Finding Fault

And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen hands, they found fault.  Mark 7:2

To find fault, you have to go looking for it.  

The Pharisee's followed Jesus for one main reason; to find fault.  They constantly wanted to find reasons to accuse Him for something, and when they couldn't find fault in Jesus, they started looking for fault in those who followed Him.

Fault is actually easy to find.

When you are discontent in your own life, it will cause you to start looking at someone else's life.   

Finding faults is easy when you are unhappy, jealous, envious and bitter.  If I catch myself finding fault in others, it's usually because I have a huge problem in my own heart that I have not quite dealt with yet.

Jesus warns us against this very thing in Luke 6:42. He says, "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye."

I will confess, usually when I find a fault in someone else, if I look close enough, I will find that same fault in me.

When we start fault-finding in others we need to:

    1-Examine our own hearts.  If we don't, we will be too quick to judge others for the same thing we are doing.  

    2-Instead of accusing that person of a fault, remember Galatians 6:1:  "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." 

We already have an Accuser:  Satan.  We don't need to be like him, we need to be like Christ.

Harriet Beecher Stowe once said, "Let us resolve: first to attain the grace of silence; second, to deem all fault finding that does no good a sin; third, to practice the grade and virtue of praise.

Finding faults can become a bad habit; instead, 

    Train yourself to find a blessing in everything, and everyone-

        But that's just me!

"Nothing is easier than fault finding."  Og Mandino

"We cannot improve any human relationship by insisting others do what they should, only by doing what we should."  Growth Principle from DITW Dr. Paul Chappell

Viewer Discretion Is Advised

 That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.  Proverbs 5:2

...Keep sound wisdom and discretion:  Proverbs 3:21b.

My husband and I were watching a football game the other day.  The quarterback threw the ball to the receiver and the receiver missed.  The camera zoomed in on the quarterback's reaction to the incomplete pass, and it wasn't good.  Even though we could not audibly hear the words this man was yelling, by reading his lips, you knew exactly what words he chose to express this fumbled play.

In 1968, The Motion Picture Association of America established a rating system that was created to help parents make informed viewing choices for their children concerning movies.  As I child I remember a G rated movie would be a movie that the entire family could view, and most G rated movies often threw in a moral to the story.

Not today.

Sometimes a Viewer Warning precedes what we are about to view-

and sometimes there is no warning at all.  We are blindsided and left stunned.

Politics, the Woke Movement, profanity, and nudity, are just a few examples that have permeated everything we see or hear in our Society today.  Whether it's movies, TV sitcoms, cartoons, sports, billboards, News Apps, commercials, magazines, and even our local News, we are constantly bombarded with sin.  Just simply standing in line at the grocery store we subject ourselves to those who choose not to be discrete.

Indiscretion has infected men, women and even children.

Ladies, lack of discretion in a woman is not pretty.

Proverbs 11:22 tells us, that "As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion."

So, what is discretion?  Websters Dictionary divines it as, the ability to make responsible decisions, the quality of having or showing discernment or good judgment, discipline, constraint, self-control.

Christian, how are you doing?  Do you still turn away from images a child of God should not be viewing?  Or have we become so desensitized to the 'new normal' that we continue reading the News Article that has obscenity in the Headlines?

Do I grieve the Holy Spirit of God Who dwells inside me by what I allow my eyes to see?  My ears to hear?

So how do I learn discretion?

"For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him."  Isaiah 28:26

The Word of God will give you the discretion you need to live in our world today.

Ask yourself if what you are viewing is:

    True, Honest, Just, Pure, Lovely, of Good Report, Virtue and Praise. (Philippians 4:8)

        If they are, you have nothing to worry about-

            But that's just me!

I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:  Psalm 101:3a.

𝅘𝅥𝅮 Oh be careful little eyes what you see, oh, be careful little eyes what you see, for the Father up above is looking down in love, oh, be careful little eyes what you see!  𝅘𝅥𝅮

Forgetting

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.  Philippians 3:13

This is such a well-known verse.  A verse that is so often quoted and memorized, but as I read it today, I wondered how often I actually put this verse into practice.

It's so important to keep the past in the past.  If not, it will haunt our present and cripple our future.  When we think of the past, we often think of all the bad things that have happened to us throughout our life, or we think about our past sins and regrets, but in the margin of my Study Bible it has a side note that says the following:

"Forgetting good things that might cause one to rest on his accomplishments."

That is an interesting thought.  One I had not meditated on before.  Yes, there have been times in my life when I look back at all the good things I have done.  I will think to myself, 'I used to do this' or 'I used to serve in this ministry years ago.'  I had to ask myself, "What am I doing for the Lord right now?"

Am I resting in my past accomplishments that keeps me from serving today?

I'm reminded of another verse in Scripture:  "And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62

We are in TODAY,

      So, we must live in TODAY.

           Today has no room for yesterday, and it has no room for tomorrow.

                But that's just me!

"I try to avoid looking forward or backward and try to keep looking upward."  anonymous

I can Handle It

Is there anything too hard for the LORD?  Genesis 18:14a 

Ah Lord God!  behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:  Jeremiah 32:17

A friend of mine came up to me at church the other day and shared with me all the difficulties of her past week.  When she was done filling me in on all of her trials, she said, "But God won't give me anything I can't handle."  I smiled at her and said, "Yes, He will."  I think my response confused her, because she said, "I said, God won't give me anything I can't handle."  I looked at her again as well and said, "Yes, He will."  I could see her countenance change.  I think she was getting a little irritated at me, so she said it one more time a little bit louder as if I wasn't quite hearing her correctly and more convincingly, she stated, "God won't give me anything I can't handle! " Finally, I said, "Yes, He will, because if I can handle my problems, there is no need for God." She kindly patted my hand and said, "It's ok to disagree" and walked away.

I know what verse she was referring to when she quoted this popular adage:  "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."  (1 Corinthians 10:13)

But this verse isn't telling us that God won't ever give us anything we can't handle, it's telling us that we will always have a way, when tempted, to escape sin.  

When Moses and the Israelites came upon the Red Sea, Exodus 14:15a says, And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me?

Moses was in a situation that was too hard for him to handle!  He had to cry out to God for help!

When a young shepherd boy armed with a sling and 5 smooth stones faced down a giant weighed down with armor and sword, did he say, "Don't worry God, I've got this!?"  No!  David cried out, "But I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel!"  (1 Samuel 17:45)

And what about Peter?  He was chained up between two watchmen, sleeping and bound in chains in prison.  Do you think he was taking a nap because he knew he'd get out of this predicament by his own ability?  No!  Peter was sleeping in shackles because He knew His God was able to deliver him!  And God did.  (Acts 12:6-7) 

God is not impressed with our own ability and strength.  God wants us to rely on His.  God will allow trials too big for our shoulders to carry, because He wants us to place our burdens and cares on Him to carry.  "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."  Psalm 55:22

God wants us to call upon Him.  "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."  Psalm 50:15

There will be times in our lives when we go through a situation we cannot handle on our own.  Just ask the Apostle Paul, he did.  "...that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life."  2 Corinthians 1:8

BUT GOD.

    He is waiting for you to ask Him for His help, and He will answer.

        I never want to rely on self to get me through anything.

            I want to rely on God, so that I can give Him the honour and glory He alone deserves.

                But that's just me!

"At the end of oneself is the best place to discover the Lord at work."  Robin Lee Hatcher

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:21-26

 

A Lit Path

Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  Psalm 119:104, 105

I don't like the dark.  Each night before I go to bed, I walk through my house and turn off all the lights, and as each light gets turned off, a nightlight gets turned on.  If I need to get up in the middle of the night, for whatever reason, I like to see where I am going, and reach my destination safely.

God's Word lights our life.

When we meditate and study God's word, it will make us wise and pure.  We will seek truth and not things that are false and that could easily lead us astray.  We will not be easily deceived.  His word promises to light my way and to light my path.  When my path is lit, I will not stumble on hidden obstacles, and I will be aware of 'stranger danger.'  His word illuminates every possible situation I might happen to come upon in my Christian walk, because after all, He is directing each of my steps.

Notice, my friend, that we each have a lamp unto our 'own feet.'  I don't need to be concerned about anybody else's feet except my own.  God has His own path for me, and He has His own path for you.  His light is directing my path, and He is directing yours.  I need to focus on the way the Lord is leading me, and not where He is leading you.  We each have our own individual purpose and path that the Lord has chosen for us, He has lit our way.

God promises to light our way, through the day and through the night,

    Through the dark and through the dawn.

        Over the mountains and through the deep valleys-

            His word is our lamp that will never be extinguished-

                His word is eternal, and I am grateful...

                    But that's just me!

        

Shake out the Rug

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  1 John 4:10

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; Romans 3:25

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9

And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. Words of Jesus, Luke 7:48

I could not keep those words swept under the rug any longer.  I grabbed my broom, folded back the corners of the rug and swept out all the dust and debris of past words and actions, and before placing the rug back down, I gave it a good shake.

I did something the other day that most people wouldn't consider necessary; I apologized for something I said to my friend 15 years ago.  Why?  Because the Lord brought the words, I had spoken all those years ago to my mind while I was reading His Word.

Yes, as a child of God, all of our sins are forgiven-past, present and future, but when God brings something to our mind, whether it happened years ago or just yesterday, it's time to make it right.

And so, I apologized to my friend, and guess what?  Our good friendship became a better friendship!

When was the last time you checked under your rug?  Anything lying dormant underneath?

    Pick it up, give it a good shake,

        It's time for some deep cleaning.

            There is no statute of limitations for making things right...

                But that's just me!

"Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift."  Words of Jesus, Matthew 5:23,24

    

            

Still Fruitful

"I long for nothing more earnestly than to serve God with all my might."  Charles Spurgeon.

A friend and I were talking the other day about the different ministries we have served in over the years.  After 40 plus years, we have been blessed with the abilities to meet certain needs at specific times in different areas in our Local Church.  But when we were talking, we realized that as each day passes, we grow a little older, and we were both wondering how long God will still be able to use us in the ministries we are serving in now, and possibly ministries in the future?

My friend asked me, "Can God still use us?"

I've been thinking about that a lot this week.  Noah was over 500 years old when he began to build the Ark.  God promised Abraham children with his wife, Sarai, when he was 99 years old, and she herself was past the age of bearing children.  When Moses and his brother Aaron went before Pharaoh, Moses was 80 years old. 

When I was reading my Bible the other day, God answered our question.

Psalm 92:12-14 says, "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;"

So, can God still use us in our old age, and as we grow older?  Yes!  He can, He will, and He does!

God will always give us the ability to serve Him, as long as we are willing to serve.

I may not be able to do those things I used to do when I was younger, but God still has plenty of things He needs me to do!

    But that's just me!

"One of the greatest rewards that we ever receive for serving God is the permission to do still more for Him."  Charles Spurgeon

    

Left Behind

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."  Hebrews 4:15

"As I go into a cemetery I like to think of the time when the dead shall rise from their graves...Thank God!  Our friends are not buried, they are only sown."  Dwight L. Moody

January 2nd was the fifth anniversary of my mom's death.  Today is the first anniversary of my sister-in-law's father's death, and on the tenth of this month will mark the first anniversary of my brother-in-law's death.  January is a tough month.  Knowing our loved ones are with Jesus makes grief bearable.

In John 11, Jesus is met by the sisters of His friend, Lazarus.  Lazarus had been dead now for four days.

"When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.

And he said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

Jesus wept."  John 11:33-35

The shortest verse in the bible:  Jesus wept.

Jesus already knew that in a few moments He was going to call Lazarus by name and raise him from the dead.

So why then did Jesus cry?

Compassion.  

Jesus knew all about separation.

This year we will be separated from more family and friends.  Perhaps it will be us who will do the leaving.

It's the way of life.

But, Christian, know this:  It will only be for a little while.

    His redemption draweth nigh!

        But that's just me!

"Christians never say 'goodbye;' just 'until we meet again,'"  Woodrow Kroll

The Beauty in the Broken

"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty from ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."  Isaiah 61:3

Sometimes the perfect need to be broken in order to be used for its purpose.

Sometimes the perfect are broken on purpose by others, or on accident by self.

The Japanese believed that just because something was broken, it didn't make it any less valuable, so they would use tree sap to repair the broken vessel and then paint the cracks with gold.  It's called, Kintsugi.

By restoring the broken piece with gold, the broken vessel was worth far more than it was before it was broken.  These broken vessels became works of Art.  Each had its own design because nothing is broken the same way.

A harsh word spoken can break our Spirit.

Betrayal can break our heart.

Sin can break our fellowship with God.

Broken vessels.

But God doesn't leave us broken.  Instead of tree sap and gold, He repairs our broken-ness with His mercy, His Grace, His Love.  

Vance Havner once said, "God uses broken things.  It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength.  It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume.  It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever."

Being broken is a result of this life.

    But there is beauty in broken-ness when repaired by our Creator.

        We each have our own design-For His Honor, His Glory and His purpose-

            But that's just me!