I was thirty minutes from home today at our auto repair shop, and a man who looked a little familiar walked in. He must have thought the same thing about me looking familiar, because he eventually asked me if my kids went to a certain school. More questioning and finally I thought, "He probably went to our former church." My husband and I both taught in the Wednesday night program for years, and surely our paths could have crossed there. Sure enough, that was it. I got his name, asked about his wife, and was sad to hear they had divorced. We had the same type of vehicle, so I remember talking to her about problems they were having with their van because we, too, had difficulties 'off the lot'. What I did not mention was my remembrance of him being very flirtatious back then and giving my co-teacher a flower one year. It came back to me that at some other point in the past, I'd learned they divorced.
I don't know why, but all I saw today was a broken man who was not nearly as he used to be. There was no flirtation whatsoever, just a man who doesn't see his kids enough and who lost it all. He served our country in one of the most respected branches of the military, and now he is working hard to start a company that would help others find employment. I think times are a little tough for him.
The Lord enabled me to remind this man how important his role as a father is to his children; that no man will influence them as he is. I also got to talk about the need for the gospel to be front and center in church...(that happened numerous times today with someone who also left our former church (this man left as well) and then someone else who still attends.)
The thing is, it can be so easy for a part-time parent to think they've lost their influencing power, but kids need their Dad, and children can be very forgiving--thinking of typical divorce situations. Even if the parent sinned and caused the trouble everyone saw, kids need and love their parents.
Seeing this man and how he has changed over the last 8 years reminded me that our actions will catch up with us. It can be easy to feel overly confident, exceedingly attractive or desirable, proud and full of life, but we have to remember God is watching and a day of reckoning will come. Don't trade your family and marriage for the thrill of a fresh encounter--be it a glance or a long stare of 'interest'. Game-playing can spiral out of control quickly, and marital fidelity is nothing to take lightly or tamper with. None of us are above temptation, and at times we may need to literally flee.
I felt this man needed so much more encouragement, and I pray God puts a man in his life, or a very old woman, to do that. He needs the wholeness and healing of Christ--which maybe he has and today was just a low day, but I don't think so.
Forgiveness
I spent the evening with the man who helped break up my parent's marriage. We've known each other for several decades. It is a complex situation.
What I've seen in this life is the terrible reaping that occurs when God's forgiveness is not accepted. Many understand 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.' At least the older generation does. In our pride we refuse to accept God's forgiveness, or often it is just not understood that Jesus Christ paid the price for all of our sins. We must come to Him in faith, however, and put on the new man: a person forgiven and set free, who longs to live a life pleasing to God. 'If we confess our sins He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.' That is a powerful truth. It says nothing of baptism, religious ceremonies or how we treat others. It is coming to God with nothing to offer and knowing it is only Him who can fix the mess of our state. His Sovereignty, His grace, His love. We love Him because He first loved us. As humans the Bible says 'there is none righteous, there is none that do good (meaning according to God's standards of a pure heart), there is none that seek after God.' He draws us to Himself and we must respond.
We're reconciled because of what Christ did on the cross at Calvary. The evidence of that reconciliation is good works done through the life of a believer. It is not the other way around, but sadly too many people don't believe that. The result of flipping the order is that sin continues to eat away at us. Good works done with the goal that we'll earn God's favor leave us still needy. They assuage our feelings of unworthiness superficially.
I can forgive the sins of the past. How many of us have not been sinned against or have not sinned against others? We think sinful thoughts and sin against God. We are born in sin, and then we choose to sin. Nothing we do can please God but simply accepting the way He has laid out for us to be reconciled to Him. Our own ideas or the ideas of some religion are not going to cut it, no matter how sincere.
God left us His word so that we could KNOW how to please Him. Will you take the time to find out?
www.gty.org
What I've seen in this life is the terrible reaping that occurs when God's forgiveness is not accepted. Many understand 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.' At least the older generation does. In our pride we refuse to accept God's forgiveness, or often it is just not understood that Jesus Christ paid the price for all of our sins. We must come to Him in faith, however, and put on the new man: a person forgiven and set free, who longs to live a life pleasing to God. 'If we confess our sins He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.' That is a powerful truth. It says nothing of baptism, religious ceremonies or how we treat others. It is coming to God with nothing to offer and knowing it is only Him who can fix the mess of our state. His Sovereignty, His grace, His love. We love Him because He first loved us. As humans the Bible says 'there is none righteous, there is none that do good (meaning according to God's standards of a pure heart), there is none that seek after God.' He draws us to Himself and we must respond.
We're reconciled because of what Christ did on the cross at Calvary. The evidence of that reconciliation is good works done through the life of a believer. It is not the other way around, but sadly too many people don't believe that. The result of flipping the order is that sin continues to eat away at us. Good works done with the goal that we'll earn God's favor leave us still needy. They assuage our feelings of unworthiness superficially.
I can forgive the sins of the past. How many of us have not been sinned against or have not sinned against others? We think sinful thoughts and sin against God. We are born in sin, and then we choose to sin. Nothing we do can please God but simply accepting the way He has laid out for us to be reconciled to Him. Our own ideas or the ideas of some religion are not going to cut it, no matter how sincere.
God left us His word so that we could KNOW how to please Him. Will you take the time to find out?
www.gty.org
There is One God
I was talking with a man I'd never met before today during a lengthy family event. The conversation stemmed from butter, to gardening, to politics, religion and education. It moved to everything in between. He was never at a loss for words. At one point he pulled out a membership card to an organization that he's been a part of for more than 42 years, proudly telling me how many orphans they have helped.
No doubt, the work is important.
As we talked about the lack of God in our culture, I worked to mention the importance of realizing God is not an idea that we have and we can't make Him out to be what we want, but we must go to the Bible to know God.
Sensing I was not of his religion, he quoted Hebrews to me about the importance of how we treat others for we may entertain angels unaware.
In that statement, because I know a good bit about his religion, I was faced afresh with the difficulty of penetrating the minds of those who think they are right with God, but who actually aren't according to what God says in His word.
What does God say about our good works? Are they good?
God says our good works are as filthy rags. Our works, done to make ourselves feel better or done to make others be impressed with us, are FILTHY RAGS. I've heard it said this is referring to menstrual rags...
We cannot please God with our own skills. We cannot outsmart God. We can come up with reasons based on circumstances in our lives that we say point to God's blessing our choices, but perhaps the point is to see the awesomeness of God and turn to Him. We can volunteer and do our best to fit in with fellow Christians and serve, but if our heart has not been made pure by Jesus Christ, our efforts are focused on self and not the King of Kings.
God, help us--help me be pure in heart so that my service is out of love for You and others--not to earn any favor, because I can't, but to be a witness of Your love in my life so that others will want to know You, too.
Those who are well do not need a physician, it is those who are sick who do. If you are trusting in anything other than Christ for salvation, according to Scripture, you are in need of a physician.
No doubt, the work is important.
As we talked about the lack of God in our culture, I worked to mention the importance of realizing God is not an idea that we have and we can't make Him out to be what we want, but we must go to the Bible to know God.
Sensing I was not of his religion, he quoted Hebrews to me about the importance of how we treat others for we may entertain angels unaware.
In that statement, because I know a good bit about his religion, I was faced afresh with the difficulty of penetrating the minds of those who think they are right with God, but who actually aren't according to what God says in His word.
What does God say about our good works? Are they good?
God says our good works are as filthy rags. Our works, done to make ourselves feel better or done to make others be impressed with us, are FILTHY RAGS. I've heard it said this is referring to menstrual rags...
We cannot please God with our own skills. We cannot outsmart God. We can come up with reasons based on circumstances in our lives that we say point to God's blessing our choices, but perhaps the point is to see the awesomeness of God and turn to Him. We can volunteer and do our best to fit in with fellow Christians and serve, but if our heart has not been made pure by Jesus Christ, our efforts are focused on self and not the King of Kings.
God, help us--help me be pure in heart so that my service is out of love for You and others--not to earn any favor, because I can't, but to be a witness of Your love in my life so that others will want to know You, too.
Those who are well do not need a physician, it is those who are sick who do. If you are trusting in anything other than Christ for salvation, according to Scripture, you are in need of a physician.
*Quite sadly, this person I was speaking to suddenly died in 2020.
Carrot Harvest
This has been our best year yet for harvesting carrots. God is good to bless in this way.
Galatians 6:7-10New American Standard Bible (NASB)
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, [a]while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.C. H. Spurgeon Quote
From July 4th Morning by Morning
"No man indulges and error in judgment, without sooner or later tolerating an error in practice." C.H. Spurgeon, pg186
"No man indulges and error in judgment, without sooner or later tolerating an error in practice." C.H. Spurgeon, pg186
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