"Except For" - 06/25/14 - I Kings 15:1-24, 2 Chronicles 13-16

For David had lived an exemplary life before God all his days, not going off on his own in willful defiance of God's clear directions (except for that time with Uriah the Hittite). (I Kings 15:5)


How often do we focus on the "except for" instead of the grace and mercy ABBA covers us with?  Instead of the forgiveness we receive when accepting our Savior?  Forgiveness for all of our "except for" in our past, present, and future? 


How often do we allow the "except for" to hinder our growth "in" Him?  Do we decide to put ourselves above God and deem what "except for" are forgiven - in ourselves and others? 


How often do we pick apart self or others, by becoming self-righteous and basing our love, our compassion, on our standards? 


How often do we love as Christ does and look past the "except for" and see self and others "made in His image"...........
                                                -

"What Will Be Yours?" - 06/24/14 - 2 Chronicles 10-12

But the final verdict on Rehoboam was that he was a bad king - God was not important to him; his heart neither cared for nor sought after God.(12:14)


"The only time I've thought, "Wow, maybe there is a god,' was when I saw an exhibition of spectacularly gorgeous minerals from the bowels of the earth."


"The acclaimed actress speaks her mind on sex, love, solitude,- and her passion for pomegranates."


Helen Mirren


Passion for pomegranates. 


I put the magazine down after reading this article, but haven't been able to remove the sadness that came upon me.  For a number of years I have enjoyed her acting talents, but now all I can think of when she comes to mind is how very sad to live life without ABBA as the center. 


How sad to not even acknowledge "maybe there is a god", when all about us is miracle after miracle, proof of His Awesomeness. 


Perhaps I feel such a sadness because it reminds me of when I lived in such a way.  When my "passion" was for self and this world, "for pomegranates".  So pathetic.  So empty. 


So lost.


While reading the scriptures from these past few days, accounts of all the wars, the sin infested ways of the people, reminds me of much of our world today.  And only because ABBA has transformed my heart am I able to be filled with sorrow, compassion, instead of self-righteousness. 


Thinking back through my life, I am able to pinpoint certain persons who I know continually prayed for me.  I am able to remember older women in the church who were vessels and examples of our Christ.  Men of God come to mind in the spiritual examples of ABBA's Holy Love.  For all of them I am thankful, even though it is only in looking back I am able to see what I didn't see then - a lifeline to my ABBA. 


I pray He uses me the same way.  I pray I am able to be His lifeline to Him for those who are lost.  Those who are searching.  Those who are unaware of Him. 


I pray not only for myself, but all He has touched in my living for Him - the complete opposite of this verse -  "But the final verdict on Rehoboam was that he was a bad king - God was not important to him; his heart neither cared for nor sought after God.(12:14)  


I pray the sadness never leaves me, so I may not lose the urgency or compassion for those who are not "in" our ABBA.

"Counsel?" - 06/23/13 - I Kings 12-14

"What's your counsel? (12:6)


Words. 


We speak them.  Hear them.  Absorb them.  Avoid them. 


Words.


A combination of letters, given meaning. 


Fascinating when you think about it.  How He has given us the gift of communication.  How we are able to understand, comprehend, relay, share. 


All with the power of words.


Even sign language, charades, other means of communicating, are based on words. 


He has given us the life changing, heart transforming gift of His Words - The Bible.  Our own personal love letter from ABBA.


I think about all the blood, sweat, tears, joy, sacrifices, which came about from giving us this Gift.  And how often do we take it for granted?  How often do we not make it a priority to absorb in our daily walk?  When I used to clean homes, a client had a large coffee table Bible sitting on a table in their upper family room.  One day it was in their downstairs living area and I was excited thinking that someone had actually opened it up and read The Word.  My client was upset that it had been moved and asked me to put it back.  It was the only Bible I ever saw in that home.  I was the only one, except that one time, who touched it - and that was to keep it dusted. 


His Word - our promise to receive Wisdom as we absorb it.  His Word - is it what you base your counsel on?  Counsel from your own self?  When you go to others for advice, comfort, encouragement, accountability, is their counsel based in His Word?  Are you striving to become Chistlike - example after example given to us through His Word, or are you emulating another human instead?
  

"Pure Healthy" - 06/20/14 - Ecclesiastes 7-12

"Oh, how sweet the light of day, And how wonderful to live in the sunshine!  Even if you live a long time, don't take a single day for granted. Take delight in each light-filled hour" (11:7-8)




Although I love the work He has blessed me with (I do so delight working out in His nature), I love even more delighting in living in a life drenched in His Sonshine - each and every "Sonlight" filled moment.  Praying you are intimate with Him.  That you will look up and feel Him cover you inside and out with His wonderful, marvelous, glorious, Awesome Sonshine. 


The Cross gave us access to our ABBA. 


No need for sunblock - His Sonshine is guaranteed to be cleansing in all ways.  Purifies you of any cancers, won't burn you to a crisp - only causes healthy, fruit producing growth.  Love how He has opened my eyes to be thankful for each and every day - not taking life for granted. 

Prioritizing - 06/19/14 - Ecclesiastes 1-6

We work to feed our appetites; Meanwhile our souls go hungry.(6:7)


Do you take time to "eat" of Him and His Word each day?  Is your time spent with Him a priority?  Daily?  Moment by moment? 


How I love taking time with Him each morning.  He causes me to be more aware of Him, His ways, my conversation is with Him all throughout my day.  I love how He feeds my soul.  Praying you enjoy your soul being fed - not only today - but for always. 

"Reflected" - 06/18/14 - Proverbs 27-29

"Your face mirrors your heart" (27:16)          

For the most part, I am pretty successful in avoiding my reflection in the mirror.  When I do stand before one, I am usually focusing on the hair, makeup, not my actual self. 

And those moments when I do actually look at me - it is with an overly critical eye. 

I am my worst enemy. 

Since having Adam, I have struggled with my weight.  Before that time, I was thin as a rail and could eat as much of anything I wanted, never gaining an ounce.  It seems I wore my metabolism out during my youth.  The other day I was organizing photos and realized there aren't too many of me.  Seems I am also pretty good about avoiding the camera.  These photos also made me wish I was as "fat" now as I was back then.  Because I am always comparing my body to before pregnancy, I am coming up fat.

And ugly.

"He who gains Wisdom, loves His own soul"(Proverbs 19:8)

To love me as He loves me.  The reason He wants me to do this, is when I do, nothing else matters.  "I" don't matter because all of me is LOVED.

Instead, there are oft times -  

I pick up "doubt".  I begin to view the inside/out of me from the perspective of the world or self.  Comparing, putting down, forgetting.  He created me.  He created all of me.  He created me in His image. 

I know until I die, I have chosen to become more like Christ with each breath I take.  I also know there will be times I fail - often in a big way.  But - who am I to say ugly.  Not perfect.  Not enough.

Who am I to not look at myself as He sees me. 

When looking at myself,  inside and out, I am looking through the distorted image from a sideshow funhouse. 

My ABBA doesn't see fat.  He doesn't see ugly.  He doesn't see flaws I pick out and focus on. 

He sees me as "His Beloved". 

He sees me through His Son. 

My Savior.

He sees my heart as one that is running after Him. 

"Passing On" - 06/11/14 - I Kings 5-6, 2 Chronicles 2-3

It took Solomon seven years to build it. (2 Kings 6:38)





I think about all the work, the time, the cost, the materials, the manpower, which went into the building of the temple.  Over the years, it was completely destroyed.  Everything that is manmade will one day be destroyed, no matter how elaborate.  How expensive.  How finely crafted.


Eternity.  Either in or out of our ABBA.


And that is all that really matters.

What do we take a lifetime building?  What are we passing on? 

"Rain Down Upon me" - 06/10/14 - Proverbs 22-24

 Listen carefully to My Wisdom; take to heart what I can teach you. You'll treasure Its sweetness deep within; (22:17)


Today is one of those days when it is easy to "be still and know I am God"(Psalm 46:10).


I am sitting here with the windows open, able to hear His Voice in His nature.  His water is gurgling through the downspouts, the mournful call of the doves drift in and out amongst the sound of rain, gently falling to the earth.  The tree frogs are singing in joy, different songs flow from the mouths of birds.  His cool, refreshing breeze comes in and touches my senses.  How I love the clean smell of Him. 


I receive the peace and joy in the gift of His Word as the earth receives nourishment through His rains.  How He rains down upon me - Him.  How my heart opens up and receives - Him. 


"Treasuring His sweetness deep within".

"Lady Wisdom" - 06/05/14 - Proverbs 7-9

It's through me, Lady Wisdom, that your life deepens, and the years of your life ripen.  Live wisely and wisdom will permeate your life (9:11-12)


It was while sitting in the service, the casket in the front of the room, hearing the words of the minister, this feeling came over me and hasn't left.  It was another moment of a vivid reminder all of us will die. 


And how am I using my life?  What will I be leaving behind? 


What will be my legacy?


"your life deepens"


"and the years of your life ripen" 


"will permeate your life"


I love these words.  Knowing through His Love Letter, The Bible, we receive the gift of Wisdom.  I love how He has given me the true drink of living.  How He has quenched my thirst, and no longer am I wandering on this journey, but headed with purpose on the path to Him.  With Him. 


Although I didn't know Gerald Sill aside from a few short conversations, I do know His fruits.  And in them I see the delight of life, even through the sorrows, it shows in their smiles.  Smiles which come from their hearts, light up their eyes, and spread joy to those around them.  I sat and listened to the words of the man he was as a husband and dad, and know he has left them with many treasured memories and tools to go through life. 


Yesterday I came away with questions of what kind of woman am I.  What memories and tools am I handing down.  Do I delight in life?  Does my fruit show this too? 


I came away knowing my ABBA is my Father.  The perfect Father.  He has given me the gift of Wisdom - one of the many perfect tools. 


What a legacy He has given me. 
(Psalm 34:7)

"Aging" - 06/01/14 - Psalm 119:89-176

I see the limits to everything human, but the horizons can't contain your commands! (96)



It took me over an hour to dig up six large plants before Curt got home yesterday and finished up the rest within half an hour.  It is so frustrating not having the strength to do things.  Thankfully, we have machines I am able to use for most things and know I will be utilizing the uniloader shortly!

Amazing how quickly my body has weakened and aged in just the past five years.  Here it is the following afternoon and I am still aching all over from the muscles I was putting to use yesterday.  From the moment we are conceived we begin to die.  Our earthly bodies wear out, yet continually in Him, He is growing our souls and minds.  


I love knowing life is so much more than our earthly bodies.  More than being human.  I love knowing my ABBA is beyond my limited thought process and I am His. 


In Him there are no limits - only eternity!