To My Readers

Thank you so much for reading this blog.  I hope the things written make us all think about the Lord more, His love for us and the journey we are on.

This week I will be taking a break (due to health and duties) and will return the 6th of December.  Please come back as we continue on the road to knowing God better.

The Lord's face shine on you!

Follow the Instructions Carefully

       I am really not the best of cooks, and I even manage to muck up the recipes I use: either I forget where I am in counting (was the one or two?), I forget ingredients, or I don’t know specifically what the recipe means (what size egg, is that packed or not packed sugar?).  So it was with trepidation one day that I decided- after twenty years of marriage- to attempt pumpkin pie for my hubby.  Carefully I read the instructions on the recipe my mom-in-law gave me, and ended up with a bunch of questions.

       Happily, my sister called and I asked her all the questions and wrote down the answers.  The most confusing thing she told me was I could use an extra egg if I wanted them more custard like.  Huh?!?  Since I don’t eat it, I figured on using what the recipe called for.  She also told me ‘you will know when they are done because the filling will crack, and that will be after about 45/ 50 min.  Within the hour, I had my two pies (each recipe usually makes two) in the oven at the appropriate temperature.

       Forty five, fifty, sixty, seventy… the minutes kept going on, but the pies were still too wet and definitely not cracking.  I had to cover the crusts so they didn’t burn.  Eventually, they stopped looking wet though they never did crack, so I took them out to cool.  Later that night my sister called and asked how it went.  She never heard of pie taking that long to cook so she went through everything step by step.  As we got to the eggs she asked how many I used and it was only then I realized I’d forgotten the eggs completely.  Aha!  That was the problem.  (You know your hubby loves you when he eats your messed up pie!!!)

       We have the greatest instruction book around called the “Holy Bible”.  It gives those of us who believe and trust in Christ instructions for how we are to live our lives.  The Bible is not just a collection of stories, fables, and symbolic tales for moral lessons, etc. but it is full of truth and is God’s Word able to help us in our journeys and our relationship with our Lord.

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable (helpful) for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished (complete, mature, and fully equipped) unto all good works.  2Tm. 3:15-17

       With that in mind, the instructions are quite clear in our treatment of God and man.  As I heard last night, they are not suggestions, maybes, if you feel like it-s, if it’s easy-s, or if the other person is treating you appropriately-s.  “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Jesus said (Jh. 14:15 ISV).  “The person who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I, too, will love him and reveal myself to him." (v.21)  Do you want the Lord to reveal Himself to you?  Obey. 

       The speaker said, “If you have lost your joy, go back to the last thing God told you to do- did you obey it?”  If you didn’t and now you are unhappy, then that is likely the problem.  You cannot live within God’s peace and joy if you are disobedient (or neglectful) of acting on His Word.  That’s what got me thinking about those first pumpkin pies I made.  I didn’t follow the instructions completely so they did not turn out the way I wanted or expected.  Instead, they were disappointing.  So if my Christian life is unsatisfactory, perhaps I need to look within myself and see if I am following God’s instructions carefully…

or am I just going off in my own direction?

Hmmmmmmm...

Freely Given

       Last night I was thinking about being a parent.  For myself, I find that in my thoughts often.  In this case, I was thinking about how good it feels when my teens sit with me- without their finger extensions in their hands (cell/ ipod) and we talk- about them, their lives, life in general, hopes, dreams, accomplishments…  Of course, I know most of it anyway due to hearing secondhand conversations and seeing their lives played out near me, but it doesn’t matter.  I like to hear it from their lips, from their perspectives, freely and willingly shared with me.  It also brings joy to my heart when I can share my life with them as well.  That two way communication is very dear to me and I miss it when I don’t get it.

       Of course there have been many times when I tried to force information out, or times when I made the kids sit down to talk, but those times were never very good.  It was like pulling teeth to get them to share and they certainly didn’t listen to me those times.  Eventually I realized that they had to: want to come, actually come and sit with me, and freely open up their lives.  There are times when we are together I know they are holding back something important, but now I just listen patiently instead of trying to force it out.  I guess I’m learning that child/ parent relationships have to be made freely, sharing must be without coercion or it will not foster intimacy.

       I want them to openly share their lives with me, to spend time with me because they want to not because I forced the issue.  That time they do give me has become very precious, especially these days with such hectic lives.  I cherish every moment.

I’m sure Abba, Father feels the same way with us.

What God Doesn’t Have

       We always think of God as one who has everything, but in my opinion, there are a few things that God does not have (probably J…):

God doesn’t have voice mail.

When you call on God you will not hear, “You have reached the voice mail of God.  Please leave your name, number and a brief message after the beep.”  Beep!!!

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.  Ps. 5:3

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  1Jh. 5:14

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers…  1Pt. 3:12

God doesn’t have eye glasses.

His eyesight is perfect and He sees everything going on, even the smallest things, even those things invisible to other men!

The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.  Ps. 33:13

…but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him…  Heb. 4:13

For He looks to the ends of the earth, And sees under the whole heavens,  Job 28:24 NKJV

…for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.  1Sm. 16:7 NKJV

My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Ps. 139:15 

God doesn’t have Facebook or Skype.

He doesn’t need social media to keep in touch with us.  He sees all and knows all, and still wants to meet with us daily if we are willing.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  Rev. 3:20

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.  Zp. 3:17

God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship (partnership, communication) of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  1Cor. 1:9

And this is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent-Jesus Christ. Jh. 17:3  ISV

…in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.  Ps. 16:11

Come close to God, and he will come close to you.  Jm. 4:8 ISV 

God doesn’t have money.

God owns everything He created.  He created all things by His word- so what would He ever need money for?  He could speak what He needs into being!

For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.  Ps. 50:10

…The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness (all it is filled with) thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.  Ps. 24:1

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things....  Rom. 11:36

Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it.  Dt. 10:14 NKJV