Trusting in...

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright."  

Psalm 20:7-8

Sometimes it's easier to trust in anything and anyone else except the Lord.  It's because we can 'see' the help we are seeking.  However, we cannot trust what we see.

In David's time, the strength of chariots and horses were relied on in battle.  The men going to war found strength in such 'solid and strong' things.  But David reminds us that nothing is as strong as the Name of the Lord.

To update this to our present time, we can trust in our cars, trains, planes, technology, doctors and the list could go on and on, but we are reminded in Scripture that 'vain is the help of man.' (Psalm 60:11b)

Enemies can only be brought down in the Name of the Lord.

Enemies aren't only people.

They can be strongholds that keep us bound.  

Enemies can be our thoughts, situations and circumstances.

But when we call on the Name of the Lord and rely on HIS strength, and HIS power, all our enemies will be brought down, and we will be able to stand in any adversity.  And not only stand but remain upright.  Our posture is marked by strong moral rectitude when we trust in the Lord.  We have a confidence that only comes through trusting in the Name of the Lord.

Trust doesn't always come easy, but I have learned that the more I trust, the more the Lord reveals to me that He is in control and that He CAN be trusted.

Our Pastor often reminds us that "if we can trust the Lord to save us from our sins, then we can most certainly trust Him for everything else!"  (Pastor Josh Fryman)  

When I first got saved, I trusted God in the 'small things.'  Then as my faith grew in Him, I began trusting Him in the 'big things.'

He has never let me down...

    But the key is to trust...

        In the Name of the Lord...

            But that's just me!

Telephone

"I am what the LORD says I am, not what others say I am."  (Adaptation from Charles Horton Cooley.)

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body..." James 3:6a

"But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."  James 3:8

I was speaking with a friend of mine the other day, and she mentioned that there had been some repeated gossip about a comment I had made some months before.  I asked her what that so-called-comment was, and who was repeating it?  She couldn't remember the comment, and because it had been going around a few months back, she couldn't remember the persons who kept repeating it.  It bothered me because I don't remember making a comment that could be harmful or misconstrued in anyway, and I wished that I had been made aware of this while it was happening, so that I could confront those who seemed to have stretched something I said into something that was tasty fodder for the gossipers.

As I walked away from my friend, my heart was wounded.  I honestly purpose myself to be mindful of my words, so I was confused to why this happened?  To think others were talking about me behind my back and twisting innocent words that could question my testimony and defile the church body, I was reminded of a game I used to play at slumber parties.  It was called, Telephone.  We would all sit down on the floor in a circle, and one person would whisper something into the ear of the person sitting next to her.  That person would then whisper what she heard into the ear of the person sitting next to her, and so-on, until the last person in the circle would speak out loud, what was whispered in her ear.  The last person's words never matched the words of the person who started this chain.  Back then, it was funny.  It was a game.  

It's not so funny now.

Every time something that is innocently spoken and repeated, words are changed that turn into deadly poison.  It not only hurts the person whose words have been twisted, but it hurts those who hear the lies, and it hurts the person telling the lies, whether they see it or not.

Proverbs 6:16-19 tells us, "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."

I've learned three things that will prevent gossip:

1-Never say anything about someone that you wouldn't say to their face.

2-Never say anything about someone unless they are there to respond to what is being said.

3-Never listen to someone else's gossip.

At the end of the day, if you replay the words that you have spoken, would they be words that build up or tear down?

Satan twisted truth-

    don't be like him...

        Speak the truth in love-

            And be like Jesus...

                But that's just me!

"When you speak, remember, God is one of your listeners."  Amish Proverb

Sin Odor

"A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."  Galatians 5:9

I walked into Papa Murphy's Pizza the other day expecting to smell mouth-watering pizza ingredients; the yeast kneaded in the dough, the slice of onions and garlic, tangy marinara sauce.

Instead, I smelled the man standing in line in front of me.  Body odor permeated the entire pizza place.

Instead of mouthwatering pizza smells, my eyes began to water, and I wanted to gag.  

I'm not trying to be funny or disrespectful describing this encounter, I find it extremely sad.

It's amazing how one's own personal smell doesn't bother the person themself.  What seems offensive to others does not seem to bother them at all.  It goes unnoticed.

Walking out to my car, with pizza in hand, I heard a Still Small Voice whisper in my ear:

"You Stink."

You see, the Lord reminded me that, although I may not have body-odor, I emanated a sin odor, and it works the same way.  Often times, I don't seem bothered by it myself, (have I grown too use to my sin-odor?) and yet it affects others.  

My unconfessed sin, secret faults and presumptuous sins stink.

I may not notice it, but my Saviour does, and so do those around me.

Do I make my Saviour's eye's water and cause Him to gag because of sin in my life? (Rev 3:16)

It only takes a little sin...

    to stink...

        But that's just me!

Observations

"What you are about to read is true, the names have been changed to protect the GUILTY."

Observation 1:

He grew up in a two-parent Christian home.  He went to church every time the doors were opened; even made a profession of faith when he was seventeen.  He was voted 'most likely to succeed' and as MVP on the Varsity Football Team, took the head cheerleader to prom.  After finishing college, he married his high-school sweetheart and soon started a family.  He and his family moved to the city, and he became the CEO in a rapidly growing business.  A successful job, a nice home, a wife, two children, a manicured lawn and a dog completes this lovely picture.  

Neighbor 1:  Hey, Max.  Haven't seen John in a while, have you?"

Neighbor 2: "You mean, you didn't hear?"

Neighbor 1: "Hear what?"

Neighbor 2: "John's been arrested.  He's serving 25 to life in the State Pen."

Neighbor 1:  "You're kidding me!  For what?"

Neighbor 1:  "Murder."

Observation 2:

Clara sat in her car in front of the local Retail Store.  Out walks a pretty young woman with a spring in her step and a smile as wide as the cheshire cat.  Clara watches as this young woman walks across the parking lot, and says to herself, "Will you look at her!  Purple hair, a nose ring, tattoos, stiletto heels, tattered jeans and a Starbucks coffee in her hand to boot!  I wonder what's got her all happy today, a hot date tonight?  Bless her heart, I will make sure to pray for her as soon as I get home."

(What Clara didn't know, is that this pretty, purple haired, pierced, tattooed, tattered jean clad, stiletto heeled woman has a spring to her step and a smile on her face because she just led her co-worker to Christ.)

Funny how simple observations can become opinions of judgment...

    

"...for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."  1 Samuel 16:7b

Never judge a book...

    by it's cover...

        But that's just me!

The Best Day of My Life

(A Hypothetical Narrative)

"What started out as the worst day of my life, turned out to be the best day of my life; let me explain.

I always knew this day would come; I just didn't expect it to be so soon.  Then again, Death is never when you expect it. 

There is a crowd today, more so than in past crucifixions, what's the draw?  The people are angry, not just curious.  There are hateful taunts, mockeries, head wagging.

I look past the man in the middle and see a familiar face.  We have crossed paths before; hidden in the quiet of the night, darkness covering our thievery and lusts; he had it coming, just like I did and today we both hang here on crosses of our own making, exposed, in the light.

CAUGHT! 

The voices in the crowd grow louder, and since I tend to follow the rebellious, I find myself adding my own railings against this stranger who hangs on a cross in the middle between two criminals.

I hear someone shout, "Save thyself and come down from the cross!"  (Mark 15:30) Then a Chief Priest shouts, "He saved others; himself he cannot save!"  (Mark 15:31)

My ears perk; "he saved others?"

I turn to this man in the middle, who has so far, remained quiet.  There are no retaliatory remarks or cursing's coming from his mouth.  I read the inscription written on his cross:  JESUS OF NAZERETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.  (John 19:19)

Before I can process the meaning of such words, I see him slowly lifting himself up using the narrow board at his bloodied feet, and I hear him say, "Father forgive them; for they know not what they do."  (Luke 23:34)

Could it be, this crowd is mistaken, that this man hangs here unjustly?

He speaks again, this time to a man who is standing beside a woman.  His mother?  I cannot remove my eyes from this woman; there is grief and heartache etched in each line of her face, and yet I see something else...HOPE? "Woman, behold thy son!"  And to the disciple, "Behold thy mother."  (John 19:26,27)

The criminal on the other side of this hill begins to rail on the man in the middle, and I can remain silent no more.  I cry out, "Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss." (Luke 23:40,41)

I turn to this man they call Jesus and I ask, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom."

(Luke 23:42)

In the midst of his agony, he spoke directly to me, and he said, "Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)

It wasn't long until I heard him speak again to his Father.  He said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit, It is finished."  (Luke 23:46, John 19:30)

And then he died.

I watched as a Roman soldier pierced his side and blood and water came forth and spilled out onto the ground.  I bowed my head and in great sorrow and with GREAT JOY, I wept.

As the appeased crowd dispersed, I knew it wouldn't be long now until I saw my Saviour again;

He is waiting for me in paradise."

The Best Day of my Life was July 5, 1995.  I turned from my sin and turned to Christ, and just like this thief on the cross, He saved me.

He will save you too...

        Just turn to Him and ask...

            But that's just me!

Counterattack

Counterattack:  An attack made in response to or in defense against an attack made by another.

Webster.

Ever hear a Jingle that you can't get out of your head?  A commercial on TV, or perhaps an old song heard in the store or a restaurant, that once heard, you hum all day long?

Drives me slowly insane, and my husband knows it.  From time to time, he will purposely hum a Jingle from a commercial on TV knowing that I will end up humming it throughout the day.  And each time I catch myself, I say, "UGH!"  And then he laughs, the Rat!  (Ha)

But I learned how to counterattack.

When I hear a Jingle, I've been ensnared in from the past, I begin to sing a Hymn.  It's my new countermeasure.  

Jesus did the same thing when He was under attack from Satan in the desert.

With each attack, came a counterattack by quoting the Word of God.

But he answered and said, It is written...Matthew 4:4a

Jesus said unto him, It is written again,...Matthew 4:7a

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written...Matthew 4:10a

The next time you are under attack...

        Counterattack from the Word of God...

            Victory is sure!

                But that's just me!

Unruly

"The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame."

Proverbs 29:13

My husband and I had some errands to run this past weekend, and while we were out and about, decided to treat ourselves to lunch.  We thought it would be a nice time to just sit and talk and enjoy some good food in a peaceful atmosphere.  That was not to be.

Just as we were sitting down in our designated booth, two women with their children followed and sat in the booth beside us.  One mother was literally dragging her kicking and screaming son behind her.  I looked at my husband and thought, "Oh no!"  

This child continued to scream while his mother kept issuing threats of doomed consequences.  When that didn't work, the mother resorted to bribes.  And when that didn't work, she ended up taking him outside.  I don't know what she did out there, but when they came back into the restaurant, the child seemed to be under control.

Until it was time to order.

Then the screaming, the threats and the bribes picked up where they had left off.

I told my husband, "That child deserves a good spanking!"

There was a time when I would feel sorry for the parents when I witnessed temper tantrums, screams, and tears; but not anymore.

Now I feel sorry for the child.

Why?

Because this behavior is produced by a lack of attention on the part of the parent.

Laziness in parenting today...

    will only produce more work, (and heartache) in the future...

        But that's just me!

"One of the worst things we can do is allow our children to grow up thinking they don't need to keep any rules.  A spoiled child becomes a spoiled adult."  Billy Graham