Graves' This and That

  Because of fear of the Midianites who had robbed the Israelites many times as they threshed their wheat on their threshing floors, Gideon chose to be in hiding and thresh his wheat in the winepress.  Numbers 6:11 King David was told to go to Araunah the Jebusite who owned a threshing floor and "raise an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor".  2 Samuel 24:24 Later, the threshing floor is called Mount Moriah where King Solomon was instructed to build the house of God. 2 Chronicles 3:1.   In Matthew 3:12, John the Baptist says of Jesus, "His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."  The threshing floor was located near the village at a higher place where the winds would be helpful to winnow the wheat or barley grains.  Threshing sledges were tools that had stones or iron fragments fastened to the under side of the sledge. The sledge was used

As I study the armor of God that He has provided for us as soldiers in warfare from Ephesians 6, I take notice that in order for me to remain strong and experience His strength, I must PUT ON the whole armor of God.  The command is the putting on of the WHOLE armor, not just a part that I may want to put on as if I was choosing a certain dress for the day or an accessory for it.  The command suggests a very intentional action on my part to put on the WHOLE armor.   He is even gracious enough to give us a reason to put on the whole armor...so that we may be able to stand.  We have a marvelous position and inheritance in Christ, and we must be willing to not give ground to the evil one.  We set our feet on that ground, that position provided because we are in relationship with HIM and HIS victory at Calvary and the empty tomb over sin and death.  We are reminded our enemy has an M/O...steal, destroy, and to kill or render ineffectual, inoperative, and wounded emotionally.  We stand our

Matthew 17:20 always challenges me.  The disciples asked why they could not cast the demon.  Jesus's reply to them, "Because of your little faith.  For truly, I say to you, If you have faith like a grain of mustard see, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there', and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."  I have experienced some mountains in my life.  Some of them, I helped to pile up the rocks, but then some have come because of the evil one's desire to steal, destroy, and to kill. The evil one desires to keep my eyes focused on the size of the mountain and how powerless I am, and of myself, I am! But in HIM..... While reading Isaiah 41:15-16, God's Word by way of Isaiah to Israel, "Behold I make you a threshing sledge, new, sharp, and having teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hill like chaff; you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and you shall rejoice in

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." 2 Cor.9:8 I am finishing up my readings through the Bible and I am in Deuteronomy 31.  Moses is being prepped by God to die and to hand the leadership baton to Joshua.  From Genesis 1 through now, 2015, God has faithfully loved, been fully committed to, and sacrificially given to a people who from His perfect knowledge, from the beginning knew that our hearts would go "whoring" after foreign gods and forsake the covenant He has made with us.  We, who are God's highest creation, would choose to bow our necks, harden our hearts, and put His Word behind our backs.  I find this so difficult to comprehend about us human creatures!  What is even more of a consternation is the perfect love and grace from God in response to our evil foolishness.  Yes, even in grace, He corrects, child-trains, and allows consequences to restor

I am not sure, but I think that one of the evil spirits of the "thief, killer, destroyer" must be anxiety.  Over the decades, I have found that anxiety does not sleep alone...it has many lovers that it gathers around it for reinforcement and ultimate brutal assaults.  Ole spirits of unbelief, doubt, dismay, discouragement, and disappointment work in sync to insure the quality of the spirit life.  Tragically, other spirits rally to give aid to be sure the spirit life is stunted...blame, shame, accusation, condemnation, cynicism, and the ultimate, hopelessness!  I hear the words of dear Apostle Paul, "Oh wretched man that I am!"  Reminder whom Christ has set free is FREE INDEED! A German word for anxiety is strangle/choke.  I confess as Scripture teaches in Matthew 13:18-23 in the parable of the soils, " but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and it proves unfruitful" is truth which I have experienced. This week, I had

In these days of threats, atrocities, "loose cannon mentalities", and terrors, I wonder if we recognize who our real enemy is.  We may think it is an evil mindset and evil ideology, and it is, yet who is the guiding power of such?  I run to Ephesians 6 and God's reminder to us from Paul, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." These are the empowerings of the evils which are being perpetrated all around us, regardless of where we live.   As Christ followers, we have spiritual weapons, and it is HIGH time that we stop naval gazing and take our stance in prayer.  We do have divine power to pull down strongholds, every mentality that raises itself against the knowledge of God.  Am I willing to bombard the heavens and cry out for mercy and STAND in faith?  This certainly is an evil day...as it

In reading the Old Testament, I see the admonitions to stand firmly in faith.  Every nation that came into Israel and Judah practiced their religion.  Tragically, Israel and Judah did not stand firmly in faith of God's promises to them.  They chose to blend in with the religious activities which were not of the LORD GOD.   Isaiah was sent by God to King Ahaz who was of the line of David, to remind him to stand firm in faith or he would not stand at all.  Ahaz chose to make alliances with other nations to protect Judah from Syria and Israel.  He would not trust in God's Word  given to him by way of Isaiah.   Whom all and what all have we as Americans and even some of us who claim to be Christ followers put our trust for protection, for needs met, for assurances, or for financial profit and expediency?  The year is 740 BC and the words were spoken by Isaiah, "...If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all."  (Isaiah 7:9 c,d)  Here we are in 2015, the w

This title is a statement of Lysa Terkeurst from First 5, a quickie digital interactive devotional.  Ho, how I can identify with this statement.  I certainly did not come to that realization during the painful process though.  Lysa's statement is truly one of the faith's stances that one has to take if he/she is going to be victorious in the faith walk that God has assigned us.      During my painful faith walk, my thought about "good" meant more of a "happily ever after".  How is that for foolish?  I wrestled with God...my wrestle not His, over Romans 8:28 and the word, good.  In the process of it being good, I felt robbed, felt like a mere pawn on the chessboard of life, and felt unloved.  I could not reconcile good with all of the pain that I felt and even the TRUTHS that I did know from Scripture.  As I hunkered down in the Word, and began to be more desperate for a deepening relationship with Father God, my heart could begin to see the good whether I

I well remember holding baby boys closely, rocking, and singing to them as a part of the nightly regimen, and especially while taking the last bottle for the night.  Many times, I sang with them as they rocked in their rocking chair or even fell on all fours, and rocked back and forth.  Because I am not very creative, I used the same song, but changed the name to fit the son.   Reading through Zephaniah, I always love verse 17 from chapter 3.  It always amazes me that God, Sovereign of Heaven and Earth, Glorious, and Majestic would simply sing over me!  I thrill at the fact that He is in my midst, that His love quiets me, and that He rejoices over me...GRACE, but to just imagine in my mind's eye that He hovers over me or maybe sits beside me in the night and sings over me.  I can't help but wonder, what song does He sing over me?   I understand that in context, this was a promise to Jerusalem, and yet, the same love and care is shown toward those who are His: adopted daught

Pride is so seductive, secretive, and at times, subtle.  It shows up outwardly as inferiority, insecurity, sometimes bashfulness, timidity, or fearful.  We give it several names as it outward flashes like a neon sign.  It often poses as a mere weakness or frailty, but the real culprit is PRIDE.  We seek to control, conquer, complete, compare, and connive.  When any behavior, attitude, or thoughts gives off the aroma of  "it is all about me, my feelings, my hurts, my expectations of others, my thoughts, my behavior when I asked to account for my words  and am offended", yulp, PRIDE as again reared its ugly head and is ready to build a beachhead in my heart or mind.   Especially today, I was reading in 2 Chronicles 26 about King Uzziah and how he had a heart to please the Lord,  and the Lord even blessed and prospered him.  When he was strong, Scripture records in verse sixteen, he grew proud, to his destruction.  He even became unfaithful to the Lord, entered the temple of t

As I read Acts 4-5, I wondered as I eyed the phrase "and great grace was upon them all", what would that look like?  The passage does give some hints:  of those who believed were of one heart and soul and even as they looked at their belongings, they claimed nothing as their own but had everything in common.  What an attitude!  Out of that attitude, they were willing to give and then needs were met when distributed among the people. Tragically, our culture encourages us to look at our belongings, hold them closely to ourselves in closets, storage even air-conditioned sheds, bank vaults, etc and seek to get more and more!  If that same attitude of being of "one heart and one soul" (kardia: the seat and center of human life) as a Christ follower was practiced first by myself, would that be infectious enough to draw hearts to be willing to hear about the Lord Jesus and give validity about what I am sharing?  To be of one heart and one soul suggests that I not be doub

The Oregon events are a mirror of the events that have taken place multitudinous times throughout this new century on school campuses, college campuses, in churches, and in homes in the USA.  These practices have occurred in the nations throughout the world also. As a parent, what are we missing in the lives of our son or daughter that we are shocked and wounded when lives are taken by the choice of the son or daughter and we do not even know their hearts?  Are they so distanced from us that we are unaware of their pain, their questionings, or their separation from us emotionally?  I wonder when does the estrangement take place?  Over a period of time?  An immediate decision?  Being a retired teacher, I know their is some brokenness in education and in us teachers, but we cannot bridge the gap which is there in the home, the environment where the child is supposed to thrive mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  I am shocked what is NOT taught and modeled in the home an

As I read Jonah this morning, I am amazed at his blatant and obvious rebellion thinking that he could find a place away from the presence of the LORD.  He was very determined not to give mercy, grace, and the great news to Nineveh that God was going to judge them and that they could repent and receive mercy and grace from God.   I thought what are some ways that we have a tendency to think that we can go away from the presence of the LORD?  Sometimes, the running away is not always as obvious as Jonah's distance.  Can the going away from the presence of God manifest in the thought life and to run away be vicarious ?  The going from God's presence in the mind only?  How long to entertain the thought?  At what point is there recognition of the sin of rebellion?  It seems that Jonah was experiencing a duplicitous/double-souled mindset:  that he could run from God and yet profess that he feared the LORD, God of heaven.  How often do we seek to speak one mindset, yet inwardly &quo

"Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being" is a phrase from King David's penitent prayer in Psalm 51.  Truth is a large umbrella which includes numerous synonyms: honesty, integrity, verity, and veracity which are but a few.  I also sense that lying, dishonesty, deceit, betrayal, pretense are some antonyms for truth.  My authentic identity must be who I am in Christ.  In Christ, my inward and my outward self must be in alignment with who Christ says I am.  If there is deceit or any character flaw/sin which steers me from the Truth of what God says about me, then I must allow the Holy Spirit to discipline and teach me.  I must agree with God that any behavior which causes me to sin is against Him and against the truth in my inward being. I cannot afford to be nonchalent about my sin because the CROSS is the price Christ endured for my sin.  Any sin which we choose to practice numerous times in a "go to" situation becomes a stronghold for the evil one. 

All of us have a default mechanism when we are fearful.  I see in Genesis, that Abraham's "go to" response was lying and deceit in instances with two rulers: Pharoah and Abimeleck.  Fear is so unruly for it gathers other negative fruit with it: unhealthy anger, stress, insecurity, blame, shame, doubt, dismay, discouragement, hopelessness, and the list continues.   Like Abraham, in the past, I defaulted to unhealthy anger which kept me focused on the problem rather than encouraging me toward proactivity.  Ephesians 6: 16 has become my new default:  "In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one."   What a PROMISE!  I love the "all".  The flaming darts are sometimes of my own work and always helped along with the taunts of the evil one.  Even though at Calvary, his weapons were take from him and he was shamed, I find that if he has a weapon, more than likely, I have spoken it and

I cannot even imagine but Scripture says that silver was a very common metal in use by Solomon.  He also had a throne overlaid with gold.  This is way beyond, in fact more like out of the galaxy mentality of where I live.  Solomon uses silver and gold in comparisons in many of his Proverbs.   "The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise." Just reading this pushed me to the Internet to find out about the smelting of silver and gold.  The extreme heat has been used in the smelting of silver and gold since around 6000-3000 BC.  Today, silver is heated to 1,763 degrees F to melt it and gold melts at 1,943 degrees F.  In the smelting process, impurities of dross which is a lighter by-product floats to the top while slag is heavier and sinks to the bottom of the crucible in the process.  Both are impurities and of little if any value.   The heart is tested by the praise that we receive....silver, gold, dross, or slag?  I desire tha

I hear that being a first and an only child has some assigned mindsets:  problem solver, get it done, and do it right....just to name a few.  Now that I have gotten older, I know that the real assignment, regardless of age or birth order in the family,  is "WAIT FOR THE LORD"!  The examples of impatience are myriad throughout Scripture and Sarah seems to have been the most far-reaching of models that comes to my mind.   As I enter my War room, I look over my prayer list of names for whom I am interceding and my personal requests, and the old taunt is whispered by the Evil one and even my own impatience, "LORD, I have been praying these____ years!"  Just betcha that was Sarah's mummer after 25 years of waiting for a promised child, and here we are seeing the manifestation of her impatience.  The choice is mine:  Will I honor God and wait upon Him or will I barrel ahead and take care of it...foolish thinking.  I have worsened an item that I "took care of&qu

Joel was a herdsman and a caretaker of fig trees and the Lord chose Joel to speak to His people, Israel.  This is a great reminder that God moves among us pew sitters to raise us up and to speak His truth.  We druther leave the responsibility to the pros on staff because we have a tendency to ignore that we also are on mission.  We are ministers of reconciliation to our traffic pattern about us.  Joel had a word for Israel and it is so apropos for today, "Behold the days are coming," declares the LORD GOD, "when I will send a famine on the land...a famine of hearing the words of the LORD."    With all of our marvelous technology toys, especially our phones, we spend hours talking, writing texts, checking messages, and writing emails.  I wonder what is the percentage of our hearing what has been said or written?  I wonder what is our response to what we read, have said to us, or said to another?  I have left a classroom from full time teaching and I find it challen

I love the Old Testament because it is full of stories of real and frail humans just like me.  Each year, I choose to read through the Bible, and the same dread slowly comes as I read of King David and then his son, King Solomon.  How grateful I am that God's reputation can handle the likes of us who desire to be Christ followers, yet at times, we fumble, stumble, and maybe limp along. Truly, we are more flawed than we realize!  I grieve as I read of David's frailties, even though a man after God's own heart....disobedience with Bathsheba and his weaknesses in rearing his boys.  I sense that he was able to recoup and finish well, but I also sense he was bruised and bore some scars from the rebellion of his sons and of himself.  I see Solomon,one of his sons, who had the heart of obedience and desired to follow the LORD, at least in the beginning of his reign.  As the narrative moves along, he has disobeyed the LORD in regard to pagan wives who helped to steal his heart fr

In Scripture, strongholds can be a safe place if Jesus has provided it as a refuge.  However, I also know that a stronghold can denote that secret place in the mind and heart that  has thick walls to isolate, a door of bronze to keep intruders out, and bars of iron to protect it.  What is it that is enclosed within which causes one to isolate, post a keep out sign, and protect?   We are encouraged to look inward to check our integrity.  What about our mindset of assumptions?  Our presumptions?  Our mullings?  Our opinions?  Our reasonings?  Our analyzings?  Our guesses?  Are they raised up against the TRUTH of what God has said?  Do we act upon them?  Are we willing to frisk them for TRUTH?  Are we willing to take preemptive strikes on them before they come tumbling out of the mouth or become actions?  As I look inward, I am appalled at how skewed my thoughts can be.  They sound so savvy, so correct, and are common sense, but also can be so deceitful that I am blindsided when brought

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is Isaiah 36.  Judah is under attack and is surrounded by Sennacherib, king of Assyria's troops.  He sends a high officer of his army to speak to the leaders of Jerusalem.  His question, "On what do you rest this trust of yours?"  Judah has rebelled against Assyria and refused to pay what she owed to Assyria as a vassal country. Assyria has already come against the fortified cities of Judah and has overtaken them.  The high officer, Rabshakeh, begins to taunt and pour out lies on the feeble leaders of Jerusalem.  When hearing the news from his leaders, King Hezekiah is terrified and goes to the "house of the LORD". He wisely sends his wise representatives to Isaiah for a word from the LORD.  Isaiah assures the representatives that the LORD has said that he will put a spirit in the king and he will hear a rumor and return to his own land.  Of course the Rabshakeh returns for an answer with the same taunts.  King Hezekiah

That phrase, I, I am He is a strong reminder of the I AM in Genesis and all the I AM in the gospel of John.  In context, Isaiah is reminding Israel that the LORD GOD is their only Savior.  They, like us, have trusted their idols: their finances, their government, their abilities, their intelligence, personalities, position, and their power for deliverance and security.  God speaks and states very flatly, "Your have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities."  Isaiah is that voice crying out to the nation there is no savior but God.  There is no new word for us, we have no savior but the Lord Jesus.   LORD GOD speaks explicitly, "I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins."  (Isaiah 43:25)  In the dark ages, I well remember the ink pen and the small container of liquid that could be used to blot out a written mistake.  Of course, you always smelled like Clorox also.  Yet the mistake was

Forever?  Endlessly, at all times, and eternity are synonyms for the word.  In our world where everything is subject to the law of entropy...the grass withering and the flower fading. (Isaiah 40:8) I am enamored with the Truth that God's word will stand endlessly, at all times, and eternity. The word is not subject to the law of entropy.  It does not waver as the winds of trend and culture blow and even push against it.  It firmly stands.  The psalmist reminds us the the LORD will honor His name and His Word.  He speaks of the word being forever settled in the Heavens  That is security!   As the winds of doubt, dismay, and discouragement come against me, I can set my feet and my mind, and speak the Truth which encourages and strengthens.  Just know, it is NOT a one time process because satan  addresses me with his taunts, "Has God said?"  I must raise that banner over and over again...God's Word stands!   Be encouraged and stand because the fight is always on!  Th

In Isaiah 30, Isaiah is pleading with Israel to not run to Egypt for her protection and security with the onslaught of her enemies.  How like us, always running here and there wanting a place to hide, running here and there to a person for protection, and running here and there hoping to find something that will give security.  At times, we are even willing to settle for compromise with the Truth of God's Word which will not bring security or protection. Tragically, we flaunt the Truth of God's Word and add presumption with the excuse that there is grace.   The 15th-16th verses: LORD God the Holy One of Israel speaks, "In returning (withdrawal) and rest you shall be saved; in quietness (undisturbed) and in trust (confidence) shall be your strength (valor, bravery, might)"  TAKE NOTE THE NEXT PHRASE: "But you were unwilling, and you said, 'No! We will flee upon horses; there you shall flee away, and 'We will ride upon swift steeds'; therefore your pu

Fear is one of my greatest enemies.  I have had ongoing warfare with that mindset/fraility/stronghold/sin.  I have enjoyed great freedom from fear, yet it continues to be a battling process. Isaiah  was being fearful in chapter 8 because of God's judgment that was coming upon Judah.  God spoke to Isaiah, and Isaiah included this phrase, with His strong hand upon me and warned me not to walk like the people of Judah who were walking in deception to what they saw and heard.  I love God's rhema (God's word for a specific situation) to Isaiah, "But the LORD of hosts, Him you shall honor as holy.  Let Him be your fear, and let him be your dread."  (Isaiah 8:13)  This was my much-needed rhema for today from the LORD.  There are some pressing mountains, to which I have already spoken, even with my mustard seed faith, and I am grateful for that encouraging word as I had specifically asked the LORD to speak.  Praise You, LORD, and I choose to remain firm in my faith. 

My experience with prayer has confirmed the thought that has hung around in my head:  Prayer is Warfare.  I have also noted that as part of the armor of the soldier, prayer is included as a weapon.  Ephesians 6:18 prompts me to pray all the time in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication.  No walls, no do not enter, and no do not trespass signs to block or to deter my entrance into HIS presence to stand in the gap for my families, friends, and nations.  It was said of the tribe of Issachar that they understood the time in which they were living and knew what Israel ought to do, I Chronicles 12:32. We are living in perilous times, and as Christ followers, it is time to hit our knees!  We cannot continue to be apathetic, disengaged, and weary.  Hopefully, we are understanding that the culture, our government, our economy, and our nation can not provide the security, peace, or provision that are afforded us in Christ Jesus.   Make up your lists of people, things, nations for whom to

I am thoroughly convinced that Psalm 107:16 "For He shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron" could be referencing our strongholds of opinions, analyzings, thoughts, rationales, taunts we have received as truth, embedded fears that we have constructed deep walls around, mindsets of failure...endless lists.  We are admonished to destroy arguments and EVERY lofty opinion raised up against the TRUTH of God and we are to take the lies captive to obey Christ. (2 Cor. 10:4-5)  A friend gave the picture of gathering up the garbage/lies and setting THEM at the curb for the garbage man to pick up.  Occasionally, I will go out to the curb and go through that trash and retrieve a lie.  As I reclaim that lie, whatever its form, I am learning to choose to replace it with Truth from God's Word., and put it back at the curb for the next trip of the garbage man to retrieve.   Gratefully, I praise God for His power to shatter the door of bronze to the stronghold and

How I identify and so appreciate the psalmist!  His transparency, his whines, his valid complaints, his doubts, his fears, and most of all, his joys and praises.  Occasionally, I can identify with dear Jeremiah as I wade through some of his heartbreaking cries of gloom and despair.  I delight in the treasures found throughout the Word of God which spur my courage. During the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, the Lord instructs Jeremiah to buy a field in his home town, Anathoth.  Amazing, he did not waver at the instruction and he bought the land from his uncle, the owner.  He then is instructed to take the deeds and put them in an earthenware vessel for safekeeping.  More importantly, God gives him the promise: "Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land."  In prayer, Jeremiah first praises God for His great power and then includes,  the statement, "Nothing is too hard for you."  Jeremiah reports his obedience of buying the land and g

This morning, I am reading in the book of Numbers.  God continues to be gracious and merciful to a bunch of stubborn knot heads, not too unlike me at times.  The people have grumbled against Moses and Aaron, again.  Weary of their grumbling and unbelief, God spoke, "Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." Moses directs Aaron to take his censer, put fire in it from the altar, lay incense on it then take it to the congregation and make atonement for the people.  Aaron performed as directed, standing between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped.  Some 14,700 died because of their unbelief, rebellion, and disobedience.   Lord God, thank you for Moses and Aaron who stood in the gap.  They stood between the living and the dead.I intercede today for those who are living but are dead inwardly to the wooing of the Spirit of the living God. Lord, they have no resources of their own, and I appeal to you for their hearts and li

Ezekiel 37 is one of my favs.  As I look at an opportunity before me, I hear that this group is dead.  I have quickly run to this chapter to hear the Spirit of God speak.   Ezekiel sat in the valley and looked about himself, and all he saw was bones.  Interesting that the Spirit of God asked Ezekiel if these bones could live.  As I think about where I am going to be today, and hearing of the group of dead bones, I hear the Spirit of God, asking me, "Can these bones live?"  My reply is the same as Ezekiel, "O Lord God you know." Right now as I am praying in my War Room, I bring this group to you, the only way that this group can live is if YOU breathe Spirit life into them.   Tragically deadness comes slowly, much like the frog in the water that is heating...alive and then as the water heats up, death comes.  The cares of this world cause deadness.  First glancing at cares, then gazing at cares, and then focus on them rather than then fixing our eyes on Jesus who

I wonder who the "they" were to whom Jesus spoke in John 11: 44 as Lazarus hobbled out of the tomb bound hands and feet with linen strips.  Even his face was wrapped with a cloth.  I wonder how did the "they" feel as they unbound him and were they totally amazed at what they had just witnessed and even touched with their hands in the untying? My wonderment moves to the power of our weapon, prayer, as we make our lists of loved ones, family and friends who are still bound with lies of the evil one.  I identify with the concept of the War Room.  The room where I choose to enter daily is where I enter HIS throne room and at HIS footstool, I not only want to praise and worship HIM, but it is also where I plead for the release of the captives to the lies which satan and culture have bound hearts of those for whom I  care very deeply.  Romans 8:2, "For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."  We have that

I love the word picture of the general leading a procession of the captives and all the spoils of war.  Because of Calvary, thanks be to God, Christ always leads us in triumphal procession.  I have to admit that the always term is not how it feels at times.  There are times, I feel liked I am being marched on and over, and it ain't no parade either!   Aren't feelings such liars?  At times, my feelings are certainly prejudiced and so blind to God's perspective and His Truth.  Regardless of what the activity looks like or even feels like, the Holy Spirit has spoken through Paul, that I am always lead in triumphal procession and that the procession will spread a fragrance of the knowledge of Him EVERYWHERE.  I can imagine the spectators as they watch the activity, the good, the bad, and the ugly of my life, and I also can smell the fragrance or the stench as I am showing forth my witness that I know Him personally. Thank you Father that even in my failures, YOU are leading m

Does anyone else hate stoplights beside me?  I know how important they are for safety and traffic flow, but I need something to do while I wait.  Our traffic lights are lengthy because of the heavy flow of traffic and I just know that I could be more purposeful in the waiting.  I guess you get it.....I am impatient!  Go ahead and have pity for the children I reared, the deceased husband, the living husband, and the guys and girls that I attempted to teach in my 15 years in the classroom.  I know that the Holy Spirit has had His eye on me to teach me patience and perseverance.  Although I love Psalm 102:2d, "answer me speedily in the day when I call!"  The psalmist was plagued with the same sin/imperfection/weakness that I see in my life.  Guess I could rationalize and blame first and only child position, type A personality, however the real deal is I want to take charge;  I want to fix it;  I want to get it done and finished; and I am ready to move on to the next challenge.

I always appreciate King Solomon's wisdom although he did not always choose to employ the wonderful gift that he was given.  Today, in light of the world's wisdom which seeks to impress, oppress, and take captives, I adhere to the Truth: "The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thoughts to his steps.  One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless." Proverbs 14:15-16 Lord, I cry out for Your wisdom, Your discernment, and refuse to be held captive with unhealthy feelings, sentimentalism, and snippets of facts parading as Truth.  I refuse to grab hold of some popular information in the name of Biblical fact which has been imported to only one man and see it as TRUTH.  I refuse to be a simpleton.  We are told that if we lack wisdom, we can certainly ask of the Lord God who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to us.  James 1:5.   "The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, th

About 49 times in the Old Testament, the LORD is called a shield or my shield. The Hebrew word that is used is magan.   In checking out the term, I find that there are five words in the Old and New Testament used for shield: javelin, magen, buckler/tsinnah, shelet, and thureos.  Interestingly enough, in about 40 of these instances, when the Lord is called a shield or my shield, the term is buckler and can be shield-bearer.  The magen is caried by the archers.  They are usually constructed of wood and are overlaid with leather.  The oil is a preservative on the leather, plus the oil is possibly able to extinguish the fiery darts and arrows.   I Samuel 14, Jonathan, the son of King Saul, had an armor- bearer,  and in 1 Samuel 17:7,  one who carried Goliath's shield was a shield-bearer. In each case, Jonathan nor Goliath carried his own armor or weapon, it was carried by this one who went before each of them.  The armor-bearer was willing to sacrifice himself to protect his leader. 

This morning, I am in John 7-9 for my Mull time with the Lord.  Three chapters of repeated rejection of the Lord as Savior, Light, Son of God by the religious crowd who harassed, followed, and deceitfully sought to murder the Lord.  They witnessed the miracles of the Lord Jesus numerous times.  They were amazed at His teachings....they heard, but they were blinded by a self-righteous self-centered religious mindset that there was no ability to comprehend what they were seeing or hearing.  As I read, I have to painfully confess, that even though, I claimed to know Jesus as Lord, I have been blinded by self-righteousness at times. PRIDE is the most appropriate synonym for self-righteousness. This same mindset has been evidenced lately.   I have watched a friend who was very steeped in religion and in self to perhaps reject the opportunities to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.  It is painful to think of this one and to have seen over and over again the attempts to overcome self with re

As I read the Apostle Paul, I am always overwhelmed with his use of all's, everything, every, etc.  I see that Paul was an "all or nothing" Christ follower.  I have never seen an instance in his writings where he presents any grays or shallowness in his thinking.  Of course, there wouldn't be when the AUTHOR is the SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD guiding his thoughts and protecting HIS truths as the words filled the sacred scrolls.    What a model Paul has been throughout the ages.  It causes me to ask the Lord to raise up men and women who are willing to be consistently determined to live courageously and sacrificially in this present age where the culture has no standard or demarcation of righteousness and evil.  I often ask the Lord for models of Josephs, Daniels, Nehemiahs, Deborahs, and Esthers to permeate our government and influence the authorities in office, so I will add a Paul to challenge the mindset of this present age, also.     Thank you Father for being

We are pressed, almost smothered with the world's wisdom, understanding, and counsel.  If what the world has offered has been so advantageous to us, why have we seen such degradation of marriage, manhood, womanhood, sanctity of life, and abuse against the aged and helpless?  It seems the world's wisdom, understanding, and counsel are blown about by the winds of the culture and who thinks he/she is in control.  Being in control, like God, is certainly not a new concept.  Adam and Eve practiced the lie and it bought them loss. Losses: in relationships with one another and their children, loss of walking in the cool of the evening with the LORD GOD, loss of the Garden of Eden, loss of peace, loss of comfort, and losses of all that God had planned and purposed for them had they been willing to obey His admonition, "And the Lord commanded the man, saying, 'You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat,

I have a tendency to be a fretter-stewer.  Over my many years, I have had some victories and addressing fretting and stewing for what it is, SIN!  In one of my studies by Jennifer Rothschild, she mentioned that worry is from an old High German wurgen, meaning to strangle.   As I recall Matthew 13 and the parable of the seeds, I see from the text:  some seeds fell along the path, other seeds fell on rocky ground, other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them, and the last group of seeds fell on good soil and were productive. I noted that Jesus said of those seeds which fell among thorns,"but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful."   What a contrast, the seed which fell on good ground "yielded in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty" and in the case of the seeds which were choked out...they were unfruitful!  Zero! Zip! Zaid! Nada! I do have a choice to co

Thoughts are from the study of Jennifer Rothschild's Me, Myself and Lies , a Bible study that I just finished and will do this next 2-3 months with a friend to facilitate with some ladies.  Matthew 12:35, "A good man produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil man produces evil things from his storeroom of evil."  Storeroom in the Greek is thesauros , a treasure chest of words.  My thought-life is contained in a treasure chest, a thesauros.  In the fourth grade. we often used a Thesauras to find synonyms for trite words that we often use in writing.  My treasure chest is full of my musings, thoughts, reasonings, and opinions which can become my attitudes, then my actions.  Psalm104:34, May my meditation (musings/siach) be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the Lord."  I have to ask myself the challenging questions:  "Who am I thinking about?"  "What am I thinking about?"  "What am I willing to correct in my musings if they

I love the early mornings which is my time to settle into the Word of God.  My direction for today, Proverbs 17:3, "The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts."  Of course that sent me to my Bible dictionary once again to find out about the refining of silver and gold.  The goldsmith is the sorep in Hebrew.  May I capitalize SOREP and ask YOU, Mighty All-knowing God to continue the refining in me to remove the dross and the alloy from my life?   Thank the Lord that HE does the refining through afflictions, circumstances, and blessings.  Praise His Name that He removes in mercy and grace.  However, I am reminded by 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse up from all unrighteousness."  We are encouraged in Daniel 11:35 to inspect our motives, decisions, and our attitudes....to refine them/to allow the Spirit of God who resides within us to convict and to draw us to godly

I was tweeting my thought today from Proverbs 16:20, which is an encouragement and a blessing, when I saw the tweet by one of my favs, Tim Keller, “I am going to judge my circumstances by Jesus’ love, not Jesus’ love by my circumstances.” Far too often, I am staring at my circumstances, my mistake and mulling, "Father, I know that you love me, but sometimes, I don't feel so loved."  How is that for shallow, yet certainly transparent?  So my reply to all of my circumstances?  I will take up the shield of faith and will extinguish all the flaming darts, lies, and taunts of the evil one.  As the saying goes, "If the mouth is moving, he is lying."  Thank you Father that you are using my circumstances to conform me to the Image of the Lord Jesus.  I will trust you and I will also confess that I am not most comfortable or secure in these circumstances, but then, YOU have never sought me to be comfortable.  As I think of the Lord, not even a place to lay His head, an

If you have an idea on how to remove the hideous image, please let me know.  I have chased all over and can't seem to find that out.  Thanks.

I love Colossians 2:15:"HE disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him."  (My capitalization of He, Him, and His are my own.)  As I worked through this passage, I began to consider all of our armor which we are commanded to take put on and take up because of our "wrestle against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic power over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."  I especially focused on the shield of faith with which I can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one . As I considered that shield, I wondered what kind of shield and how was the shield used.  Good ole Bible dictionary gave me some enlightenment.  The large shield is the sinna(Hebrew) thureos (Greek).  It could cover the whole body.  It was carried by the heavily armed infantry.  The second shield was a smaller shield, magan, carried by archers.  It was constructed of wood or wicker

It is truly interesting and frightening what is assumed about Medicare!  Being a retired teacher, I can't have Dick's social security and my retirement.  I have to go back to Social Security to sign up for part B and to top it all off, I have never been given a card even and am on Dick's Medicare care number.  I could not sign up for B since I was employed by BISD until June 5.  Now I must get signed up post haste so I can get my retirement check in September.  Do you think the government will move that fast?  Well, HERE I am again, Lord for the zillionth time bombarding Your throne and trusting You to move government in my behalf.  I will stand in line Monday morning with some other hopefuls at Social Security. Thank you Father that according to Ephesians 1:21, "You are above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named in this age but also in the one to come."  Duh ta duh duh..drum roll for HIS MAJESTY, KING OF KINGS AND LORD

     We  have been praying toward August 25, 2015 for three years.  Here we are and we have loads of question marks to my questions because answers are slow in coming.  That simply, ha(!) means that I am not asking in the Father's will and purpose or asking amiss, or I in the process of perseverance which always demands patience and waiting on the Lord.  Oh my goodness!  In the fulness of time, He will make it known because He has promised to order my steps.  So I get to wait on Him and be of good cheer with my hope in Him.  There just does not seem to be any shortcuts to maturing in the Lord.  I might have chosen the tendency to look for another way, maybe an easier way, or maybe not even a way that God has purposed for me if I run ahead.  So as I wait and make efforts to be still and to trust, Lord, you just go ahead and show off and show out as You bring about Your purpose and Your plan for Dick and me.  By faith, I just applaud You, praise You, and give You thanks.  A very spec

 These weeks have been a time of fighting the good fight of faith.  I must learn to speak TRUTH to my default mindset.  It has been well developed and has been with me most of my life.  Now is the time to continue to practice a Truth mindset rather than the inferior  mindset which has been too well used.  I compare my mindset to a passage from Psalm 107:17, "For He shatters the doors of bronze and cuts into the bars of iron."  Mindsets can imprison or can be torn down by TRUTH a lot like the fortresses that we build up in the mind.  What a process, learning to take every thought (almost) to the obedience of Christ.   Holy Spirit, stand guard at my thought closet mindset and quickly tap me when the liar wants to whisper his garbage to me!  We are more than conquerors...HE says so!  

In accordance with Jeremiah 29:11, God still has a plan and a purpose for me.  As I am seeking His will, I desire to hear Him say from Isaiah 30:21, "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left." I have left the classroom professionally...I HATE the term, retired.  I am not finished.  I want to burn out like Caleb from fighting giants and taking fortified cities so he could settle where God had promised Him. My desires: Doing what delights Him and in turn will delight me, ministering Him to others, and providing a part-time income. I still have good health, a "good" mind (good is relative!), energies to minister, and time to do so.  I have left behind the 60-70 hour work week for my health, sanity, and being too far removed from 10 year olds!  So Father, thank you for giving me Your Best.

Presently, I am reading, summarizing, and mulling over Psalm 119.  This verse, "It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken."  It seems in my lifetime, HIS law has been broken by those HE has put in authority over us.  Father, my prayer is for mercy even though undeserved, and your grace which abounds even though sin is rampant.  I know that our sin choices even though legalized by law must grieve YOUR heart.  A phenomenal price was paid for our sin and deliverance, why do we choose to be enslaved by that which God has already given us boundaries and guidelines for our protection and peace of mind and heart? Thank you God that you hate all our sin regardless of the societal's name for it. "Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statues."  (the Divine Lawgiver has laid down). Holy Spirit of God teach me to hate the actions you hate and to love people whom you love!  Grace so amazing so divine demands my life, m

It seems that the Lord continues to insist that I wait upon HIM.  The privilege of the Sovereign!  I know that I have the passion of loving the Word of God and loving to disciple others but I wait for where and when He places me. So far my " retirement" seems like my usual summer. God provided by grace 11 years ago and if He has a place for me to minister, He will provide again.   Thank you, Father.

I have put a logo over my door which exits the house...Everyday holds the possibility of a miracle.  Of myself, I am spiritually bankrupt, weary, overwhelmed, and finite.  I am not sure if there is a word which expresses less than finite, but if there is, I am the most finite!  At the present, God is teaching me about seeing His activity in my life and my loved ones' lives from His perspective.  I get hung up on what I see, and I come away, devastated.  I have no resources of myself, nothing that commends, or affirms that I deserve because of who I am or what I have or haven't done.  As I look at my life, I am totally convinced that I am in need of HIS workings, miracles.  It is all Him and this flesh can NEVER glory, for HE is PROVIDER, PROTECTOR, SUSTAINER, FAITHFUL, MERCIFUL FATHER. I am eager for HIS hand to bring forth only that which is explained GOD has PREVAILED! Seated in the heavenlies with you, Lord and waiting eagerly to see the KAIROS that YOU have decided to show

I can't find anywhere in Scripture that retirement is found.  I hope to be like Caleb asking God for my mountain, and the Lord knows there have been a few that He has given the grace to climb.  I have invested eleven years in guys and girls at BISD.  I have been blessed, but now SEs needs a new fourth grade teacher full of spunk and be responsible enough to fulfill what needs to be accomplished.  I really desire to burn out the years I nave ahead delighting the Lord. Rusty, crusty, and crotchety are not adjectives I want to describe me....don't ask my present fourth graders though! Presently, I am recouping from the dreaded flu.  Thank goodness, the cough is lessening.  I do have a basso profundo voice that I am also ready to give up.