut the cord this time. I stand on His words about forgiveness.

          I also took the practical steps (with God’s help) of removing the offending facebook posts from my view. God will give us the help we need, even if it is help to understand the tech world of social networking. Turn to God first!

Cuddling with ABBA

ABBA

          There are hundreds of names for God but my favorite is ABBA. According to the glossary at the Hebrew for Christians site, the word ABBA is an Aramaic form of endearment for father. Jesus uses that term while praying at the Garden of Gethsemane according to Mark 14: 35-37; “³⁵ Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ³⁶ “Abba, Father,”he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (NIV)

          Scholars tell us to be careful about thinking of God, the Creator of the Universe, as “Daddy”. They caution us about becoming too familiar with God and not giving Him the proper respect.

          One of the things I love about my relationship with my God is that I do not need to depend on Scholars to define it. My thinking is greatly influenced because I was blessed to have a wonderful loving and warm earthly dad. Whether I called him Daddy or Dad or referred to him as Father in my writings I never lost respect for him or his position as head of our family.

          It has been many years since I was able to hug my earthly father; he has been home with our loving Creator for 29 years. But I can cuddle with my ABBA father anytime I pray and I often do. For me it is not only comforting but also spiritually energizing.

          So let me suggest that the next time you pray get comfortable, close your eyes and allow the presence of our Heavenly ABBA to envelop you and give you His peace and wisdom.

            

Teach Us to Live

James 3:13 True Wisdom Comes from God New Living Translation (NLT)

 ¹³ If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

¹⁴ But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. ¹⁵ For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. ¹⁶ For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

James 3:13   Live Well, Live Wisely The Message (MSG)

 ^13-16Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom—it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.

          Once again I find The Message helps me to understand Scripture in my terms. We see this earthly wisdom daily, unfortunately usually from our politicians. The men and women we chose to represent us have this “Mean-spirited ambition” disguised as wisdom and we see it in their day to day dealing with us and each other. Wouldn’t it be nice if all the world leaders would live honorably and look out for what is best for the people they represent?

          What would the world look like if we all lived by God’s wisdom? When I think about Jesus coming and living on earth I don’t think of palaces and a million different pairs of sandals. I think of how He touched peoples’ lives.

          Philippians 3:19-21 states: “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (NIV)

          Dear God, as Christians we are called to be Your hands, feet, and mouth on this earth. Help us to live as Jesus lived…more concerned with those in need than those in power.