Day 2

Last week Friday, while having breakfast with my brother and sister-in-law, we were discussing salvation and how people make a decision when they come to the realization of their standing before a just and holy God. My brother recalled how he felt deceived by the teachings of our former denomination. He recalled being taught specifically that being baptized would save you and allow you to go to Heaven.

I thought about that this morning as I read Proverbs 2.

"When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee." Proverbs 2:10-11

The chapter starts out telling us that wisdom is there. It's available and verse 6 tells us where wisdom comes from:
"For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."

So we know where to get it and that we can get it but what does wisdom do for us? What shall we do with it?

That's where verse 10 and 11 struck me. When we allow the wisdom, given to us by God, to enter into our hearts, it pleases our soul and allows discretion and understanding to protect us.

Discretion.

I know I can always use more discretion. Discretion with my words, discretion with my actions, discretion with my attitude, discretion with my relationships, discretion with my time, discretion with my thoughts and so on and so on. I could easily keep going but I think you catch my drift.

The more I study out God's Word and seek out wisdom from Him (not my own wisdom or ask other's for their wisdom) but wisdom from God, the more discretion I can obtain and discretion can preserve me and protect me.

My brother found discretion from the Word of God and as a result, he shared it with the rest of our family. I'm very thankful he did and that he showed me, out of the Bible, my need for Christ.

Have you seeked out God's wisdom today?

And we're off...

It's March!

March is going to be the month of my first ever blogging challenge. Since there are 31 days in the month of March and 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs, I thought it'd be a perfect fit to challenge myself to get something each and every day from the Bible. Not only do I want to get something everyday but I want to share it. If we don't use and share the things God teaches us, what good is it to learn it in the first place, right?

So I hope you will join me this month and please feel free to comment and interact with me on this challenge. Read Proverbs along with me - who knows, we may end up picking the same verse to meditate on!

Well, without further ado...

Proverbs 1. Proverbs seems to be all about wisdom. Rightfully so, considering that the book is written by Solomon, the wisest man, apart from Christ. Proverbs 1 sets a solid foundation of the importance of wisdom, as described in verse 7, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

I love how wisdom is personified in this chapter and how it seems to just lay it all out there, plain and simple, right from chapter 1.

"How long ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning? and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded." Proverb 1:22-24

Wisdom is there...free for the taking. The question is: are you seeking it?

Leap Day

The opportunity to write a blog post on February 29th comes around only once every 4 years, so of course, I have to take advantage of it!

I know that today isn't actually an "extra" day but it sure feels like it and I like to think of it as an extra day. If you think of it as an extra day, then you can think of it as a gift...the gift of time ( and who wouldn't like some extra time these days?)

I have been thinking of this "extra" day for awhile and how I should mark the occasion. Well, God gave me plenty of suggestions through my Bible reading this week. He pulled out verses like Proverbs 27:1 "Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth" and Ephesians 5:16 "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

I think of Leap Day as like a coupon. We've been given this day but in order to receive the true gift of it, we must redeem it, just like you have to do with a coupon. I have coupons for 10 cents off per gallon of gas but those coupons are worth nothing until I redeem them with the gas station that sent them out. Same with today and everyday for that matter. God has given us today. Proverbs 27:1 tells us we can't depend on tomorrow, we must take today and in order to redeem it, we must give it back to God. We can do this by starting our days out with Him, asking Him what He would gave you do today, rather than going about our own business and schedule. If we neglect to "redeem" our day with God from the very beginning, we may miss out on opportunities He has for us.

Ephesians 5 continues to tell us in verse 17 that we ought not be unwise, but we need to understand what the will of the Lord is, and we can accomplish that by giving Him our days, our time and attention.

I encourage you to redeem today, Christian! Spend extra time with Him in prayer today, spend extra time in His word, take some time to praise Him, thank Him, tell someone about Him!

This is the day that the Lord hath made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

When it rains...

"Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped. And said, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Job 1:20-21

These verses really struck a cord with me, especially in light of the recent news of 3 separate but equally tragic car accidents. Unfortunately, tomorrow, 3 families will bury a loved one and to them, my heart and prayers go out on their behalf.

I didn't know any of them personally but hearing of the news of one accident right after the other - it sure help put some things into perspective for me. I needed the reminder to not take things or (and most importantly) people for granted. I have been blessed to not have to endure a lot of loss in my life but I know people who have and they do have a different perspective on things.

My mother has endured a lot of loss in her family and one of the many things she taught us while growing up is to never take each other for granted. Whenever we leave or hang up the phone, the last words are usually always "I love you" and that is a habit she instilled in us because she has experienced the haunting desire to be able to tell someone "I love you" just one more time.

So, to those who may read this who are grieving a loss, take comfort in the words and attitude of Job, who recognized that God's hand is in and above all - He gives and He can take away and for those of you readers who may not be grieving at this time, take a moment to reflect on all the things or people God has given you and know that He could taken them from you at any time.

Cherish them.

Love them.

Pray for them.

A true friend

"Billy Bob has sent you a friend request."

We've all been there.

Well, anyone with a Facebook account has been there.

That awkward, "I just met you for the first time ever and since you live across the country, I may never see you again so I am not sure I want you to see and comment on each status update or mobile upload" friend request. Apparently, nowadays, the only pre-requisite for friendship is simply having the capability to find someone online, and possibly meeting them in person...wait, actually, I don't think you even need to actually meet face to face in order to be able to be "friends" (at least via Facebook or Twitter).

That's where we have arrived, folks. In a day and age where someone can be called "friend" without knowing more than simply your name. We've most likely all done it...added an "acquaintance" to our online friends list. I'll admit, I have. However, if you are like me, you have at some point also come to the fork in the road when you realize the time has come to "clean up your friends list", which helps explain why in 2009, the word unfriend was voted Word of the Year.

So in this land (reality and online), how can one distinguish a true friend from someone on the brink of being unfriended"?

Well, as with all matters, the Bible has plenty to show us about friends.

Proverbs 27 offers us a few insights into determining the character of a true friend:
- faithful are the wounds of a friend (verse 6)

True friends are not necessarily those who will never hurt you, since the Bible tells us friends will have wounds, however, a true friend is a faithful one. One who will tell you when you are wrong or that you are doing wrong. One who will not leave you, but rather will be there, always there, sometimes lingering in the back until you allow them to come closer. But they are there. They are faithful.

- iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend (verse 17)

True friends are the ones who sharpen you. The ones who not only lift you up but also know when to keep you balanced. They are the sounding block when you have decisions to make. They are your cheerleader when you feel stuck in the battle. They are the outstretched hand, ready to lift you up when you have fallen.

- "Bear ye, one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2

A true friend is one who is beside you, not just watching you bear your load, not constantly telling you how you should be carrying it or handling it, but they are right along side you, bearing the weight of it with you. This is a key characteristic of a true friend. For someone to put themselves and their own issues aside to come alongside me, and bear my burdens, to bear them and pray for them as fervently and passionately as their own, that is a mark of a true, faithful friend in my book.

I have a friend like that. A friend who has wounds, wounds caused by me. This friend sharpens me, straightens me out when I need it but also encourages me when I need it, too. This friend bore my burdens for me. This friend felt pain and anguish, so I wouldn't have to.

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly; and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

"Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." John 15:15

Jesus Christ has called me His friend. He fits and exceeds the very definition of friend. He is and always will be my very best friend. I am so very glad He has chosen me as a friend.


He is thee friend that sticks closer than a brother. He is the one friend who can offer me (and offer you as well) the greatest love of all. He is your Lord. He is your King. He is your Savior. He is your Friend.

He's my best friend.

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Jesus! what a strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him;
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my strength, my vict'ry wins.

Jesus! what a help in sorrow!
While the billows o'er me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my comfort, helps my soul.

Jesus! what a guide and keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night o'ertakes me,
He, my pilot, hears my cry.

Jesus! I do now receive Him,
More than all in Him I find,
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am His, and He is mine.

Chorus:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Lyrics: John Wilbur Chapman

Things to ponder

Ten Bibles laid open, sprawled out around the table. Conversation, laughter and the sweet sound of turning Bible pages filled the room. Some scribbled their notes down on their handouts while others squeezed them into the margins of their Bible. It was Friday night. Bible Study night!

I love Bible study.

We are currently (and have been for almost 6 months) studying the tabernacle. Wow. Amazing stuff. I know I have studied the tabernacle before but never in such depth or detail. There is so much there and everything has a reason and represents something - it is amazing and I sometimes struggle to fully comprehend it all. We started with an overview of the tabernacle and then moved on to studying it part by part from the outside in.

The past few weeks, we have been studying the furniture in the Holy of Holies. How often have you spent 90 minutes studying the table of shewbread? I know I never have spent that much uninterrupted time on the subject. But it was really good! I am amazed at how detailed and specific the Lord is with everything and in awe of seeing how it is so connected with Christ!

Last Friday we were studying the candlestick. It was pure gold. It symbolizes Christ - He's the "light of the world" and He was pure. But as we read in Exodus the description and dimensions of the candlestick, there was a word that stuck out in my mind as we read Exodus 25: 31

"And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops and his flowers shall be of the same."

"of beaten work" Why would it be described as a "beaten" work? What?

Luckily, we discussed it.

Since the candlestick is a symbol of Christ, "beaten" is a perfect word - especially when you consider what Isaiah 53 says and how it depicts the agony Christ went through.

Wow.

I love studying some of those deep things in the Bible. I can take those nuggets and ponder on them for days.

While I love the deep things of God, I also love the simple things.

Saturday morning a group from church got up and went to a local nursing home to sing a few songs to them. One of songs was "Jesus Loves Even Me" by Phillip Bliss. As we were singing the words of this song, I was struck at the simplicity of it, the wonder that it is that Jesus loves me.

I can also ponder that thought for days.

I love studying out the Bible and seeing the complexity of some of the things God has in there and yet, I love the simple things He has in there as well.

What has God given you to ponder lately?

What a relief!

I work in customer service which some days (most days) is equivalent to being a magnet for everyone else's problems.

I enjoy my job but sometimes it gets wearisome. I've got my own problems and issues to deal with, the last thing in the world I want is someone else's problems. There are days when I come home from work and feel completely drained. Some days it feels like I've got the weight of the world resting on my shoulders.

Then I read this:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

I've been thinking of that verse for the past week and I still have trouble comprehending it. Seriously?!? God is asking us to give Him our burdens??

It is not fun to handle other people's problems. It can be draining - mentally, physically, emotionally. There are days when I come home from work and just want to shut and lock the world out. Days when it crumbles me down. And yet, here is God, arms wide open saying "come and tell me your cares, tell me your worries, your cares, your fears. Leave your burdens here. I do not want you weighed down with them. Give them to me. I'll take care of them."

Oh. My.

The relief that that can bring! It is almost indescribable!

I can come home from a long day at work and when my mind has been racing and I'm simply exhausted, I know that I can kneel down and envision myself kneeling at His feet. The Bible says we can boldly come before His throne and I do. When I take my cares to Him, I envision myself there, at His feet. I can place my head in His lap and picture Him stroking my hair as I weep and pour my heart out before Him.

He cares. He really, truly cares.

He wants these moments. Even more than I do, He wants them. He asks for them, He waits patiently for them. And when time has passed and I come before Him again, and place my head on His lap and say, "God, I need to tell you something." He says, "Come here, Amy. Tell me all about it." And I do as I settle in and He gently caresses my hair and wipes my tears away, He listens. He takes them all in. The big cares and the little cares. He takes them all. He listens so intently, even when I struggle to put words to my emotions, He knows. And when I am done, He pulls me in close and wraps His mighty arms around me, holding me for just a few minutes. Long enough for me to feel His love. Long enough for me to feel and know His protection. Long enough to remind me He is always there.

I live for those moments.

I do not know why I put off those moments with my Savior, why I don't go there first. Instead, I have a tendency to try all MY ways first. (yeah, like that ever works) But I end up there, on the lap of my Heavenly Father, seeking His attention, unloading my heart and mind on Him. And He loves it.

We sang the hymn, "I Must Tell Jesus" the other night in church and I was overwhelmed with how the verses fit in with this thought so here are the words (written by Elisha A. Hoffman) :

I must tell Jesus all of my trials,
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
in my distress He kindly will help me,
He ever loves and cares for His own.

I must tell Jesus all of my troubles,
He is a kind, compassionate friend;
if I but ask Him, He will deliver,
make of my troubles quickly an end.

Tempted and tried, I need a great Savior,
One who can help my burdens to bear;
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;
He all my cares and sorrows will share

O how the world to evil allures me!
O how my heart is tempted to sin!
I must tell Jesus, and He will help me
over the world the victory to win.


I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

"Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7