A phone call and confession

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A humbled conviction & lowly confession ... 

This evening my kids & I went to the laundry mat. Though tired, it was necessary. 

After we started some laundry I received a phone call from someone trying to set up an appointment. I've had several calls from this company. So, I tried filling in this lady as nicely as I could to save us both time without yet another "sales pitch". 

The more I spoke with her, mutual agitation grew. After a couple more attempts trying to help her understand the situation she decided to block out my voice and talk over me. I actually took a derogatory tone and let the woman go. 

As I continued with the laundry The Lord spoke to my heart. He said, "You don't know the life she lives, or what she's going through." I felt terrible for the way I responded to her! 

I noticed an onlooker there too. He gave me this look like, "wouldn't wanna mess with you." This only added to what The Lord continued speaking to me.  He said, "There is always someone watching. Him too, you don't know the life he lives." 

I stewed on these things our remaining time there. My kids were very helpful and pleasant. I was able to show them love unconditional, even in the short testing moments but 2 strangers were impacted by my reaction to a simple phone call. 

Before we left I humbly walked up to the man still there. I apologized to him for my tone on the phone. He smiled and said, "oh no, no no, it's ok." I replied, No, it's not ok. I shouldn't have spoken that way and you shouldn't have had to hear it, whether you were listening or not. He was surprised and seemed a little shocked that I would even approach him. 

Though I blew it with the woman on the phone, I hope The Lord used His gentle convicting of my heart to speak to the man present. 

Truth is, we don't know what others are going through or how they live. I don't know the purpose God had for the man who accepted my apologies, but let God's Will be done. In a sense it damaged my testimony unto Him, yet in another He reminded me of a great lesson. 

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16

Please pray for us and PLEASE Carefully consider your realm of influence, it's far greater than just those you know.

Break up that fallow ground

"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." Hosea 10:12

Fallow ground is hardened, unplowed and unseeded ground; it is undeveloped yet potentially useful. Can hardened ground accept seed or absorb water; much-less produce any fruit? 

Consider this in relation to our hearts. It is the Lord who must prepare us, tilling up what is hard and not useful. Are we willing to allow His blade to dig deep down, breaking up the unused parts that we may absorb His goodness, His Word and become saturated with His Living waters? 

In Jeremiah, the Lord is careful to instruct, "For thus saith the LORD... Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns." Jeremiah 4:3 

What's the difference, if the ground be tilled anyway? In the parable of the seed and the sower Jesus details the "thorns choke out the seed". It is their deep roots that spoil! 

It is time to seek the Lord, the days are dark and His return is upon us. Will we allow the breaking so that we may absorb, be nurtured, grow and reap in righteousness and mercy?

Oranges and the Armor of God

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Talking about the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-19) with the kiddos in Jr. church, some years ago; we did an experiment with oranges and water. 

I placed a whole unpeeled orange in a bowl of water. This orange represents us, in Christ, fully armed in Him and protected. This one when placed in the water, floated! Though it could be pushed down, it always rose back to the surface. 

Next, I peeled another orange. With each chunk of peeling that came off, represented a different piece of armor; not used. For example, from the top I took a chunk and said, "uh-oh, this one doesn't have a helmet of salvation. The battle always begins in our minds! This one was just told a lie and they BELIEVED it." And so it went with each piece. 

Then I placed the fully peeled & "unprotected" orange in the bowl of water, next to the unpeeled one. Guess what? The peeled orange sank! It didn't have the covering of Christ to grant every need to stand! 

With all that said, are you covered in Christ, fully clothed in the protective armor of God? Have you joined the Lord's army? Are you able to stand the "wiles" or tricks of the enemy?

Placed on a pedestal

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Have you ever placed someone on a pedestal? Sure, we all have. We may admire those who've accomplished much, carry much social stature, those who prosper, the knowledgeable and wise, those whom seem to have it all together and/or may seem more generous & kind. 

Maybe even placed yourself above others? Let us be cautious in our thoughts & actions. Keeping ourselves and our view of others in check & balance! 

"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Romans 12:3

"For there is no respect of persons with God." Romans 2:11 

The Creator views us all the same! Shouldn't we try to be more like Him and less like the world?

"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:45

I know your voice

My daughter & I were painting bedrooms one day. I gave her a small brush and showed her how to paint the trim above the baseboards.

She said, "Oh this is what my brother was learning the other day." (A friend of ours was teaching him) I laughingly said, yep and since you heard and saw him doing it, you should already know how." 

She paused a moment and said, "Well, I didn't really understand it until you told me because I know your voice." All I could do was giggle! 

The Lord did use her cute little phrase to speak to my heart as He reminded me of Jesus important words ...

"And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers." John 10:4-5

Not only do we, in Christ, have the Great Shepherd who leads us but we know His voice as well as His Spirit who abides within teaches us! 

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26

I love spending time with my daughter and I love how the Lord uses simple things as great reminders! I hope this has encouraged you as it has me! Stay blessed!

Private Thoughts?

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Private thoughts? There is nothing private or hidden in the sight of God.

"And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Genesis 6:5

"For I know their works and their thoughts..." Isaiah 66:18

"And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them." Ezekiel 11:5

Remember, there is nothing hidden from Him. Nothing! There's no such thing as keeping any kind of secret for any length of time from the Almighty God.

Even that which we think will be kept from others, is eventually made known.

Jesus said, "For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad." Luke 8:17

Again He says, "For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known." Luke 12:2

May we keep these truths in the forefront of our minds. What we think about, often produces action, whether to the good or to the bad. Are you guarding your heart and your mind?

The world is changing

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The world is changing!

Jesus said, "All these are the beginning of sorrows." Matthew 24:8 in the last days...

"For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled." Luke 21:22

He gave us many clues.

"And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."

Matthew 24:10,12

Did you know 'iniquity' means immoral or grossly unfair behavior? Have you noticed an increase in these things? 

Seems countless people are offended these days too over a variety of reasons, whether by rampant iniquity and the injustice that seems to parallel or because self is placed higher than others resulting in selfishness & hatred over genuine love and humility. 

No doubt the world is changing just as Jesus said it would. There are many other things happening that Jesus said would in Matthew 24 & Luke 21, I encourage you to prayerfully read each. 

Are we paying attention? Are we grounded in Christ Jesus so that His love supercedes and in seen in a generation that so desperately needs Him? Are we being His hands and feet as this world continues crumbling?