In the Word

The Lord doesn't just "make" us "into" something. For example, "Make me humble. Make me wise." It doesn't work like that. If I am cooperating with Him, He makes me into who I am to be in Him. He's changing me, but I must comply, submit. If I'm not in the Word, I hinder that work. The Word transforms me as I dig in... delving into the heart of God's story, from beginning to end. If the Bible remains closed, so does God's transforming work.

Opening the Word opens my eyes! It cuts open my heart. It causes me to reflect on what is good and true, and what is contrary in my own life. The Lord is so very patient with us. Not wanting us to perish, but for each of us to come to repentance... that we might have life!

Too often I'm too busy to spend time in the Word. Reading my Bible, studying my Bible. Knowing what's in there isn't enough. I need to be willing to pour through it, and let it pour through me. I can see my attitude change, my actions change as I spend time seeking to understand what God says in His Word.

Alive and active, The Bible has the power to transform lives... beginning with mine.

Wild Fruit

The LORD had a vineyard...

• He dug up the ground, breaking and sifting it to prepare it for planting.
• He removed stones, some large and some small, so there wouldn't be any obstructions, and that the roots would have room to grow.
• He carefully selected vines to plant - vines in which He saw value. This pleased Him.

And the vineyard was established.

As the plants were taking root, the LORD built a watchtower.  From there He could see any and all threats to His field.  He took care to stop vandals and poachers.  He was a Faithful Guardian.

In anticipation of the harvest, He carefully cut out a place where the grapes would be pressed into wine.  A sweet wine, pleasing to the taste, effective in its purpose.  The fruit of the vine.

Did I mention that all this took place on a fertile hillside?  The place the LORD had selected was made up of excellent soil - rich in nutrients, well watered by the rain and streams.  It was beautiful and lush!

He waited, and watched, for the first fruits.  But, sadly, the fruit was bad, having gone wild.  Tangled vines, giving off an unpleasant aroma.  These grapes were no good to Him.  Who would drink of this stench?

He asks, "What more could I have done for my vineyard than I have done for it?  Why, when I looked for good grapes, did it yield only bad?"  (Isaiah 5:4)

The LORD prepared, protected and planned for His vineyard's purpose to be fulfilled.  What went wrong?





Lord, help me to recognize Your will for my life.  I want to cooperate with You.  Remind me when I am in danger of rejecting You.  Help me to yield.  I want to hear Your voice. I praise You!

Ezra's Prayer

Isaiah 59:2

"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear."

When Ezra - a godly man - prayed on behalf of the people, he used the pronouns "our" and "we."  (Ezra 9:5-15)  Although he had not married a foreign woman as the rest of the people had done, he recognized that he was part of the whole that had turned their backs on God.  Or maybe he recognized the fact that he had his own sin that wasn't widely known. 

When King David prayed, he, too, included himself culpable of the sins committed by the nation of Israel.

As Christians, we need to remember that the sins of the nation include our own culpability.  Even if we have spoken up, there are still sins that we are guilty of that haven't been made public.  I remember my pastor telling me, as I sat before him, unmarried and pregnant, "I have sin in my life, too.  Mine just isn't going to be as obvious as yours will be in a couple of months."

If we're tempted to "grumble and complain," may our hearts be quickened to the truth of our own guilt before a holy and just God.  May our hearts cry out to Him in spirit and in truth for grace and the wisdom to speak, not only courageously, but with compassion, so that the hearts of the people would turn to Him, trusting Him for salvation.  That's where true hope - and change - lies.

Married!

Pretty in Pink

Tatum's wedding is gonna be so pretty! Can't wait to see it all come together!

Collected jars, painted in three shades of pink (latex paint, poured in, swirled around and poured out), to be sprayed with clear glaze, then filled.

Thank you to the girls who helped make it happen! Steph, Emily, Athena Katlyn!!

Colorado

Praying for rain...

"To You, O LORD, I call, for fire has devoured the pastures and flames have burned up all the trees of the field.  Even the wild animals pant for You; the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the open pastures."  ~Joel 1:19-20

Lord, please bring relief to Colorado.  Stop the fires, and bring healing to the hearts and lives of the people there.  The effects of the fires have been devastating.  You are good.  Your love endures forever.  You are Provider, Healer, Comforter.  Please bring an end to the devastation.  Restore homes and lands.  Let the people see hope.  You are able.  Amen. 

People of God

People of God, unite!  (Col. 3:1-17)  There is an enemy. (1Pet 5:8)  And his mission is to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10)  Do you not recognize his schemes?  (Eph. 6:10-18)  Can you not see that, not only is he on the prowl, he is on the attack?!  Where is your focus?  What is your goal?  Keep it in mind!  Set your eyes on the target!  Bring honor and glory to God...  not anger (and shame) on yourself, and your family.  Listen up!

The LORD is righteous in all His ways

and loving toward all He has made.

The LORD is near to all who call on Him,

to all who call on Him in truth.

He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him;

He hears their cry and saves them.

The LORD watches over all who love Him,

but the wicked He will destroy.

My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD,

Let every creature praise His holy name

for ever and ever.

~Psalm 145:17-21

A divided heart - the journey begins...

"Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself.  As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones.  Their heart was deceitful, and now they must bear their guilt.  the Lord will demolish their altars and destroy their sacred stones."  ~Hosea 10:1-2

Israel -> God's chosen people  (as am I)

a spreading vine -> growing, becoming more beautiful, impressive, fruitful


But, as I have a tendency to become prideful, or self-impressed, the altars that were meant to bring honor and glory to God, instead become decorations marking my own accomplishments and importance.  My heart is deceptive...  divided between loyalty to God, and loyalty to myself.  (Doesn't God care for me?  Of course He does!)  "But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today."  (Deut. 8:18)

"Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until He comes and showers righteousness on you."  ~Hosea 10:12

Don't...
     plant wickedness,
           reap evil,
              eat the fruit of deception.

And, DON'T depend on your own strength.
(v. 13)

The LORD God Almighty is faithful.

You are precious to Him.

Let Him show you.

today...

"O, LORD, in the morning, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation."  ~Psalm 5:3

I think I tend to go about it wrong a lot of the time.  I should pray in the morning.  Every morning.  Intentionally.  And, as I do, I need to remember the way Jesus taught us to pray: "Give us this day our daily bread."  Too often, I make my prayers too broad, encompassing days or weeks or years.  And, I don't wait... expectantly... for God to act on them.  In a way, I do.  But, how much more effective would my waiting be if I laid before Him specific needs for...

just...

this...

day...

each morning?

If I could see, in each day, some sort of response (positive or negative) to my morning prayer?

Wouldn't that be something?

Wouldn't that add fuel to the hope for those bigger, time-evolving prayers on the agenda?

Today is a brand-new day.

a prayer

to look lovingly

to wait hopefully

to speak wisely

to hear earnestly

to respond carefully

to love sincerely

to trust unwaveringly


to rest completely

and to NOT beat myself up.

may I be I

may I be I is the only prayer -

not may I be great or good

or beautiful or wise or strong

~E.E. Cummings

Lord, make me who You've intended me to be.

I am clay in Your hands.

I surrender.

Amen.