Left-Overs

Webster defines left-overs this way:  Something that remains unused or unconsumed.

The first question that comes to mind the day after Thanksgiving is, "What am I going to do with all the left over food?"  Every time I open the refrigerator door, I'm thinking of new and creative ways to use the remaining food so that it doesn't go to waste.  There is one thought, though, that does not enter my mind;

"Who can I give this too?"

I would never give my left-overs to my neighbor, and I would never invite someone over to my house for a meal and serve them left-overs.

And I would never give my left-overs to God.

Or, would I?  Have I?  Have you?

I'm not talking about food here.  I'm talking about money, time,  talent, and helping those in need.

We read in Malachi about God's people offering God their left-overs:  the maimed offerings, their spare change.  (Malachi 1:6-14, Malachi 3:8-10)

Do I want to do what I want to do, and then if I have extra time, volunteer to help someone?

Do I pay a bill first, and then give God what is left-over?

A.W. Tozer once said, "God gets left-overs....we tend to give Him that which we don't need instead of giving Him that which we need."

I want to first give God, what is rightfully His, not what I have left....but that's just me!

God is worthy of our First-Fruits, not our Left-Overs.

 

Count Your Blessings

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.  Selah

Psalm 68:19

In every thing give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

Giving thanks always for  all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:20

The first Thanksgiving was decreed by Governor Bradford in 1621 to commemorate the Pilgrims harvest.

Then George Washington proclaimed Thanksgiving on November 26, 1789 for a national day of thanksgiving, and Abraham Lincoln made thanksgiving a repeated holiday and called it the Harvest Festival on November 26, 1861.  But it wasn't until 1941 when Congress passed a Bill, naming the fourth Thursday of November that we celebrate Thanksgiving Day like we know it today.

But even before the 'world' decided to give thanks to the Creator for His provision in all things, His children did just that.  In all things, and for all things.

Sometimes we don't see the daily provisions God gives us on a daily basis because we have either come to expect them, or we take them for granted.  It isn't until we 'name them one by one' like the Hymn reminds us to, that we actual see the blessings, too great in number to count, that God gives us daily.

Every single day.

And no matter what circumstance we are going through right now, I know that when I choose to count my blessings, the worries and the fears and the cares of this world quickly fall away because I know that God will take care of me.  Why do I know that?  Because He proves it to me every single day.

If the world can set aside one day a year to give thanks, shouldn't we, Christian, give thanks every day to the One who meets every need?

I'm counting my blessings!

But that's just me!

"For one who has made thanksgiving the habit of his life, the morning prayer will be, "Lord, what will you give me today to offer back to you?"  Elisabeth Elliot

"Careful for nothing, prayerful for everything, thankful for anything."  Dwight L. Moody

"Gratitude lets us see our cup is neither half-empty nor half-full, but more than enough."  Lisa Appelo

Dust

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.  Psalm 139:23,24

Can someone please explain to me how a silverware tray gets so dirty sitting in a kitchen drawer with only clean utensils resting in each cubical?  It's one of life's mysteries.

But kidding aside, I have realized that if I don't pay close attention, I can start accumulating dust in my heart.   I allow things to creep in.  I become de-sensitized by watching the News, or movies.  I justify or make an excuse to what I read or listen to.  Have I gone soft towards certain sins?

King David realized that too.  He called them 'Secret Faults.'  In Psalm 19:12, he asks this question:

"Who can understand his errors?  cleanse thou me from secret faults."

Secret faults are sins committed in ignorance,  those we honestly do not realize to be sin, AND sins that are hidden.  Those we tuck way down deep in our hearts that no one else knows about, and will do them willingly and in secret.

King David wanted to live uprightly and live a life blameless before God, and so he prayed that God would cleanse him from his secret sins.

We should desire that as well.

When we ask God to show us what is truly in our hearts, He will.  And when we confess our secret faults to Him, He will sweep all that dust away, and wash away our sins so that our lives can be pleasing before Him.  1 John 1:9

I want to be dust free!

But that's just me!

 

Salt

Ye are the salt of the earth:  but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?  It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Matthew 5:13

Christian, how has your testimony been lately?

Does your life reflect goodness in all circumstances?

How about in your words and conversation?  (Colossians 4:6)

Do you fit in with the world, or do you stand out for Jesus?

We are living in stressful times right now, are you still worth your salt?

Or have we lost our savour, and no longer have an impact on those around us?

I want to encourage you...let's stay salty!

I want to season the world~

I don't want the world to season me....

    But that's just me!

"Live in such a way that men may recognize that you have been with Jesus."

    Charles Spurgeon

 

Milk or Meat

The other night I missed a very important step in preparing our meal, and I didn't realize it until we sat down to eat.  After placing the assorted vegetables on the table, I went back into the kitchen to retrieve the baked chicken out of the oven,  and  imagine my horror when I opened the oven door to find cold chicken!  I  had forgotten to turn on the oven!

So, my family had a nice laugh, and we sat down to enjoy the vegetarian meal, and waited for the chicken to properly bake.

I couldn't help but think about Hebrews 5:12-14.  

"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first oracles of God; and are become such as have need milk, and not of strong meat.

For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

But strong meat belongeth to them that are full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

A veggie meal is fine physically, but when it comes to our Spiritual needs, we need meat!

Let's put aside our spoons and pick up our knives and forks!  

But that's just me!

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

2 Peter 3:18a

Ready Answers

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:  and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

1 Peter 3:15

Yesterday I made a trip into town to specifically purchase more needles for my sewing machine.  In my attempt at sewing some crafts this past week , I managed to break a couple of needles on my sewing machine, so, not only was I eager to restock my needle supply, I wanted to be able to ask the employees in this store why they thought my needles kept breaking?  Am I doing something wrong?  Using the wrong size needle?   Imagine my surprise when I asked the question to whom I assumed was a 'Seasoned Sewer' and received this reply:  "I don't know, I would Google it."

I left the store baffled!  After all, I went directly to the Source of my dilemma!  Shouldn't they have known the answer to my questions?

Christian, has someone asked you a question about your Lord and you struggled for an answer?  

Do you know why you believe the way you believe?

If someone is going through a hard time, can you encourage them through Scripture?

I will be the first one to admit that I do not know all of the answers....but I do know where to go for all the answers, and I can use the tool God gave me to find the answers.  

It's not Google!

It's The Bible, His Word.

Can you?

I want to be ready.....but that's just me!

"Help me, Lord, to be a student of your word, that I might be a better servant in your word."

-Jim Gallery

Side Effects

We are literally bombarded with commercials about pharmaceuticals.  From the most common to the uncommon ailment, we are told we need a drug to fix or manage whatever the problem.  But have you ever noticed that the side effects are usually worse than the actual illness?  Truth be told, I'd rather suffer in my sickness than to suffer from the side effect!

Then there are vaccinations.  Last week, my husband and I drove to our local pharmacy for our Shingle Vaccination.  We have put this off for years because of all of the horror stories we have heard about it, but we finally had to weigh this in the balances to see what would be worse:  getting Shingles, or suffering from the side effects from the vaccine.  The shot won out, and the side effects minimal.

But let's take this one step further;  Do you realize that there is a side effect for everything we do, and for everything we say?  And on the flip side, there are side effects for the things we do not do, and for the things we do not say.

Choices equal consequences.

Is the pleasure for a season worth the cost?  Do you stop and contemplate the results of your actions, or your non-actions? 

Galatians 6:7 says, "Be not deceived;  God is not mocked:  for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

I want to reap blessings....but that's just me!

    

Idiosyncrasies

My husband is tele-working again at home due to the high Covid numbers in our State.  We've gone through this before, when Covid first began to spread.  At first it was fun having him home all day, but then something subtle began to happen...little things he did began to bother me.

Webster defines Idiosyncrasies as "a peculiarity of constitution or temperament, and individualizing characteristic or quality."  

I could see the peculiar characteristic all right!

And as the days turned into weeks, I became so focused on his idiosyncrasies, little things became big things.  I began to wonder, Is this what retirement is going to feel like?  Are we going to drive each other crazy?!

1 Peter 4:8 says, "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves:  for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."

Now I just smile at my Dear Husband when I see his peculiar characteristic rise to the surface, because I see the twinkle in his eye and I know what that means.....he's thinking the same thing about me!

But that's just me!

The key to a happy marriage is falling in love over and over.....

    with the same person.  Unknown

Praise

I want you to picture two types of people:  The first person is the one that regardless of what their circumstances may be, seem to be happy.  They are joyful, bubbly, and a blessing to be around.

The second person is the one who regardless of what their circumstances may be, seem to be sad, and despondent.

They both are Christians, so, what seems to be the secret behind the joy of the first person I mentioned?

PRAISE.

Praise is mentioned at least 1,211 times in the Bible.  The word praise is mentioned thirteen times in Psalm 150 alone!

Webster defines praise as:  To express a favorable judgment of, to glorify God especially by the attribution of perfections, worship.

So let me ask you, can you praise God regardless of what you may be going through right now?  Can you still say, 'God is Good,' and keep on keeping on for His honor and glory?  And if not, why not?

"Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.  Let the high praises of God be in their mouth....."  Psalm 149:5,6a

There are so many reasons to praise the Lord.  If we concentrate on that, we will never have anything to complain about....

But that's just me!

"The Christian life that is joyless is a discredit to God and a disgrace to itself."  Maltbie D. Babcock

"Praise helps us realize that we, as Christians, can rise above our problems and lift our voices of praise in spite of any circumstances."  Kenneth W. Osbeck

Election Day

During the past few weeks, I have come into contact with many people who have been worried about the results of today's election.  Have you?  Some are worried about who will be leading our Country.  Some are worried about possible riots.  And some are just worried.

I take comfort in knowing that regardless of the outcome of today's election, God is still in control.

Proverbs 21:1 says, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will."

As children of God, we can rest in the fact that He is in control.

Hebrews 4:9 says, "There remaineth therefore, a rest to the people of God."

And Isaiah tells us that His thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways.  (Isaiah 55:8,9)

We may not understand the results of today's election, but we don't have to.  All we need to remember, is that God has a plan, He is still on the Throne, and He has everything under control.

    But that's just me!

"The world hopes for the best, but the Lord offers the best hope."  John Wesley