Thankful

       Friday I finished driving my son to the bus stop and my daughter to work and was on the way to the highway to get home when all the lights on my car dash went on and it seemed like I was losing power.  I went immediately into a gas station that was close and parked to get gas since I needed it anyway.  After finishing up I could not start the car and a call was put in to CAA.  Over an hour later the tow truck said, by the sounds of it the problem was the alternator.

       The mechanic agreed and installed a new alternator.  After all was said and done I realized how grateful I was that I got the kids where they needed to go before the problem arose.  Also, it was just on Monday I drove four hours out of town to a funeral and back home on Tuesday.  What if the car had broken down then?  It would have been a far bigger hassle.

       So I am very thankful that everything happened the way it did.  I’m sure God had a part in it somewhere.  Man, when I think about breaking down on a major highway, and especially going to the funeral with my Mom and how hard that would be on her, I cringe.  But here I am thankful that God protects us. 

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1Th. 5:18

always giving thanks for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Ep. 5:20

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you also are called in one body, and be thankful. Cl. 3:15

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Php. 4:6

Perspective on the some of the bad things.

       I’ve heard it said that you don’t have to be thankful for the bad things but be thankful for the God who helps you through the bad things.  Truth is, I am thankful for both.  There have been far too many bad things in my life, that have caused wonderful things to come out of it, for me to not be thankful.  Also, I have certainly learned that God remains with me through ALL the good and bad and His peace endures through it all now that I’ve finally learned to surrender.

       So thanks Lord for the alternator going.  I am surely grateful on the timing of its demise, but I also know you will use something about the situation for Your glory.  Perhaps the contact with the mechanic or his wife.  Perhaps the tow truck driver.  Perhaps the smiles to the customers while waiting in the gas station or talking to the workers.  Whatever it is Lord, I just know You will use it for Your glory… and I thank You for that.

      Whatever You want, I want.  Whatever You can use, use.  I’m all in now.

      Thank You for loving me so much that You’ve never given up on me.

I’m so thankful!

Walking Out of Sync

       We don’t usually take a walk together as a family anymore.  If we did it would look like we weren’t even together anyway.  My son would take the lead with his long legs and fast stride.  No matter how many times we asked him to slow down, it’s just not in his body to do so.  Next would be me walking faster but nowhere near my son especially since my legs are not as long.  Behind me would be my hubby and daughter who walk about the same pace and stride though I’m sure he slows down for her a bit… or maybe it’s the other way around!

There are a few things that happen when you are walking but not quite together.

       It makes it difficult to communicate.  Sentences are completely missed because of the distance apart.  Or if you are a little closer together but not by their side, the traffic noise causes some words to me missed.  This makes it harder to learn more about each other.  You lose touch with what is going on in the other person’s life, and may miss out on their advice or what instructions they have for you to follow.

And Enoch walked with God, and then he was not, for God took him. Gn. 5:24

By faith Enoch was translated so as not to see death, and he was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Hb. 11:5

And Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied to these, saying, Behold, the Lord came with myriads of His saints, to do judgment against all, and to rebuke all the ungodly of them concerning all their ungodly works which they ungodly did, and concerning all the hard things ungodly sinners spoke against Him. Jude 1:14,15

I love the enjoyment in their faces as they walk together!

       Enoch walked with God; not in front of Him, or behind Him, but with Him, beside Him- in sync with Him.  This is important because it meant Enoch was in communication with the Lord, and it would have been clear.  They would be able to hear each other fine, know what’s going on in life, and Enoch would have heard the Lord’s advice and instructions.  Enoch surely lived in agreement with the Lord: “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?” (Am. 3:3)

       We see that as Enoch walked with God, He prophesied to the unbelievers concerning the Lord, stepping out in faith to do the work God wanted Him to do.  He didn’t teach the easy to hear things, but the truth about what would happen if they didn’t walk right.  So it was at the age of 365 years, Enoch having pleased God, was translated to Heaven to be with God (meaning Enoch did not die to go there).

I’m only 46 and it feels like I struggle to walk with God.  I can’t imagine living that long and staying in sync with God as I walk this journey.  I only hope one day I shall have the same testimony that Enoch had- Vicky walked with God and pleased Him.

Oh glorious and mighty Lord, please help me!

Call It As It Is… According to the Bible

       I have a problem.  I do not like to admit I am wrong.  Mind you, I will do so if I am wrong, but if I believe I’m not wrong, I can’t say that I am because that would be lying, and I hate lying, falsehood, deception, etc.  Never could tell my kids less than the truth even about Santa, the Easter Bunny, etc, and when I had cancer, despite the fact they were only ten, I had to tell them the danger of my surgery because I couldn’t promise them I’d survive when it’s impossible to know for sure.  Instead, I told them the likelihood of survival.

Some sins we justify... there are many we don't consider sins.

       Do I sin?  Yep.  Everyday.  Sorry for those of you who think I’m perfect… :P but I’m not.  I sin.  I get angry and it isn’t always for unrighteousness.  Sometimes I don’t do what God tells me to do.  There are times I still swear.  It doesn’t bother me to say sin is sin, even if it is in me.  But have you ever noticed we have changed the acceptance of sin as sin?

       We aren’t breaking the law, we are just ‘going with the traffic’ or ‘within acceptable limits’ over to not incur a ticket.  We aren’t oppressing people, we are ‘asserting our authority’ in a controlling way.  We aren’t lying, we are ‘protecting people’s right to privacy’ when we just want to hide the naked truth.  THIS IS THE WORLD SYSTEM! 

       When the church accepts the world’s way of speaking, thinking, believing, dealing with things, it is not good.  The Bible is our ultimate source of truth and we should live according to the teachings in it.  Sin is sin no matter the reason, and attempting to justify it for any reason, or call it by a different name will not make it less a sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us. 1Jh. 1:8-10

Abstain from every appearance of evil. 1Th. 5:22

        If there is a relationship problem between two people it is highly unlikely there is no sin on one of the two.  But wait you say, he committed adultery.  True but perhaps you failed to meet his needs, love as you ought, etc.  Got let go at work- tell people you were downsized but neglect to admit you were caught ‘borrowing’ supplies from work.

       The problem with not calling sin a sin is that we deceive ourselves.  We can only find forgiveness when we confess, to the Lord (and others).  If we act like we’ve not sinned by using other terminology, we make Him a liar and His Word is not in us.  And Jesus is the Word.  If He is not in us, we are not saved.

Be careful not to live like the world!

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind... Rm. 12:2

Beware lest anyone rob you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ. Cl. 2:8

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Ep. 5:11

The Kindness of Strangers

       So busy, and I’m so tired, but this is better told while it is fresh, well, alive anyway, in my mind.  Yesterday I had to drive four hours out of town with my mom to go to the memorial for my in-laws dad when we knew and loved.  So we packed up and left around 2:30 pm and were about an hour out when I realized an unsettling thing.  I had forgotten the name of the place it was to be held.  For me it wasn’t as simple as contacting someone.

       Hubby was sleeping after midnights, sister was at job, other sisters long distance which I have no coverage for on my prepaid, and worst of all, I was with my mom who overly stresses about stuff like that.  So instead of telling her I mulled it over for the next hour figuring out who to text that could get back to me quickly- no one.

       Okay wifi would work since I was on the highway and there are service stations and I could retrieve the information from my gmail- nope, don’t have any device to use with wifi.  Perhaps I could beg one of the managers to let me use their computer- blech, didn’t like that choice.  The only option I felt I had was asking around to see if someone would allow me to use their device.

       My mom wondered why we were stopping.  I had to tell her so I braced for the worst.  Instead of negativity, all I got was a lack of technological understanding- they have wifi so you can find out, right?  There weren’t too many in the station, but there was a foreign looking older man on a computer.  I was concerned about communication and the fact he looked like he was working.  Then, just sitting down, another man pulled out a computer.

       I calmly walked over and said, “Hi, I know I’m a stranger and all, but I’m in a bit of a fix.  My mom and I are going to a funeral and I left the place and address at home.  Would you allow me to access my gmail from your computer?”  It took him a few minutes to figure out how to sign out of gmail so I could go in.

Do not withhold good...

       When I checked my account the two emails pertaining to the memorial place and time were missing.  I knew I didn’t delete them, move them or put them in different tabs.  I checked my server’s web mail to no effect.  I expressed my disappointment and Mike asked why I didn’t call.  I told him the issue with my phone.  He let me use his phone and probably his minutes.  Then he found the place on an online map.  A total stranger… yet so kind.  (Thank you Mike!)  It reminded me of two verses of Scripture:

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it. Pr. 3:27

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. Jm. 4:17 ESV

Get a Little Closer…

       There was a time when I was interested in dating Albert (now my hubby).  Back then I would try to spend as much time with him in amongst the friends.  Often I would physically get closer to hear him, to speak with him, and to ‘accidentally’ touch him.  It felt good/ exciting to be close to him and as I did so, we became better friends.  Eventually we began to date, got engaged and married.  It is now 25+ years later.

       God isn’t just interested in our service, worship and talents, but He actually wants to be more intimate (close, dear, cherished, personal) with us.  There is a reason Adam and Eve didn’t flip out when God came to walk with them in the garden.  It’s because they were used to walking with Him.  He wanted to be with them so He spent time with them face to face!

       God continued to try to get through what He really wanted from people.  He wants us to know Him and draw near to Him.  These are most important for when we truly know Him we will WANT to follow Him, be like Him in every way possible, and love Him more- proven by putting Him first, loving others and using the gifts He’s given us. 

    that I may know Him… Php. 3:10

…everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God. 1Jh. 4:7

So says Jehovah, Do not let the wise glory in his wisdom, nor let the mighty glory in his might; do not let the rich glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me… Jr. 9:23,24

 

       That we may know Him… understand Him…  Just like with Albert when I kept trying to get closer to hear him better, speak with him and get close enough to ‘touch’, the Lord wants us to draw near to Him, and we should want to do this.  If we don’t, we should question our Christianity.  We should be crying out like Job, “Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!” (23:3)

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners; and purify your hearts, double-minded ones. Jm.. 4:8 
    (not this- which incurred judgment) …this people draw near me with their mouth, and with
    their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me… Is. 29:13

       Draw near means to bring near or join one thing to another, to approach.  (using analysis of verbs) The subjects (plural- you) are entreated or commanded to draw near, cleanse and purify as an act of our own volition/ choice. As a result the Lord states what He will do, what will be as a fact or certainty.  Isn’t that awesome?

If you seek Him, He will be found by you. 
1Ch. 28:9