Category: My Thoughts

Throw Out the Bath Water – But not the Baby

On By LindaIn My Thoughts, UncategorizedLeave a comment

With all the stuff coming out lately – the Epstein files, false prophets, immoral pastors – it seems that the people who have been speaking out against rich white males have a point. Rich and powerful men have been doing all kinds of bad things for many years. And most of these have been white.

Yet there are millions of adult white men who are nothing like these. Millions of adult white men are living decent lives. They work hard to support their families, give of themselves to their community, and share their resources with those in need. Judging all white men because of those who are doing wrong is like throwing the baby out along with the dirty bath water. Besides, there are plenty of non-white men doing evil – and it’s not limited to just men. Women can be just as evil.

We need to get rid of the evil but let’s not do so at the cost of the baby. Let’s clean up our lives so our light, which comes from Jesus, will shine in dark places and we can rightly call out the evil happening around us.

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. John 7:24

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. Ephesians 5:11

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, Ephesians 5:13

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

Wedding Vows Can Be Hazardous to Your Marriage Part 5 Biblical Marriage Vows

On By LindaIn My ThoughtsLeave a comment

A vow is a solemn, voluntary, one-party promise, usually to God, to perform a specific action.

On the other hand, a covenant is a formal, binding, and often unconditional agreement between two or more parties – marriage; God and His people – often involving long-term, mutual commitment.

Would we take our wedding vows more seriously if we were to sit together and draw up a covenant instead of reciting some vows?  How would that sound?

Maybe like this…

We enter into this marriage in order to walk together through life as one flesh, joined together until death. We look to Jesus, who holds all things together, to meet our needs and to help and council us as we seek His Kingdom first.

I, (groom), will love you, (bride), as Jesus loved the church. I will give myself up for you, nourishing and cherishing you as I do my own body.  I will treat you with gentleness and understanding, and honor you as a fellow heir.

I, (bride), I will love and respect you, (groom), as my spiritual head and submit myself to you as to the Lord. I will adorn myself with a gentle and quiet spirit.

We will love each other, not as defined by the world but as defined in 1 Corinthians 13. We will do nothing from selfish desires, but will, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bear with each other in love as we pursue the peace and unity of the Spirit. We will apologize when we fail, forgive as Christ forgives us, pray for each other, and use the gifts we have received from the Holy Spirit to build each other up.

This covenant or set of vows, which elaborates om and paints a clearer picture of the traditional “to have and to hold” vows, would help us think seriously about entering into marriage, and set clear expectations.. It won’t be easy to keep but being Biblical; it comes with the promise that God will help us. It is also easy to find. I made my vows more than forty years ago, and I can’t remember now anything I said that day. But if I had made a covenant such as the one above, I wouldn’t have to try to remember. It would be right there in the Bible to read as often as I needed to.

It’s too late for those of us who have already made unrealistic or vague vows we can’t, haven’t, or have trouble keeping. But what if we recommitted to each other with a new, God-powered covenant? How would that affect our marriages going into the future?

It might be worth a try.

Scriptures (there are a lot of them)

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’  ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, 8and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.  What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Mark 10:6-9

If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. Numbers 30:2

When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? Ecclesiastes 5:4-6

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17

And my God will meet all of your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isiah 41:10

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalm 32:8

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,  that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,  so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.  “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”  This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.  However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Ephesians 5:22-33

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.  Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.  For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.1 Peter 3:1-5

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. 1 Peter 3:7

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Colossians 3:18-19

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Philippians 2:3

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working James 5:16

With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work… 2 Corinthians 9:8

Wedding Vows Can Be Hazardous to Your Marriage Part 4 Marriage God’s Way

On By LindaIn My ThoughtsLeave a comment

The Bible has a lot to say about marriage. When to get married, when not to get married, why get married, the roles of each spouse, and how to treat each other. Based on this, marriage must be either important to God or problematic for people. I think it’s both.

Marriage is important to God because it is a picture of Jesus’ relationship with us, His church. The love and faithfulness, service and fellowship that He gives and wants in return is how He planned marriages to be – with one big difference: He is faithful even when we are not.

Marriage is problematic for people for two reasons. One is because we are generally self-centered. Whether we realize it or not, we live as if the world revolves around us. If we go into marriage with this mindset, we will eventually feel let down or betrayed.

The other reason is our expectations. We may serve people for a time – food banks, mission trips, volunteer opportunities – not expecting much in return. We may look to others – friends, family, nonprofits, government – to meet our needs knowing they may not always be able to. But we tend to expect more out of our spouses even though they have the same weaknesses as everyone else. Could that higher expectation be part of the reason?

In biblical marriages we are encouraged to treat each other as Jesus treats us – not as we treat each other. We are encouraged to look to Jesus to fill all our needs – not expect our spouse to carry that load. We are encouraged to forgive each other like Jesus forgives us – daily, without holding a grudge, and without keeping score. And we are encouraged to serve each other, to think of our spouse over our own desires – like Jesus did for us when He lived and died for us.

What would happen if we entered into a marriage with these goals in mind? How would our vows be shaped by these goals?

 That’s what I will explore in the final part, Part 5.

Scriptures

For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name Isaiah 54:5a  

For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. Isaiah 54:5 

 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:31-32

Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” Revelation 19:7-9

I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 2 Corinthians 11:2

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Heb 13:4

Husbands love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctity her, having cleansed her by the washing of water and the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27

Wedding Vows Can Be Hazardous to Your Marriage Part 3 Statistics

On By LindaIn My ThoughtsLeave a comment

The good news is that the divorce rate in the US is declining. However, the marriage rate is also declining. (See statistics at the end of this blog.) More people are waiting until late in life or never to get married. Many of these people are living with someone instead of marrying them. When these relationships break up, the number is not added to the divorce rate since they were never married. But that doesn’t mean they weren’t experiencing the same difficulties of a married couple. The number of couples (married and unmarried) seeking marriage counseling instead of jumping into divorce is increasing which is also lowering the divorce rate.

The bad news is that the divorce rate is still high. Some put it at almost 50%. And sadly, Christian marriages do not have better numbers. In fact, Christians are slightly more likely to divorce than nonChristians. (see statistics at the end of this blog.)

This is not what Jesus intended for us. He gave us through His Word the dos and don’ts of marriages and the power of the Holy Spirit to live it out. So why aren’t we? I think that our wedding vows may have something to do with it.

We often make unbiblical and unrealistic promises that form a vision of what life together will look like. It sets our expectations high – too high for most people to keep long term. Then we get hurt, disappointed, disillusioned. It’s even worse when we compare our marriage to those in movies, books, social media, and in the couples around us. We start thinking about our marriage and think, “This is not what it’s supposed to be.” My spouse is not as romantic as the one in the movie last night, doesn’t provide for all my desires like the one in the book I just finished reading, and doesn’t serve me breakfast in bed on our anniversary like my friend’s spouse does. This is not the life I signed up for.

What we often don’t look at is how we tend to treat our spouses the way they treat us, often misinterpreting their motives and actions. If asked, our spouse may make the same complaints about us and come to the same conclusion about our marriage as we did. Many couples at this point decide to call it quits. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

In Part 4 we’ll take a look at marriage from a Christian perspective.

Some statistics for those who are interested in such things:

Wilkinson and Finkbeiner  (https://www.wf-lawyers.com/divorce-statistics-and-facts/)

As of 2021, both marriage rates AND divorce rates in the US are decreasing – with the marriage rate dropping from 8.2 per 1,ooo people in 2000 to 6.1 and the divorce rate from 4.0 in 2000 to 2.7. The breakdown shows that almost 50 percent of all marriages in the US will end in divorce or separation. 41 percent of first marriages, 60 percent of second marriages, and 73 percent of third marriages will end in divorce. The US has the 6th highest divorce rate in the world

Why are people divorcing? According to the Wilkinson and Finkbeiner, a recent national survey showed that lack of commitment is the most common reason.  Other reasons are:

  • Lack of commitment 73%
  • Argue too much 56%
  • Infidelity 55%
  • Married too young 46%
  • Unrealistic expectations 45%
  • Lack of equality in the relationship 44%
  • Lack of preparation for marriage 41%
  • Domestic Violence or Abuse 25%

(Respondents often cited more that one reason, therefore the percentages add up to much more than 100 percent)

Barna (https://www.barna.com/trends/marriage-divorce-trends-2025/)

Christians—even practicing Christians, who regularly attend church and say their faith is important to them—are as likely as other adults to say they have gone through divorce.

  • 20% nonpracticing Christians
  • 16% practicing Christians  
  • 16% non-Christians

My Denver Therapy (https://mydenvertherapy.com/couples-therapy-statistics/)

  • Almost 50% of married couples have gone to counseling at some point in their relationship. 
  • The median couple starts couples therapy about 4 years into the relationship. The highest percentage of couples in marriage counseling have been married between 3 and 5 years. Many say they wish they didn’t wait so long to start.
  • About 75% of couples who go to counseling see an improvement in their relationship, and 90% see an improvement in their physical or mental health. One study had 99% of couples currently in therapy say that it had a positive impact on their relationship. 

Scriptures

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Proverbs 19:20

Wedding Vows Can Be Hazardous to Your Marriage Part 2 Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud

On By LindaIn My ThoughtsLeave a comment

Have you ever stopped to really consider the promises being recited at a wedding? What if we could see into the future and then recite our vows with that in mind. What if we said the quiet part out loud? In the world, it might sound like this.

I take you…

to have and to hold, (except when you make me mad or when I am too tired or when you come in from cutting the grass all dirty and smelly or before you brush your teeth in the morning…)

 in good times and bad, (except when the bad times make you irritable, angry, or depressed or are happening because you did something stupid)

for richer and for poorer, (except when you spend all our money and max out the credit cards or because you lost your job and have many excuses why you can’t find another one…)

in sickness and in health. (except when it causes me to become your caretaker, like if you became paralyzed from an accident or developed dementia or an autoimmune disease…)

I promise to be faithful to you (as long as you are faithful to me and you keep up your appearances and you fulfill all my desires…)

and stand beside you in all things. (except when doing so will cause me to be too uncomfortable or when it cuts into my personal time)

I promise to keep laughing with you, (until your jokes get so old that all I can do is groan)

crying with you, (after the first few dozen times, you’re on your own)

and never stop finding new ways to make you smile. (except when you stop finding new ways to make me smile)

I will love, (until the emotion goes away)

honor, (as long as you are honorable and do the right things)

and cherish you (except when I take you for granted because I’m too busy thinking about myself)

all the days of our lives. (maybe most of the days, but the nights are mine)

In Part 3, we’ll take a look at some statistics.

Scriptures:

For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. Luke 8:17 

Do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.”  Zechariah 8:17

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

Wedding Vows Can Be Hazardous to Your Marriage Part 1 Overview

On By LindaIn My ThoughtsLeave a comment

We’ve all heard them. Sweet, love filled promises from one person to another before saying “I do.”  Some are serious, others are humorous. Some are long, some are short. Some are read from papers in trembling fingers, others are recited from the heart. But they all have one thing in common: the person saying them truly believes what they are saying. And usually, so does the recipient.

The promises in wedding vows – to always be there, to support, to respect, love, and encourage each other, etc. – are not in themselves bad. It’s okay to say and pursue them, but when we put our hope and trust in them, it can create expectations that might not be sustainable. What happens when jobs are lost, spouses lie or cheat, life goals change and conflict with each other, and love grows cold? What happens to the marriage when these wonderful-sounding expectations aren’t met?

Another problem in many wedding vows is that they are self-focused. “I love you because you make me feel good.” I love you because you encourage me with I’m feeling down.” I love how your smile lights up my heart.” If a person goes into a marriage with the expectation that their spouse fills their needs, what happens when the spouse gets sick or depressed or busy or overwhelmed – and can no longer meet these needs?

Third, vows are usually easy to keep in the early years. Then children arrive. And jobs are lost. And illnesses rage. And interests change. And more children arrive. And temptations sneak in. The promises made in the beginning are forgotten in the stress of managing busy lives. What used to makes us smile about the other becomes buried under layers of disappointments, failures, and age-related physical and mental changes.  We trusted that our partner would make our lives better and be there when things were tough. But as the years go by, little by little, one small failure after another, resentment and accusations can slowly creep into our hearts – and often out of our mouths. “You promised to make me smile every day! Well, I’m not smiling now as you play golf leaving me to struggle with our bills.”

The high divorce rate in this country, even in Christian marriages, is evidence of broken promises and unfilled expectations.

So should we set up our marriages to fail from the beginning by making promises we can’t keep? There are many warnings in the Bible about keeping vows made to God, and I would think that vows made in the deliberate presence of God would carry a similar weight. So, should vows be eliminated from a wedding?

No, I don’t think so. But I do think they should be changed.

  • Promises of what you will do in the future? You don’t know what the future holds.
  • Reasons why you love the person you’re marrying? Those reasons may become moot as your spouse changes.
  • Ways your feel loved by your future spouse? Those reasons may become buried under the concerns and burdens of everyday life.

It’s okay to describe when you knew you wanted to get married or how the other person makes you feel in the present. It’s okay to state what you want to do in the future for the other person. But none of these should be promises. Instead, what if we focused on what God will do? He’s the only one who can fulfill all of His promises and meet all of our needs.

What if a wedding vow sounded more like this:

I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to be with you in good times and bad. I want to help you when you are down, and celebrate with you when you are up. I want to support you, grow with you, and live your dreams with you. The best way I know to accomplish this is by the strength and help that God gives me. Therefore, I promise to always keep God the center of our marriage. I promise to abide in Jesus so that I will be able to love you with the love and strength He provides. I promise to obey God’s word as it relates to marriage, and to be accountable to you for that. I promise to pray for you and for our marriage each day. Looking to Jesus to strengthen me, equip me, counsel me, and to meet all my needs, I will be free to serve you without expecting anything back. I will be free to love you as you are and as you will be as you grow and change. Together, with Jesus, I look forward to walking into the future with you.

Stay tuned for Part 2 – saying the quiet part out loud.

Scriptures:

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit” – yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:13-17

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17

And my God will meet all of your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isiah 41:10

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalm 32:8

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. Nahum 1:7

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence… 2 Peter 1:3

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work… 2 Corinthians 9:8

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 1 Timothy 6:17

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16

Me Do It!

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parables, My ThoughtsLeave a comment
Photo by Polesie Toys on Pexels.com

My heart hurt as I watched my two-year-old granddaughter’s growing frustration as she struggled to fit a plastic shape into its hole. She had gotten the star and heart shapes into their openings but the triangle just wouldn’t fit into the square opening. She had gone from sliding the triangle back and forth across the opening to trying to force it with every bit of small might she had. I yearned to share my knowledge with her but each offer to help was met with a defiant, “No! Me do it!”

“There’s a special hole for each shape…” I started only to be interrupted with, “No! Me do it!”

“You can’t fit a triangle into…”  was cut off with “No! Me do it!”

“Here, let me show you…” was answered with a growl. “No! Me do it!”

So I sat back and let her work. If only she would listen.

Angry tears now filled her eyes as she pushed even harder. Failing that, she began slamming the poor triangle onto the opening. Over and over she tried. Over and over she failed until she couldn’t stand it anymore.

With a scream, she threw the triangle across the room.

I held out my arms. “Come here, baby.” Sobs racked her tiny body as she clung to me. Sitting there on the floor, I rocked her until her breathing slowed, her tears dried, and she was once again at peace.

You would think that the next time she played with that toddler toy set, she was more willing to allow me to help her. But no.  Again she insisted on doing it herself, getting upset in the process, and ending in my lap sobbing out her frustration.

Eventually, one day, she accepted my help. Then, with a triumphant smile, she gently pushed the triangle piece into the triangle opening.

I wonder if we don’t do the same thing to God. He knows how things work. He knows how to solve problems. But we think we can figure it all our on our own. We think if we work hard enough and long enough, we can solve all our problems. We ignore God’s way to create our own way.

When we do this as an individual, it’s called rebellion.

When we do this as a society, it’s called humanism.

This is Google’s summary of humanism based on American Humanist Association’s definition: Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that emphasizes human reason, ethics, and agency to find meaning and fulfillment. It is a secular worldview that affirms individual dignity and social responsibility, using science, art, and compassion to create a more just and compassionate world. Humanism does not include supernatural beliefs or theistic views. 

In other words, humanism, which is rampant through every part of society, is mankind saying to their Father, “Me do it!”

Why do we humans continue to strive to become equal to God regardless of the consequences? Didn’t Adam and Eve teach us anything?

Why do we humans think we know better or can do better than the One who created us? Cain certainly tried, and failed.

Why do we humans repeatedly try to serve a holy God our way like the Israelites did when moving the Ark of the Covenant?  Uzzah paid the price for that.

Why do we humans insist on creating an image of God that pleases us but not Him? The golden calf should have been a clear warning.

Why do we humans keep looking to ourselves to fill our needs? David knew from experience who to trust.

Why do we humans fight so hard to be independent of God? It never worked out well for the Israelites.

Some people have said: “Oh, that just happened in the Old Testament. Today is different.”

Is it?

Adam and Eve

For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[b] she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. Gen 3:4-7

Cain

In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?  If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, and you must rule over it.” Genesis 4:3-7

The Golden Calf

And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.” Exodus 32:4-10

The Ark of the Covenant

And he cast for it four rings of gold for its four feet, two rings on its one side and two rings on its other side. And he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold 5 and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark. Exodus 37:3-4

And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry these, but they must not touch the holy things, lest they die. These are the things of the tent of meeting that the sons of Kohath are to carry. Numbers 4:15

So Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service. And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.  But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder.  Numbers 7:6-9

David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark. And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God. 2 Samuel 6:1-7

Trust in God

Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright. Psalm 20:6-8

Charlie Kirk – My Reaction

On By LindaIn My ThoughtsLeave a comment

I have read with increasing sadness the reactions on both sides.

Conservatives say Charlie Kirk is a martyr. He spoke the truth and allowed others to voice their disagreements.

Liberals say Charlie Kirk held mock debates spewing hate and misinformation towards many groups of people. He deserved to die.

What does God say about our attitudes towards others?

Do not devise evil in your hearts against one another… for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.” Zechariah 8:17

You shall not murder.  Exodus 20:13

Murder comes from an evil heart. Matthew 15:19

Satan is the father of murderers. John 8:44

A murderer does not have eternal life in him. 1 John 3:16

Hating is murdering. 1 John 3:15

I can understand in some degree the differing reactions of non-Christians. But Christians who support and even celebrate the murder of someone they disagreed with baffle me. Do they not know what the Bible says? Do they not know what the Lord they pledged their lives to commands them to do?

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:43-48

Even getting extremely angry at another person makes you liable for judgment. Matthew 5:20-22

We as Christ-followers are free to disagree with each other – but not free to harm each other. The murder of Charlie Kirk should elicit a unified cry for the life of a brother – not a debate on whether he deserved to die. And we should not be attacking each other over our reactions. Where is the love by which we will be known as belonging to Jesus?

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar: 1 John 4:20a

Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 1 John 2:9

They profess to know God, but deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. Titus 1:16

Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? Luke 6:46

The Bible has a word for those who claim to be Christ-followers while hating their brothers – hypocrite. And he warns that He will turn His face from them.

You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:7-9

Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after the other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered! – only to go on doing all these abominations?… I will cast you out of my sight… Jeremiah 7:8-10, 15a

But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? Psalm 50:16

When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you, even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Isaiah 1:15

When are we going to get off the fence between God’s ways and man’s ways? When are we going to deny what we want (think) and become obedient to what Christ wants (commands)? When are we going to stop loving as the world does and start loving as Jesus does?

Lord God, I pray for the people of this nation. For all people, but especially for the people who claim You as their God. Forgive us for our hypocrisy. Fill us with Your love for those who disagree with us and open our eyes to see past the darkness that surrounds us to the light of Your truth. Help us to love those we perceive as enemies and to let you handle their judgment. May you be our God and mean it when we call You “Lord”.

Amen

Open Your Eyes

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parables, My ThoughtsLeave a comment

My granddaughter loves riding lessons, and I love watching her as she directs her horse to walk, trot, turn, and back up. She’s not really in charge, but she doesn’t know that. She interacts with the volunteers who lead the horse and walk by her side, but since she’s the one with the reins in her hands, she believes she’s in control.

One day she had fallen asleep on the way to the stables.  It was a heavy sleep, and she resisted my efforts to wake her up when we got there. I carried her into the stable, hoping the greetings from the people and the neighing of the horses would help wake her. But although a small smile would escape her lips from time to time, she refused to open her eyes.

I set her on the ground and led her around to each horse and then to the donkeys. Not even their loud braying convinced her to open her eyes.

The instructors suggested they put her on the horse anyway and let Frankie do her “horse magic”.  I handed my granddaughter to the experts and went to stand by the fence. I could hear them talking to her, coaxing her, teasing her, and distracting her through questions – all while they helped her mount and walk their warm up laps. Still, those little eyes remained closed. And they remained closed for half of the lesson, totally dependent of what her instructor and the volunteers told her.

A month ago, the Lord told me things were going to get rough and that many were not prepared. They were not listening. He asked me to pray that they would wake up, open their eyes, get into the position He assigned them, and strengthen themselves by praying.

I suspected that the election results were going to cause some problems no matter who won. What I didn’t see coming was a post like the one that popped up on my social media feed a few days ago. My heart is still grieving over it.

It’s been reposted numerous times, but I’m not sure if I’m allowed to post it here. So I’ll just say, the poster accused Christians of questioning the faith of those who “didn’t want to support a man who represents the opposite of everything Jesus taught”. 

First, my heart aches for those who are hurt by the questions of others. Pain is real no matter the cause.

Second, what are some examples of how Trump represents the opposite to everything Jesus taught? Which teachings are being referenced? And which teachings are being ignored? Jesus believed and followed the Old Testament. Is that included in “his teachings?” Vague accusations are a common tactic of the enemy.

And third, why are we not allowed to question what we see? Where is the dialogue? How can we understand when the door is slammed shut as soon as we ask? Do we not get to have our own opinions?

I have watched both political sides now for four years. I have watched full debates, rallies, hearings, and commentaries. I have listened to both liberal and conservative media. And I have prayed a lot.

What I have seen is a clear difference between the sides. Although there is a bias on the right side, there are outright lies and projections on the left towards the right.

The people in charge of the left have their narratives and I can understand why they say and do what they do. But I can’t understand how regular people, especially Christians, can believe what they say. It’s like people are walking around with their eyes closed, totally dependent on what the media is telling them. Things like…

There’s nothing wrong with Biden, except when it became too evident to hide it anymore. 

Listen to the science, except in the case of gender and in unborn children.

My body, my choice, except when it comes to vaccines.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion, except for white men and Christians/conservatives.

The contradictions are clearly there. Why do people not see them? What if it’s because they are riding life with their eyes closed, totally dependent on what they are being told? They may be holding the reins, but being in control is just an illusion. They are limited to where those in charge lead them.

This also goes for those on the right who blindly follow what they are being told.

Regardless of which side we are one, we need to know that this not a political issue and it’s not a social issue.

It’s a spiritual issue.

There is an enemy who is neither blue nor red. Invisible, yet firmly in control of many.

We all need to wake up to what’s really going on in our country. We all need to open our eyes to the evil that is trying to destroy us and the God who is trying to warn us. We all need to find our place in Jesus again. And we all need to pray. We need to be strong to face what’s coming. Because I’m pretty sure the rough times are not over.

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. Ephesians 6:12

And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Mark 14:37-38

Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Revelation 3:3

But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand. Ezekiel 33:6

The Last Time

On By LindaIn My ThoughtsLeave a comment

Photo by Gustavo Fring on Pexels.com

How often have we heard, “I didn’t know that was the last time I would ever see my loved one again. If only I had known, I would have hugged him/her a little longer.”

Heartbreaking.

But does it change our own attitudes towards those we love? Do we get so caught up in day-to-day living that we forget that there is a last time for everything?

The last time we will kiss our spouse goodbye.

The last time we eat dinner with some good friends.

The last time we tuck our children into bed.

I am guilty of this. I assume that if I have greeted my granddaughter each morning this week, I will be greeting her each morning next week, and even for years to come. I live as though I will see the end coming well in advance, such as when she goes off to college or gets a job in another state. But often I give little thought that the hug I gave her this morning might have been the last. Accidents happen. Life circumstances change.  We don’t have near as much control over our lives as we sometimes think we do. If only someone could tell us when the end was coming, like a GPS app identifies the last mile of a journey.

Well, Jesus did do that concerning our last days on earth. He gave us signs to look for and directions on what to do and not do. He also said that it would be like in the days of Noah. Back then, people were eating, drinking, and marrying up until it started raining. Same with Sodom. People were carrying on their lives up until the fire began falling.

I know that people have been saying Jesus was returning soon for thousands of years. Many years ago, when I was a new Christian, I believed, like many new Christians, that Jesus was coming any day. My life revolved around Him. Everything else took second stage. Then decades went by and His return, as much as I still yearned for it, became second stage and the daily concerns of life became more important.

But one day, He is coming back. And although we don’t know the day, we can know the season.  Based on the signs He gave us, are we living in that season today? Many of the things He said would happen have happened over the centuries, and it’s possible they will continue to happen for centuries more. But eventually labor pains will end. Their intensity and frequency are clues as to how close that end is. Disaster upon disaster is happening all across the globe, so many and so often, that they no longer consume our attention like they once did. Just like school or mass shootings, the first ones were top news for days, now most don’t even make the news. Words like “record breaking” and “never seen before” are being used with increasingly frequency. Threats of destroying the world have gone from “what if” like I heard when I was younger to a real possibility today. And in some views, a probability.

What if we really are living in the last of the last days? How would our attitude be different? What changes would we make in our lives?

Do we need to hear the trumpet sound in the sky before we make those changes? Wouldn’t today be a good day to live as if it was our last?

Because one day, it will be.

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” Isaiah 46:10 

He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You now how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time? Luke 12:54-56 

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same in the day of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buy and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. Luke 17:26-30 

“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things (see Matt 24:4-31) have happened. Matthew 24:32-34