"Who is God like unto thee, that pardons iniquity and passes by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retains not His anger forever, because He delights in mercy" Micah 7:18
I love those verses that show the character of God. He delights in mercy. He forgives us because it is His very desire and nature to do so. I am so thankful for God's mercy on me, and it should inspire in me that same delight to be merciful to others.
Extend some grace to a needy sinner in your life today. First to yourself, remember God delights in being merciful to you. Then to your spouse and your children who are needy sinners just like you. Delight in showing them mercy. Don't just grudgingly overlook their faults, delight in mercy to them.
Then spread it around. Mercy is hard to find these days. God's people should be full of it, overflowing, the easiest and kindest of people to be around.
Choose mercy not anger
grace not criticism
forgiveness not faultfinding
and experience a truly delighted heart.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
To the angel of the church at ...... write....
I don't know how I missed it. I've read the passages over and over many times, but I never got it.
The letters to the churches in the book of Revelation aren't written to churches. They are written to individuals.
I had to sit and let that sink in when I noticed it. Those letters with admonitions and declarations like...
" you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead"
"you have left your first love"
"I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of My God"
"you have a little power, and have kept My word and have not denied My name"
aren't written to a group of people like I'd always thought. They're written to living, breathing individuals, who were the leaders of their churches.
You have to understand that I've always used these letters as a clue as to what a church should be like, or what I should look for in a church (and I'm sure they have value for that) but never like they were written primarily to a person. If you say "lukewarm" I think of a church, a denomination and therefore by extension, a person. It's the opposite that's true. "Lukewarm" referred primarily to a man and by extension to the church. It was the individual lukewarm people that made the Lukewarm church.
Those letters read a whole new way.
The letters to the churches in the book of Revelation aren't written to churches. They are written to individuals.
I had to sit and let that sink in when I noticed it. Those letters with admonitions and declarations like...
" you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead"
"you have left your first love"
"I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of My God"
"you have a little power, and have kept My word and have not denied My name"
aren't written to a group of people like I'd always thought. They're written to living, breathing individuals, who were the leaders of their churches.
You have to understand that I've always used these letters as a clue as to what a church should be like, or what I should look for in a church (and I'm sure they have value for that) but never like they were written primarily to a person. If you say "lukewarm" I think of a church, a denomination and therefore by extension, a person. It's the opposite that's true. "Lukewarm" referred primarily to a man and by extension to the church. It was the individual lukewarm people that made the Lukewarm church.
Those letters read a whole new way.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
You're never tempted to do what you're supposed to.....
I'm pretty sure that this is one of those statements made by "Captain Obvious" as he bounds into the room determined to solve everything with just one more ridiculously obvious observation....
But can I just say anyhow.... NO ONE is ever tempted to do what they're supposed to.
Getting ahold of this is life changing.
I will never be tempted to get off facebook and mop my floor, or read to a toddler.
I will never be tempted to get up early and spend extra time in prayer.
I will never be tempted to be quiet and still, and let my husband lead.
I think you get my drift.....
whether it's how you spend your time,
how you deal with difficulties in your marriage,
how you treat your children,
what you do with your money,
your devotional life,
You'll never be tempted to do what you're supposed to do.
Whether or not I want to do something is absolutely no measure of whether or not it's a good idea. And frankly, whether or not I even think something is a good idea is no measure to use. The Bible says the heart is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things, and my heart gives me daily proof.
Choose wisely my friends, according to what the Word says and not according to what you want or don't want to do, remembering you're never tempted to do what you're supposed to.
Eph. 5:15-16 "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time because the days are evil."
But can I just say anyhow.... NO ONE is ever tempted to do what they're supposed to.
Getting ahold of this is life changing.
I will never be tempted to get off facebook and mop my floor, or read to a toddler.
I will never be tempted to get up early and spend extra time in prayer.
I will never be tempted to be quiet and still, and let my husband lead.
I think you get my drift.....
whether it's how you spend your time,
how you deal with difficulties in your marriage,
how you treat your children,
what you do with your money,
your devotional life,
You'll never be tempted to do what you're supposed to do.
Whether or not I want to do something is absolutely no measure of whether or not it's a good idea. And frankly, whether or not I even think something is a good idea is no measure to use. The Bible says the heart is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things, and my heart gives me daily proof.
Choose wisely my friends, according to what the Word says and not according to what you want or don't want to do, remembering you're never tempted to do what you're supposed to.
Eph. 5:15-16 "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time because the days are evil."
Saturday, September 14, 2013
A Mighty Anvil?
So why A Mighty Anvil ? Just in case you ever wondered about the title of this blog, I thought I'd share.
About 10 years ago I was praying in church about what the Lord really wanted from me, and what direction He wanted me to pursue. It was kind of a crisis time. I really needed guidance and clear purpose. His still small voice whispered "Forge a mighty anvil". huh?
The voice was persistent, and the words were emphatic; but I didn't understand.
It probably didn't help that I had no idea what an anvil did. I looked into it. An anvil is a heavy steel or iron block that a blacksmith uses to hammer the molten metal against and change its form. Still no "aha" moment.
It was my husband's insight that finally helped me see the point. Every individual is an anvil. People should be impacted for Jesus by knowing you.
Beyond that, the anvil was the family. When God brings people in contact with you and your family, they should be impacted, changed, molded more for Him by that encounter.
Forging a family..... takes work. In our culture today it's hard to know where to begin, where to focus, what's really important. But the work is vital with eternal consequence.
The title challenges me and reminds me.
About 10 years ago I was praying in church about what the Lord really wanted from me, and what direction He wanted me to pursue. It was kind of a crisis time. I really needed guidance and clear purpose. His still small voice whispered "Forge a mighty anvil". huh?
The voice was persistent, and the words were emphatic; but I didn't understand.
It probably didn't help that I had no idea what an anvil did. I looked into it. An anvil is a heavy steel or iron block that a blacksmith uses to hammer the molten metal against and change its form. Still no "aha" moment.
It was my husband's insight that finally helped me see the point. Every individual is an anvil. People should be impacted for Jesus by knowing you.
Beyond that, the anvil was the family. When God brings people in contact with you and your family, they should be impacted, changed, molded more for Him by that encounter.
Forging a family..... takes work. In our culture today it's hard to know where to begin, where to focus, what's really important. But the work is vital with eternal consequence.
The title challenges me and reminds me.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
a quote....
By conviction, I'm not a very political person, but I couldn't resist sharing this quote.
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." C.S. Lewis
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." C.S. Lewis
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Why is it so hard to finish things????
Anybody else out there a great starter, who begins with enthusiasm and vigor, but fizzles to lethargy and a pile of the half-done and unfinished???? Just checking :) I hate to feel alone. I am back reading in Haggai, and again reminded to do what God has given YOU to do as first priority, and not to quit until it's finished. Apparently in my life the lesson bears repeating.
I have been homeschooling for about 27 years, and 6 of our 7 children have graduated. You guessed. There's one left. :) A wonderful 15 year old young man who deserves all of the enthusiasm and dedication that was much easier to muster when the school and the household were fuller. I imagine in Haggai's time the Israelites felt much the same way. The new temple was smaller, seemingly less significant. It was started, but there were so many other tasks that took their time, attention, and energy. I have no trouble imagining the excuses for their failure to focus, and thereby failure to finish. I hear them in my own heart day after day, as I fight to follow through and finish with enthusiasm this one as well as the many other tasks, and priorities God has put in my life.
Today, I'm remembering again, it's not enough to start. You have to push through and finish.
I have been homeschooling for about 27 years, and 6 of our 7 children have graduated. You guessed. There's one left. :) A wonderful 15 year old young man who deserves all of the enthusiasm and dedication that was much easier to muster when the school and the household were fuller. I imagine in Haggai's time the Israelites felt much the same way. The new temple was smaller, seemingly less significant. It was started, but there were so many other tasks that took their time, attention, and energy. I have no trouble imagining the excuses for their failure to focus, and thereby failure to finish. I hear them in my own heart day after day, as I fight to follow through and finish with enthusiasm this one as well as the many other tasks, and priorities God has put in my life.
Today, I'm remembering again, it's not enough to start. You have to push through and finish.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
New Year's Challenge
I'm not sure the title really fits this blog. I'm not really one for New Year's resolutions, but I usually do use the changing of the year as a time of evaluation of the previous year and a time to look forward and see what needs to change for the coming year.
It happened this year that as the end of Dec. rolled around, I found myself reading in the book of Haggai. Haggai was a prophet contemporary with Ezra. He prophesied to a remnant of God's people, who had returned from Babylonian captivity, and were tasked with rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem.
Things had not gone well. They had begun the work with excitement and enthusisasm, but soon found that the work was hard, the outcome wasn't looking as grand as they had envisioned it, and worst of all they had enemies who reported unfavorably to the king and he ordered the work stopped. For about 16 years the temple stood uncompleted and the people built their own homes, and went about their daily lives. Then God spoke to Haggai, and he brought a message for the people. Essentially the message was for them to obey God, do what they were called to do, and build the temple.
This message has gone over and over in my heart since I read it. Do what you are called of God to do FIRST, and fill the other things in around it (not the other way around as I find it so easy to do). I tend to be pretty distractable and almost everything interests me..... so keeping resolutely focused on what God has called me to do, and making sure that is what gets done first is definitely a challenge. Haggai's message really speaks to my heart, hope it blesses yours too.
It happened this year that as the end of Dec. rolled around, I found myself reading in the book of Haggai. Haggai was a prophet contemporary with Ezra. He prophesied to a remnant of God's people, who had returned from Babylonian captivity, and were tasked with rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem.
Things had not gone well. They had begun the work with excitement and enthusisasm, but soon found that the work was hard, the outcome wasn't looking as grand as they had envisioned it, and worst of all they had enemies who reported unfavorably to the king and he ordered the work stopped. For about 16 years the temple stood uncompleted and the people built their own homes, and went about their daily lives. Then God spoke to Haggai, and he brought a message for the people. Essentially the message was for them to obey God, do what they were called to do, and build the temple.
This message has gone over and over in my heart since I read it. Do what you are called of God to do FIRST, and fill the other things in around it (not the other way around as I find it so easy to do). I tend to be pretty distractable and almost everything interests me..... so keeping resolutely focused on what God has called me to do, and making sure that is what gets done first is definitely a challenge. Haggai's message really speaks to my heart, hope it blesses yours too.
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