Tag: faith

Do We Have a Forked Tongue?

On By LindaIn Open Your EyesLeave a comment
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Christianity has a bad reputation. The world sees us as self-righteous hypocrites. And for the most part, they are not wrong. We may say, “Not me,” but the truth is we’re all guilty of contributing to the picture we present to the world.

My last blog was about the need to get off the fence between the world and God. We can no longer walk that fence. God is shaking the world. We will land on one side or the other. It’s better to jump into God’s arms than to fall into Satan’s dominion. Some Christians have chosen God’s side, but most teeter between both, wanting both, trying to compromise into believing they can have some of both. It’s a lie. God made it clear. It’s Him or the world. No middle ground.

Today I write to those who claim to have chosen God’s side.

A forked tongue symbolizes deceit, hypocrisy, and dishonesty, a meaning rooted in the biblical depiction of the serpent and later adopted into the idiom “to speak with a forked tongue”.  Speaking with a forked tongue refers to someone who says one thing but means another. We can also “speak with a forked tongue” with our lives. We can proclaim one thing but live another.

Paul wrote a lot about hypocrisy in the churches.

For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:2-5

I know he was talking about people in the churches because Paul wrote this to the Corinthians.

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-13

How much of Paul’s observations can be said of professing Christians today?

Before we say, “Not me”, let me ask some questions.

Do we speak truth at all times – or do we justify lies and deception at convenient times? Even little white lies?

Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. Psalm 12:2

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Ephesians 4:25

Do we praise God with our tongue – and speak evil of other people, no matter how justified we feel it is, with the same tongue?

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. James 3:9

Do we spread the gospel with our mouth – and also allow profanity and the degradation of other people to come out of the same mouth?

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

Do we give ourselves grace for making mistakes – but hold grudges against those who have wronged us?

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18

Do we sing “I surrender all” to God on Sunday – then spend the week fighting for what we want or think we deserve?

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

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 4:1-3

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. James 3:16

Do we treat people who look or think like us differently than we treat people who don’t look or think like us?

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2:1-4

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

Do we claim to be spreading the Gospel – but spend most of our time discussing and arguing over non-salvation issues?

Nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. 1 Timothy 1:4-7

Do we spend more time thinking on the things of God – or are our thoughts consumed with the things of the world?

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:2-3

Do we pray first or is prayer our last resort?

Pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Ephesians 6:18

Do we admonish fellow Christians when they repeatedly engage in a sin – or do we tolerate it in the name of ‘free choice’?

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 1 Corinthians 5:1-2

Let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. James 5:20

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Galatians 6:1

Do we hold firm to God’s Truth – or do we accept everyone’s idea of truth?

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. 2 Peter 2:1-3

Do we live an open, honest life – or do we try to get away with a little dishonesty or deceitful manipulation to save face or to avoid getting into trouble or to feed our flesh?

But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 4:2

Do we renounce and avoid all sin – or do we justify hanging onto some?

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8

No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 1 John 3:9

It’s time to look at ourselves honestly.

It’s time to examine our faith and to get real with our claims to be followers of Christ.

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 2 Corinthians 13:5

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. Hebrews 3:12

It’s time to clean up the church, starting with ourselves, before God does it.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:26-31

It’s time to get rid of our split tongues and show the world who Jesus really is.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

Get Off the Fence

On By LindaIn Open Your EyesLeave a comment
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Many of us Christians are walking a spiritual fence.

We walk the fence when we are not one hundred percent convinced that God is God. We are torn between believing what the Bible says and what the world says.

And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.  (2 Kings 18:21)

We walk the fence when we are lukewarm in our faith.  We may love God, but we equally love the world. We are not on fire for either side. Love for God keeps us from fully entering the world and love for the world keeps us from fully committing ourselves to God.

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)

We walk the fence when we want it all. We want the blessings, protection, and love that God offers, and we also want all the pleasures and self-rule the world offers.

For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.  (2 Timothy 3:3-5)

We walk the fence when we are delusional or misinformed. Maybe we think God doesn’t see us or that He won’t hold us accountable for our decisions. Maybe we think a loving God wouldn’t send anyone to hell, or maybe we think hell doesn’t exist at all. Maybe we think God is a cruel tyrant who loves to kill and not worthy of our full devotion.  Maybe we base our beliefs about God on the behavior of those who claim to follow Him. Or maybe we base our faith on ‘once saved always saved’.

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (1 Timothy 4:3)

We may have just gotten on the fence, or we may have been walking it for years. We may even get up and down depending on circumstances.

But walking the fence for any length of time is dangerous.

If we are not committed to one side or the other or if we are lukewarm about our faith, we are in danger of the deception Satan is unleashing on the world today.  We can be easily fooled by the half-truths and shows of power Satan uses. And once he has us fooled, it’s not too hard to lead us to the wide gate where we will have plenty of company making that entrance seem the right way.

 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (Revelation 12:9)

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.  Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter it are many.” (Matthew 7:13)

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. (John 10:9)

If we are lukewarm, we are also in danger of being rejected by Jesus.

So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)

If we want it all, we are in danger of losing salvation. We say we are Christ-followers, but we pick and choose which of His ways we will follow, rationalizing why we reject the rest. We sing about living holy lives on Sunday, then lie, cheat, and spread hate the rest of the week. We say we love God, but we hate those who are different than us and we support the things He hates.

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

There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer  or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this. (Deut 18:10-14)

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)

If we are delusional or misinformed, we are in danger of judgment.

If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. (John 15:22)

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:29)

The Israelites frequently walked the fence. They wanted what God offered, sacrificing to Him and declaring Him LORD, but they also wanted what the other nation’s gods were said to offer and made sacrifices to them. (2 Kings 17:41)

It didn’t end well for them.

And, according to the Bible, it’s not going to end well for the multitude of people who choose the world.

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

It’s time to get off the fence.

It’s time to decide if we want God or the world. And by the world, I mean Satan, who is currently the god of this world. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

It’s time to decide, with eyes fully open, who we will worship and serve: The Most High God who created and loves us or Satan who is out to destroy us.

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

It’s time to get off the fence.

Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, and the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15)

Open Your Eyes – Lord; An Allegory

On By LindaIn Open Your Eyes2 Comments
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Darlene sighed as she straightened. “There,” she said, “The weeds are gone.”

Brandi looked around. “There’s still so much to do. I wonder why the lady let her yard get so bad. Good thing you decided to help her.”

Darlene brushed the dirt off her jacket. “Well, Mr. Evans asked me to so here I am. I’m going to go ask what he wants me to do next.”

Brandi pointed. “I don’t know Mr. Evans but I’m happy to help out. I’ll trim those bushes. I don’t know if spring is the right season, but it’s easier to trim the branches before the leaves start growing. “

“He didn’t say anything about the bushes but I guess it’s okay. It does need to be done.” Darlene opened the back gate. “Be back soon.”

Brandi put on a pair of gloves and picked up the shears just as a man walked through the back gate. He waved when he saw her and headed in her direction.

“Hi, Seth! You made it!”

Seth nodded, “I couldn’t let my friend do all this by herself, could I?” He looked around. “You’re not kidding. This place is a mess.”

“Darlene said that Mr. Evans said it needed to be cleaned up. I pulled the weeds and am about to trim the bushes.”

“I think the patio needs to be hosed and scrubbed, too. I’ll go do that.”

“Good idea.” Brandi walked to the side fence and began snipping the bush branches while Seth found a broom in the shed and began sweeping.

By the time Darlene returned, the bushes were trimmed, the patio clean, the raised garden bed filled with compost and topsoil, and the leaves raked.

“Wow,” Darlene called to the two friends. “You’ve done so much!”

“Where have you been?” Brandi asked. “I thought you were just going to ask Mr. Evans what to do next.”

“I did ask him. He told me to help the people in the front yard first. They were planting a tree and needed another set of hands. And then to come back here and check for dog poop.”  She walked to the shed. “There’s supposed to be a poop-scooper in here.”

“Ew,” Brandi held her nose. “You can have that job. I’m going to clean the patio furniture.” She called to Seth, “Did you happen to see a bucket and some rags in the shed when you were in there?”

“Yes, the rags are on the shelf and there’s a bucket next to the door.”

The clanging of a dinner bell stopped all three helpers.

“Yay!” Darlene cheered. “Time for lunch!” She headed for the back door.

“I’m starving!” Brandi said as she joined Darlene.

“Me, too.!” Seth echoed as he joined the girls.

The back door opened just as they got there.

Mr. Evans motioned to Darlene. “Come and get it! The barbeque chicken is hot on the stove and there are fresh rolls from the oven.”

Darlene grinned and entered the house. Seth and Brandi tried to follow but Mr. Evans stopped them.

“Sorry, but this is for friends and family only.”

“But we helped out! Didn’t we trim the bushes, pull weeds, clean the patio and rake the leaves?”

Mr. Evans shook his head. “I don’t know you. ” He pointed to the back gate .”You’ll need to leave.” Then he went inside, closing the door firmly behind him.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who des the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And I will declare to them, ‘I never know you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:21-23

When I read Matthew 7:21-23, I’m struck by two things. One is that Jesus told these people who did things in His name that He never knew them. The other is that He attached the word ‘many’ to that. Does that mean many church-going Christians are not going to make it into the kingdom of heaven? That thought is sobering.

Doing things in the name of Jesus is not the same thing as making Him Lord of your life. You can go to church, sign up for mission trips, help out in community outreach programs, and take food to the homebound without submitting yourself to His Lordship. Without this submission, all you have is religion. Religion does not get you into heaven. Only Jesus can do that – and only when you’ve made Him your Lord and Savior.

Lord AND Savior, not Lord OR Savior.

Making Him Lord is not reciting a certain prayer or just calling Him Lord. Making Him Lord means to give yourself to Him heart, soul and body. You put yourself under His Lordship. You don’t live for yourself anymore – you live for Him. You give up what you want to do and do what He tells you to do.

Have you done that? Does Jesus know you?

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 2 Corinthians 13:5

Open Your Eyes – Love is Love

On By LindaIn Open Your EyesLeave a comment
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Love is love.

This popular claim sounds nice, but how accurate is it?  I might marry my friend because I love him, but I wouldn’t marry a candy bar because I love chocolate. I love my puppy is not the same as I love my job. 

My guess is that the word love is limited to the love between two people. And not just any love, such as the love between a parent and child. Based on when and how it is used, people who use this have defined love as the intimate relationship, usually but not always, between two adults. This includes straight, gay, trans, and other types of people-people relationships. It doesn’t matter who the love partner is because love is love.

Is that Biblical? I did a quick search of the New Testament and found many verses about love. Most of them connected love to God in some way. But none said “love is love” or suggested a person could have an intimate relationship with just anyone.

The true definition of love is connected to God because God is love (1 John 4:16).

Therefore He’s the only one who can define what intimate love is and isn’t. According to His Word, intimate love is to be between a man and a woman who are married (1 Cor 7:2). This life-long relationship (Gen 2:24) is to be honored by everyone (Heb 13:4), and all sex outside of it is to be avoided (1Cor 6:18). Jesus confirmed this when He said that a man is to hold fast to his wife (Mark 10:6-8). Man and woman. Period. Anything outside of this leads to death (Prov 14:12).

Love is love? Not for those who call themselves Christians. Unbelievers can say and do whatever they want, but when we accepted Jesus, we accepted His Lordship over us. That means doing and seeing things His way regardless of what the rest of the world says or does, or even what seems right to us (Proverbs 14:12).

Many Christians are sitting on the fence. They hear what God says, but don’t see how loving anyone could be wrong regardless of who it is.  They seem to be more concerned about offending other people than offending God. Or maybe they agree with God for their own relationships but don’t want to impose that on other Christians or warn nonbelievers because everyone has a right to what they believe. Therefore they accept and support those who love differently or give a different interpretation of God’s Word. They have bought into the love is love idea.

I believe God is shaking the world right now (Haggai 2:6-7; Amos 9:8-10; Hebrews 12:25-27).  It’s time to wake up and open our eyes. It’s time to get off the fence. Will we follow the Creator or the created? We can’t have both God’s approval and man’s approval. We can’t love both God and the world (1 John 2:15-16). Compromise is not a choice. As Christians, we must obey God over man (Acts 5:29). We must walk in His ways. But do we? Will we?

1 John 4:16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 

1 Corinthians 7:2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

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

1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

Mark 10:6-8 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, and the two shall become one flesh.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

1 John 2:15-16 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life – is not from the father but is from the world.

Acts 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

1 John 2:17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Haggai 2:6-7 For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.

Amos 9:8-10  Behold, the eyes of the LORD GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” declares the LORD. For behold, I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one shakes a sieve, but no pebble shall fall to the earth.  All the sinners of my people will die by the sword – all those who say, “Disaster will never draw near or confront us.”

Hebrews 12:25-27  See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns us from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken – that is, things that have been made – in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.

Love God First and Foremost – Open Your Eyes Series

On By LindaIn Open Your EyesLeave a comment
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Deuteronomy 6:5  Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Do you love God first and foremost? What does that look like?

Love: Strong’s 157 to have affection.  Affection is defined as a gentle feeling of fondness or liking.

You can feel affection for all sorts of things. Family, your pets, and babies.  Maybe even chocolate, cozy fires on cold days, and walks on the beach.  What about God?  Do you feel affection towards Him? Do thoughts of Him fill you with delight and warmth?

Your heart: Strong’s 3824  inner man, mind, will, heart

What fills your heart each day? Is it God? How much of your heart do you give to God? How much time do you spend thinking about Him and His ways?

Your soul: Strong’s 5315 a soul, living, being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

What is your passion in life? What is your greatest desire? What elicits the greatest emotions in you? Is it God? Do you seek Him as earnestly and passionately as you do your hobbies or jobs or love relationships? Do you get emotional about Him like you do at football games or concerts?

Your strength: Strong’s 3966 vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily

Where do you put your greatest energy? What goals and dreams do you work towards with all your strength? Is it getting to know God? To grow in love and knowledge of Him? Of doing the things He has asked of you?

Jesus grew up with the Old Testament.  He was well familiar with Deuteronomy 6:5. But when He was asked about the greatest commandment, He said it in a different way.

Luke 10:27 And He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all our soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Love: Strong’s 25 to love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for, denotes the love of reason, esteem.

This expands on the definition of love above. Not only are you to set your affection on Him, but do you also long for Him and esteem Him above all else? Do you take pleasure in Him and His ways?

Heart: Strong’s 2532 the heart i.e. the thoughts or feelings

This one is very close to the Deuteronomy scripture. How much of your thought-life is spent on God? Do you freely give Him your feelings, or do you hold back on those, keeping Him more academic?

Soul: Strong’s 5590 breath i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely

Does every breath you take find its home in God? If you only got to take in a breath each time your thoughts went to God, would you thrive or die of suffocation?

Strength” Strong’s 2479 strength (absolutely), power, might, force, ability

How much force do you apply to push past distractions that come between you and God? How much will-power do you exert in seeking God when you’re tired or stressed or worried or sad? Do you run after Him with the best of your ability? Or do you make half-hearted attempts, giving up when the way gets hard?

Mind: Strong’s 1271 deep thought, properly, the faculty, by implication, its exercise

How deeply do you contemplate God? Are thoughts of Him fleeting as they dance through your mind, or do you exercise your brain, digging deep to understand what God reveals to you through His Word?

Don’t forget the word ‘all’. God didn’t say to love Him with some of our heart, some of our strength, some of our mind. He wants it all.

I do not do a very good at following this first and foremost command. I suspect that you don’t either. We might have lots of reasons for falling short. We’re human, we’re busy with the concerns of life, and we don’t want to become extreme like “those” people. But none of that excuses us. God gave the command to us fully aware that we are human. He’s told us to seek His kingdom first and He’d provide everything we needed. As for being extreme, Jesus was a bit extreme when He died for us. How much less so should we be?

Why does God want us to be so focused on Him? Why does He want us to love Him above all other things or people? I don’t know because it is not spelled out in the Bible. But I do know it’s not for His benefit. His commands to us are always for our benefit, to keep us safe, and to help us grow in our relationship with Him. Could it be that this first command is the basis of our entire relationship with Him? That it forms the foundation that will help us get through hard times? That in the end times, which we may well be in, it will keep us safe from deception of all kinds?

Too many times we are lulled into letting thoughts of Him drift away as other things take His place. It’s easy to become complacent until He becomes a no more than a Sunday routine. Let’s wake up to reality – to how much we actually love God. Let’s not accept anything less than our all. Let’s pray and ask God to help us grow in our ability to obey His command. That is one prayer I can pretty much guarantee He will be pleased to grant.

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 

Are We Living In a Social Earthquake? Part 1

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parables, My Thoughts4 Comments
Photo by rtb3_photography on Pexels.com

I was reading about earthquakes the other day. Having never experienced one myself, I was fascinated to read the accounts by those who had. Their descriptions of the ground rolling and undulating, of the difficulty of walking straight, of buildings swaying, and the loud rumbling and groaning noises are hard for me to imagine. But then, I thought, maybe I can understand, because I may being living in one right now.

 It seemed when I was a child back in the 50s and 60s, life was a lot more stable, generally speaking. It was easy to identify right from wrong. Lies were called out. People were held accountable for their actions.

But over the decades, life seems to have become increasingly unstable, like the vibrations of an earthquake growing ever stronger. Today, it feels as if we are in a nation-wide 8.0 social earthquake. Just like an 8.0 physical earthquake causes major damage to land and the buildings on them, this social earthquake is doing major damage to the social and spiritual foundation of our country. People’s beliefs, attitudes, and lifestyles are shifting and shaking as ideas are pushed on them by vocal groups, politicians, and biased media. It’s hard to walk a straight path when we are being told to go first one way, and then another. Good is now being called evil, and evil is now considered good. Experts contradict each other, polls show whatever their creators want them to show, and AI blurs the lines between real and false. We no longer know what to believe, who to listen to, or where to go to find safety.

What if we stopped looking around and looked up instead. What if we got quiet and listened to what our Maker might be telling us.

He might be saying, “Hold on to Me. Don’t put your trust in what you see or don’t see around you. The only place for your trust is Me. I am the only one who knows everything that is happening, and how it all turns out.”

Polls media reports, political interviews can all be skewed. We can watch, discuss, research, and develop opinions – but we shouldn’t trust any of it to save us, save the nation, or to predict the future.

Trust the one who has the future in His hands. He is the only one who can save us and make our steps firm.

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Psalm 1121: 1-3 

for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ Isaiah 46: 9b-10

In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:10

Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie. Psalm 40:4

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. Psalm 118:8

The Throne of Your Heart

On By LindaIn My Thoughts2 Comments

One of the things all Christians have in common is that we had to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior in order to become one.

Romans 10:9-10 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Most Christians have little trouble accepting Him as Savior. Most of us know we can’t save ourselves (there are some whose lives show differently, but that’s a topic for another day) and we are grateful for what Jesus did to save us. But for many people, that’s enough. Accepting His Lordship seems to take a lower priority in many of our lives and hearts. Jesus warned us about this.

Luke 6a “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?

Could that be because as Americans, we don’t have a clear grasp of lords or of thrones? Merriam-Webster describes a lord as “someone having power and authority over others, to whom service and obedience are due.” They sit on thrones. Thrones symbolize the sovereignty, power, control, glory, judgment, and authority of the one who has the right to sit on it. For us, that person is supposed to be Jesus.

Revelation 17:14b for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

In our culture today, we don’t have kings, lords, or thrones. If it helps, we can think of Jesus as the Boss of bosses, the Top Guy, the 6-star General (that puts Him above the 5-star generals), or the CEO of Planet Earth. What He says goes. Not one can tell Him what to do, how to do it, or what needs to be changed. He holds total authority.

Is this how we see Jesus? Is He Lord to us? As I watch and listen to Christians, I think the answer is yes and no.

We freely acknowledge His Lordship over the earth. He created everything and is sovereign over all.

Psalm 103:19 The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.

We freely acknowledge His Lordship over our churches. We, the church, exist to worship Him, learn about Him, and to serve Him through serving others.

We somewhat acknowledge His Lordship over our families. We try to live by Christian principles and expect other members of our family to abide by Christian morals.

But when it comes down to our lives – to our hearts – it’s often a different story. We don’t want to give up control of our lives. We want to sit on the throne. We believe we have the right to choose for ourselves what we do, say, and believe. However, the truth is, we gave up those rights when we accepted Jesus as Lord.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Song of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

1 Corinthians 6:19b-20 You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Peter 2:10a Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people;

Jesus is Lord. We are not. Yet, no matter how much we may mean it when we say it, we live as though we are still on the thrones in our hearts. While praying this morning, I got an idea, inspiration, thought, whatever of some of the ways we cling to the throne in our heart. I am guilty of them all, so this is for me as well as for you.

The Can We Share Position

Some of us squeeze over on the seat to make room for Jesus. We don’t want to give up our throne, but we want Him to be on it with us. We want to share the rulership. We want to do what we want, until things get too hard or crazy, and then we ask Him to take over. That doesn’t make Him Lord. That makes Him our servant – a very powerful servant, but a servant nonetheless because we only yield to Him when we choose to.

Many others of us have managed to get off the throne – mostly. We cling in various ways, afraid to give up total control.

The I Can Help Position

Sometimes it’s our arms that remain glued to the armrest. Arms symbolize power.

Psalm 44:3 for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them.

We want some of the power to make our own decisions based on our own knowledge and understanding. We want to help Jesus deal with what happens in our lives. We want to fight against those who get in our way. We want to get back at those who hurt us. We want to forge paths into our careers. We want to make people change in order for us to live more comfortably. We want to judge the motivation of those who ask for money. But Jesus had a lot to say about this…

Matthew 5:42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

Matthew 5:44b and pray for those who persecute you,

Luke 6:27b do good to those who hate you,

Matthew 5:39b-40 Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right check, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.

Romans 12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

It’s scary to give up this power. What if God doesn’t do things the way we think He ought? What if by thinking that, we are actually saying God can’t take care of us as well as we can take care of ourselves? There’s plenty of assurance in the Bible that He can and will.

Psalm 145:16 You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

Isaiah 41:10 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.

(Isaiah 41:10 NASB1995  Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’)

Psalm 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you will revive me; you stretch forth your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand will save me.

Isaiah 33:22 For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king; he will save us.

The Is This Enough Position

Sometimes it’s our feet that stay attached. Feet symbolize our lives, our walk with Him.

Proverbs 4:26-27 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Romans 10:14-15 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Being a light, spreading the Good News, witnessing to others about Jesus, and living by all of Jesus’ words will make us stand out from the world. It will be uncomfortable, inconvenient, and messy at times. We will become targets of persecution (Jesus said “when”, not “if”). By keeping our foot attached to our throne, we give ourselves the option to adjust or refuse an assignment from Jesus. “Not this time.” “Maybe later.” “Let me think about it.” “Will this be good enough?” It could be we are too comfortable with rejecting or compromising with earthly authority when it doesn’t suit us or make sense, and extend that same attitude towards Jesus. But rejecting authority puts us above the authority, even if it’s just a foot’s worth.

The Do You Have Enough Room Position

A common idiom – by the seat of my pants – is defined by dictionary.com as “using or based on experience, instinct, or guesswork, done without the aid of instruments”. Based on this, I would like to submit that our bottoms represent our thoughts.

We want to use our reasoning, our understandings, what we see and hear, to determine our actions. We resist using the Bible if what we think makes more sense to us than what we read. What we forget is that God can see so much more than we can. We get caught up with all the details, skirmishes, and distractions around us while God can see the everything from above. He sees the big picture, the beginning to the end, and how all things fit together. He looks at things differently than we do. He values different things than we value. He has different goals than we sometimes have.

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

We are okay about giving room for His thoughts, but we don’t want to give up all of our own. We like to think we and those around us have some wisdom and knowledge because of our past experiences, and frequently we’d rather rely on that than what we find in the Bible – the tool God has given to us. It’s hard to accept in the moment that God’s view and knowledge is better than our own. It’s hard to rejoice that we are blessed while we are being persecuted. It’s hard to obey when we’re told to sell all we have and give to the poor, or to leave our family to go to an unfamiliar place. It doesn’t make sense.

Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Mark 10:21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.

It’s hard to get completely off the throne in our hearts. It’s hard to trust all He says, to obey all He commands. Few of us want to be or admit to rebellious, and yet we live in as much rebellion as the Israelites did, only in much subtler ways. Why? Is it because we want to be comfortable? Is it because we want to be in charge? Or is it because we don’t really – deep down really – trust God to take care of us, to do what He says He will do, when it makes no sense?

If it’s this third reason that forms the bottom line of our attitude, God understands, as is evidenced from the multitude of scriptures He gave us about His faithfulness.

Psalm 33:4 For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.

Psalms 40:11 As for you, O LORD, you will not retrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

2 Timothy 2:13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful – for he cannot deny himself.

Psalm 26:3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness.

The Bible is clear – God is faithful. He will do what He says. He will take care of us, lead us, sustain us, and provide for us. What if we took Him at His word? What if we did things His way? What if we truly made Him Lord in our lives?

I have not achieved that yet, but I am committing to working towards that goal daily, with His help. My first step is to determine what those commandments are by reading through the Gospels and list everything He said to do. If you think that would be helpful to you, let me know and I will post that list when it’s finished.

Psalm 119:30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.

I’m not talking about becoming religious or legalistic. I know we have been set free from that. I’m talking about walking as Jesus did, of seeing things through God’s eyes, and being a woman after God’s own heart. I’m also not talking about earning my way into heaven. Jesus already did that for me. I’m talking about responding to His love by loving Him the way He said in John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. I’m talking about getting off the throne in my heart.

What about you? Will you make Him Lord as well as Savior? Will you get off the throne in your heart?

Psalm 26:2 Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind.