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| The Thinker, Auguste Rodin |
Thinking is good. It's how we formulate good ideas.....but then we must seek God and ask for His help. I must remember not to give up but to keep on knocking at His door.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Monday, June 29, 2015
Train A Child
When our children were young we took them to an Amish settlement in Pennsylvania and toured one of the museums about their culture. Our son tried on a boy's hat and sat in the "school room". I love that the Amish feel it's their duty to teach their children about God in addition to what they learn in their Amish schools about Him. But even more importantly, their whole community models the Christian walk by the way they conduct themselves. The rest of us have to deal with the outside influence of our modern secular society. It is more important than ever to actually train our children in the ways of the Lord and not leave it just to Sunday School teachers once a week.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Read To Succeed
Ecclesiates seems to be saying that just trying harder at what you're doing isn't going to get you anywhere if what you've been doing isn't working. Instead we must gain wisdom on how to do something in order to succeed and the way to do that is to educate ourselves. I liken it to learning to play the dulcimer. I can practice all day long, but if I don't know where to put my fingers to make the right chord for the song, it won't sound anything like the song is meant to sound.
When it comes to living a Godly life God's word is our first course of study because it contains His plan for us. I spent a year reading the entire Bible back in the 1980's. I knew I would not remember everything I read, but I figured if I could just get it all into my brain, it would be there for the Holy Spirit to draw forth when He spoke to me. In a world that runs on this very premise of data collection and retrieval (the computer) I don't understand why more Christians haven't read all of God's written word. It's a resource we dare not neglect if we're going to negotiate this world's lies and deceptions.
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Jesus Will Return
In John 14:1 when Jesus says he goes to prepare for me and will return to take me there when the time comes I am reminded of my own preparations for having children. First, I spent years working and saving so we'd have a downpayment to buy a townhouse with a small backyard. We were able to do this by living on Ken's income and saving mine. This also would enable me to stay home full-time with my children since we were not dependent on my income. I was preparing not only the house but the home I longed to give my children. Second, when the time finally came I prepared the bedroom for our baby and made the rest of the house safe for a toddler. Eventually we moved to a larger home and yard as we planned for more children and the more laid-back community we desired for them. I can't begin to imagine what Jesus is preparing for my homecoming!
Friday, June 26, 2015
Forgive Their Trespasses
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| This is Poetry with her claws out as she "plays" with Gabriel |
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| This is Gabriel licking his scratched nose |
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| All is forgiven |
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Keep Yourself Humble
One of the ways a dog shows he's submitting to another dog is to expose his belly. He is saying to the other dog that he is not a threat and aggression isn't necessary on the part of the other dog. This is how the handshake between men began. To extend the hand you'd use to hold your sword would show that you mean no harm. But humility is more than just an outward show of submission. It is a "modest view of oneself" that says to God that He is greater, but more importantly, I believe, allows me to call upon Him for all my needs.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Put Away Idols
In wondering how we might worship idols today since we don't tend to make golden calves anymore, I thought about the grand cathedrals man has built to the "glory of God." Perhaps they meant well, and the edifices are a thing of beauty, but I wonder if they really bring man closer to God in a permanent way or serve Him in the way that matters most to Him.
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