Tag: Scriptures

Who Are We Following? Part 2 Spiritual Beliefs

On By LindaIn Uncategorized, Who Are We FollowingLeave a comment
Photo by Wallace Chuck on Pexels.com

With the exception of what some atheists say about themselves, we all have spiritual beliefs. And we all believe that what we believe is the truth. But how often do we consider the origin of what we actually believe? I say actually, because often we say we believe something but our actions prove that we really don’t.

Usually we take on the beliefs of whoever we are following. Whether that be our parents, the religion we grew up in, the education we received, those we esteem as being wiser or better than ourselves, or our own reasoning, we rarely give much thought to why we believe what we believe. We believe because someone in authority told us to believe. We believe because it feels right to us. We believe because it seems logical to our way of thinking. We believe because it makes us feel part of a group.  Or we believe because we had a spiritual encounter. Regardless of how we formed our beliefs, they become part of who we are. They can change over time as we learn and mature – if we think about what we believe – but for most people beliefs become set and are very hard to change. Have you noticed how defensive people can get when talking about them? Almost as much as when talking about politics. In my view, that’s because they are not looking at their beliefs objectively. Their beliefs go very deep in their hearts and they cannot separate who they are from what they believe.

Over the years, especially the last year or two, I have felt God leading me to examine everything I believe. I have been surprised, sometimes even shocked, to find out just how much of what I believe did not come from Him. I imagine the Jews at the time when Jesus walked the earth must have felt the same whenever Jesus spoke against some of what the religious leaders were teaching.  He sometimes began by saying, “You have heard it said,” and then continue with, “but I say.” God had given Moses the laws they were to follow, but over the centuries, religious leaders added to them. Most likely, some had good intentions. Their job was to assist the Jews in their worship and sacrifices to God as well as to model how to live pure lives. They probably added laws that they felt made God’s laws clearer. But others added or enforced laws to increase their own power and prestige.  Such were the Pharisees and the Sadducees that Jesus strongly and clearly spoke out against, especially with all those woes in Matthew 23.

Jesus warned against the danger of wrong beliefs by comparing them to leaven.  “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they (the disciples) understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew 16:11b-12. Mark adds “the leaven of Herod” (Mark 8:15) so it’s not just what the Jews were learning from religion but also what they were learning from secularism.

So what do you believe? How do you determine what is true?  For Christians, that would be the Bible. Not a religious leader no matter how famous or important or loved. Not your pastor or your family or your own reasoning. They may be preaching truth, but we should be like the Bereans in Acts 17 who examined the Scriptures nightly to see if what Paul was preaching was true.

When God told me to have a Scripture for each thing I told people in my blogs or other writings, I was amazed at what I found. Or rather, what I didn’t’ find. I was raised in a strict denomination with many rules and traditions. I was part of the early Charismatic movement with its heavy emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit. I got into the Enneagram when it was first introduced into my group of Christian friends. I followed the Word of Faith and the Prosperity Gospel teachings, again in its earlier days. I attended the services of varying denominations. I read multiple books on different religions and on the history of Christianity. I immersed myself in science fiction through books, TV shows, and movies. My faith – the things I believed – was knowingly and unknowingly influenced by all of these areas. As I began to examine what I believed by searching for it in the Scriptures, it turns out some of it was true, but a lot of it was not found in the Bible. In fact, some of it bordered on the occult and new thought (Christianized occult practices and beliefs) and was actually condemned in the Bible. I then had a choice: continue to believe what I wanted to believe, or repent and change to line up with God’s Word.

It’s hard to accept that something we hold near and dear to our hearts could be partially or completely untrue. Some that come to mind are…

God helps those who help themselves.

God wants everyone healthy and wealthy.

If I am good enough, I will get into heaven.

Being sick is caused by sinning.

Disasters in our lives are caused by Satan attacking us.

Jesus died for my past sins, but I have to pay for my current and future sins.

We are all children of God.

I used to believe each of those at some point in my life, but have since found Scriptures that reveal the fallacy of such beliefs. Let me know if you want me to send you some of the Scriptures I found.

Stay tuned. Next, I plan to start examining specific beliefs.

Note about the Bible, it’s important to read the context of whatever verse is being referenced. Biblical verses taken out of context can be made to say or support anything. John 6:27 is a good example.

John 6:27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.

If we pulled this Scripture by itself without considering it in the context of the rest of the Bible, we might use it to believe that we shouldn’t have jobs. We might think that we should only do spiritual things and that our food will come directly from Jesus. However, reading through the other books in the Bible, we know that we are supposed to live in the world (have jobs, support our families) but not be of it (with the same world views, morality, ambitions). Our focus should be on the kingdom of heaven – spiritual matters – without expecting others to take care of us (see the last Scriptures listed below).

Scriptures:

Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees

Matthew 23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,[a] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi[b] by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.[c] 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.[d] 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell[e] as yourselves.

16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah,[f] whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

“You have heard it that was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Matthew 5:43-44

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Acts 17:10-11

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own lands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Ephesians 4:28

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, Colossians 3:23

Nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:8

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly, and to earn their own living. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12

Life is Like Enlarging a Fish Pond, Part 13 – The Unexpected

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parablesLeave a comment

Really? A freeze this far into spring? I knew the possibility existed but I had begun planting flowers as if it only existed in the minds of the forecasters. Coming from Florida not too many years ago, I still have trouble thinking in terms of Virginia seasons. And so I had been happily adding much needed color to my fish pond. Now all my work was threatened by something I couldn’t see nor control.

I looked at the freeze warning on my phone again. Maybe freeze warnings here were like hurricane warnings in my part of Florida – a lot of hype that tended to dwindle out by landfall. Well, there was that one hurricane about seven years ago that was worse than predicted. But that was very unusual. Most of the time hurricanes were just thunderstorms that quickly passed. If freeze warnings here were the same as hurricane warnings there, then my garden and I had nothing to worry about.

Besides, it had been hot – in the eighties – for several days. Surely the temperature couldn’t drop over fifty degrees in one day. Maybe I could ignore the forecast and just continue doing what I have been doing. But thoughts of the plants I had lost to freezing temps my first year here came to mind. If I ignored these new warnings, more plants could die.

Groaning with frustration, I went outside. Everything looked so pretty in the warm bright sunshine. The leaves were a nice deep green and some of the plants were beginning to flower. Moving them would probably affect their growth, and there were so many of them. It would take numerous trips with the wagon to get them to the greenhouse, and they might not all even fit inside. Maybe if I just threw a blanket on them, they would not all have to be moved. That’s what I had done in Florida when it got cold. But if I was wrong, all my beautiful flowers would die. My unbelief and laziness would kill them just as much as the cold temperature.

Choosing safety over sorrow, I began transferring the new plants back into pots, loaded them on to my wagon and walked the twenty yards to the greenhouse.  I put the water plants in plastic tubs with several inches of water and strained to lift it into the wagon before sloshing my way across the yard. It eventually took almost a dozen trips to get everything into the greenhouse and by the time I latched the door closed, my knee was aching. It was time to go inside, ice my knee, and trust that I had done all I could. The rest was up to nature.

Just as my progress in my garden was disrupted by the freeze, our lives can be disrupted by events that we can’t control. A car accident can put us in the hospital. A stolen identity can empty our bank account. A misunderstanding can destroy a relationship. Cancer can challenge our perseverance. The death of a child can send us into a pain-filled depression from which we see no way out.

Unlike the freeze warning that went out, there is usually no alert that our life is about to change. One day all is well and we’re fussing about frizzy hair – the next we wish we had hair. There are no life-radars to alert us to an approaching disaster. But we do have the Bible, which has a lot to say about navigating life’s storms.

Before a storm

When things are going well, we might want to either ignore any thoughts of possible disasters or to live in worry that something could happen at any moment. Jesus told His disciples not to worry but to watch and pray. Paul said to be watchful and pray continuously. Peter said to be watchful, sober, and self-controlled for the sake of our prayers. In the Old Testament, David said to stay near God and seek Him as refuge. The word s ‘watch’ and ‘pray’ occur many times throughout the Bible. That means it’s important that we avoid complacency. We need to keep watch for danger (like scams and unhealthy food), stay alert (use discernment and be open to hear from God), and stay sober (self-disciplined and eyes focused on Jesus). We need to pray always, stay close to God, and make Him our refuge at all times – in both good and bad times.

During the storm

When things get rough, we may be tempted to throw a bunch of prayers, like a blanket, at the problems and hope it’s enough. We may plead with God out of desperation like the disciples did when their boat was caught in a storm. We may sink under the waves like Jonah did hoping God save us. We may get angry and fight the gale winds. But in each case, our eyes are on the wrong thing. The Bible tells us to run to Jesus and let Him handle it. David tells us to seek refuge in God’s presence. God says to trust His promises and to wait on Him. We need to keep our focus on God – on who He is and what He has promised. We need to be patient with both the situation and its impact on us and those we love.

After a storm

When things calm down both inside and outside of us, we can rejoice and watch for God to keep His promises to comfort, heal and restore. We will discover that we have been made stronger and wiser as God used what went through to transform us into the image of Jesus.

Back in Virginia, the freeze did come and I was glad that my plants, crowded as they were in my greenhouse, were safe. Once the weather warms up again, I will be able to restore them to their places in or near the pond. Until then, I will turn my thoughts towards God, wait patiently for the weather to change, and spend my time doing what I can do, which may or may not include cleaning my neglected house.

(Many) Scriptures:

Before a storm:

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

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 not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:12

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, Jude 1:20

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 1 Peter 4:7

You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:8

He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112:7

During the storm:

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. Hebrews 6:15

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has be poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

Wait for the Lord, be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. James 5:13a

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 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 5:14-16

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah. Psalm 61:4

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Psalm 62:8

Bur for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge that I may tell of all your works. Psalm 73:28

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Proverbs 30:5

In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. Proverbs 14:26

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

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. Psalm 119:50

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul take refuge, in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. Psalm 57:1

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4

For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love will not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundation with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones. Isaiah 54:10-12

After the storm:

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10

But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and refuge in the day of my distress. Psalm 59:16

The Lord sustains him on his sickbed, in his illness you restore him to full health. Psalm 41:3

You will increase my greatness and comfort me again. Psalm 71:21

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted. Isaiah 49:13

For the Lord comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song. Isaiah 51:3

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3

A Prayer for SIL, Day 30

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Jesus, King of hope, I pray that You fill SIL with the hope she needs to see what she needs to see. I pray that as she opens her eyes, she is not filled with despair but with Your love, grace, and mercy.

And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 1 John 3:3

Jesus, as SIL puts her hope in You, may she purify herself as You are pure.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Jesus, may You Yourself, and God our Father, who loves SIL and gave her eternal comfort and good hope though grace, comfort her heart and establish it in every good work and word.

In Your Comforting Name,

Amen.

Life is Like Enlarging a Fish Pond, Part 7 – The Toads

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parablesLeave a comment

The loud croaking of toads – I mean the LOUD croaking of toads drew me towards the plastic fish pond next to the larger dug-out pond. I had drained and cleaned the smaller one in preparation of lining it when I lined the larger pond but then abandoned it when the lining wasn’t long enough to cover both. My neglect was evident as I looked into the muddy rain water that now dirtied the pond. Clay is horrible to clean. It stains everything it touches. Because I had not protected the pond, I would now have to drain it again and ruin more towels when the new liner arrived.

I turned to go back to laying rocks around the big pond but the croaking interrupted me again. Where were those toads?

And then I saw them. Nine toads had fallen or jumped into the plastic pond. Apparently they couldn’t jump back out so it was up to me to rescue them. But how was I supposed to get them out? The bottom of that pond was too low for me to reach from where I stood. I didn’t really want to step into the water – shoes or no shoes. And they completely ignored the branch-ramp I carefully set in the pond.

Then I saw the fish net. Perfect. In minutes the toads were happily doing their thing among the plants in the larger pond.

Just like my neglect in securing the plastic pond caused a problem for the toads, our neglect in life can cause problems for other people. Broken promises to help someone in need can cause that need to remain unmet because the person was counting on us to meet it. Leaving early or not showing up for our shift serving at the food pantry can leave the group shorthanded. Inconsistently attending a Bible study and asking the group to catch us up on what we missed causes the whole group to lose momentum.

Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys. Proverbs 18:9

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:16

Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 1 Timothy 4:14

But the ones most affected by our procrastination and neglect, especially of something God called us to do, are ourselves. Not taking every thought captive to obey Christ can trap us in old thinking patterns and sin.  Inconsistently reading the Bible or not putting into action what we read keeps us from growing spiritually. Neglecting meeting with other believers or in going to church puts us in danger of growing cold and eventually being deceived into wrong beliefs.

Rationalization, justification, explanation – it doesn’t matter. The bottom line is that something that should be done isn’t. God calls that disobedience.

Hear instructions and be wise, and do not neglect it. Proverbs 8:33

What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father? Matthew 21 28-31

And disobedience has dire consequences.

“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. Matthew 7:21

In the case of my pond, I couldn’t finish it along with the other because I didn’t have the materials I needed. But that doesn’t excuse the way I left it. I could have covered it and protected it from the rain which would have protected the toads. Which reminds me of yet another of Jesus’ parables.

When the unclean spirits have gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. Luke 11:24-26a

Let’s take care of the jobs we have been given, and hopefully we won’t find later on that nine toads have moved into our lives.

More Scriptures:

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. James 1 22-24

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

Life is Like Enlarging a Fish Pond, Part 6 – Adding the Fish

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parablesLeave a comment

I stared at the local weather app on my phone with disbelief, and then did a quick search for other weather resources. Surely the local forecast was wrong. I was expecting freezing temperatures soon, but snow tomorrow? My fish were still in bins! Not only are they in less than two feet of water, but they aren’t even underground. How would they survive? Well, there was only one thing to do. They had to get into the pond before nightfall.

I went outside and turned on the hose. At least we had a well so there was no concern about anything harmful in the water. But it also meant there was nothing helpful in the water either. Pond water is filled with bacteria and organisms that the fish need. It takes weeks to develop. I had hours.

And then I got an idea. The tubs were filled with fish and plants – and old pond water. What if I used that water to help fill the pond? I couldn’t think of any reason not to, so I shut off the hose and walked over to the first tub that contained fish. Carefully I netted them and did what everyone says not to do. I let them go free in the pond. Then I quickly dumped bucket after bucket of the tub water into the pond. The clear refreshing water in the pond now looked brown and murky. Disappointed that I had messed up the pond, I added the pump and filter. Maybe I could fix this.

After many hours, there was no difference in the water. What else could I do?  

After much internal debate, I decided to add more water. The new well water would mix with the old pond water and hopefully dilute it. But all it did was to make more murky water.

I wondered what would have happened if, instead of dumping buckets of old water into the new water letting them land where they would, I would have chosen a corner and slowly, carefully poured the old water into the new. There might still be some cloudiness in that area, but the rest of the pond might have remained clear.

It was late now and getting colder. Totally dejected about the whole thing, I went inside my house. My fish was safe from the snow, but at the cost of the beautiful pond water.

Our past experiences impact and control our emotions as we act on both the truths and lies they taught us. We need our past experiences just like the fish need what is in the murky water. Our experiences are what made us what we are today. But it’s wise to be aware of when and how they are impacting our day to day interactions and decisions. The question is not if our past is going to affect us, but how. Allowing the past to control our thoughts and emotions without thought or restraint is like dumping tubs of murky water into the clear pond. We can no longer see clearly. But being intentional about where and how the past is allowed to impact the present may help keep our vision clear.

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. Proverbs 15:18

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Romans 7:15

But whoever hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 1 John 2:11

They are darkened in their understanding, alienate from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to the their hardness of heart. Ephesians 4:18

Let us pray for discernment as we examine our reactions and motivations. Let us see where we have dumped something we learned in the past into the present situation causing confusion and regrettable actions. Let us seek the truth, for the truth will set us free (John 8:32)

Life is Like Enlarging a Fish Pond, Part 5 – The Lining

On By LindaIn allegories, analogies, and parablesLeave a comment

Yay! The hole is all dug out and it’s time to lay the lining! All I have to do is unroll the lining, stretch it out over the hole, and start filling it water. Easy, right? That’s what all the videos show.

With my heart beating just a bit faster with anticipation, I began unrolling the lining. Unflopping it would be a better word. The lining was not rolled. It was folded. As I opened it up, there were multiple fold lines. Folds can be a source of weakness in a lining causing small leaks. The less folds the better. I knew that more fold lines would be created as I tried to mold it around curves in the pond, but to start out with them was a bit disappointing.

After fully unflopping the liner, my husband helped me to carry it over to the hole, which revealed problem number two: how to carry something that heavy above the twig and leaf covered ground. After many false starts, we gave up and just dragged it. Hopefully the lining was stronger than the reviews stated.

Once positioned, I carefully climbed down into the hole as water from the hose began filling it. I pushed and pulled, trying to take out as many folds and wrinkles as possible. It was impossible. But I kept at it until the water reached the lower shelves. I added some rocks to hold the liner in place.

 As I climbed out, I wondered why something that looked so easy on videos had been so hard for me. And then I remembered. In my hurry to get the fish into their new home before the coming freeze, I didn’t follow the helpful hint of letting the liner sit in the sun for a while to soften before trying to manipulate it.

At least the lining was in and the refilling had begun.

As I walked around the pond, I ran into yet another problem. The lining was supposed to cover both the dug out pond and the preformed plastic pond next to it to form one big pond. But in all the positioning, tugging, and pulling, somehow the lining twisted and it no longer covered the small pre-formed pond.

My vision was ruined. There was no going back without draining the pond again. And there was no way to maneuver the lining with the weight of the water laying on it.

After cutting a smaller lining and trying it in every direction possible to cover and link the two ponds together, I gave up. There was no way now to join the two ponds. By this point, I was ready to give up on the whole thing. I wanted to throw things at it or kick it or yell my frustration out at my husband. Instead, I went inside to shed a few tears. And to pray.

In life, how often do we try to accomplish our tasks on our own? Jesus will empower us to do the things He asks of us, but it doesn’t come automatically. We have to abide in Him.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples. John 8:31

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. John 15:4

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. John 15:9

How do we abide in Jesus? What does that look like? Paul gave some instructions that we can follow.

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:18-21

What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 1 Corinthians 14:15

David is a great model for abiding in God.

Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to this excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Psalm 150:1-6

I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? Psalm 77:11-13

I will lift up my hands towards your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. Psalm 119:48

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. Psalm 63:5-7

Let’s soak in the Son before attempting big projects in our own strength and reasoning. Certainly the One who accomplished the greatest building project of all time can help us with our own.

A Prayer for SIL, Day 22

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Jesus, protect Sil from the enemy as You work in her. Help her to focus on You, to learn about You in the ways she needs to. Lead her to the Scriptures that will guide her on her walk with You. Whet her appetite for more of You and less of the world. Clarify her vision of what is important – and who is important. And fill her with Your goodness and love.

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices, my flesh also dwells secure…. You make known to me the path of life, in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forever more. Psalm 16:8, 9, 11

I pray that SIL sets You always before her. May she realize that because You are at her right hand, she won’t be shaken. Therefore, may her heart be glad and her whole being rejoice, and may her body dwell secure. Make known to her the path of life so that she may walk it with You. May she experience the fullness of joy that is found in Your presence and find that at Your right hand are pleasures forever more.

In Your Joyous Name,

Amen.

A Prayer for SIL, Day 21

On By LindaIn prayersLeave a comment

Lord, I lift up SIL to You tonight as she sleeps. Speak to her in her dreams. Show her the things that she’s resisting in the day so she can open up to Your healing touch in the night. Heal her body so she can focus on the spiritual.

Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2

And the man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears and set your heart upon all that I shall show you, for you were brought here in order that I might show it to you… Ezekiel 40:4a

Jesus I pray that SIL will look with her eyes and hear with her ears, and set her heart upon all that You show her. And I pray that You help her to realize that she was brought here in order that You might show it to her.

In Your Healing Touch,

Amen.

Storms

On By LindaIn My ThoughtsLeave a comment
Photo by GEORGE DESIPRIS on Pexels.com

God creates them.

God dwells in them.

God sends them.

God controls them.

God shelters us from them.

God moves in them.

Through many scriptures (many are listed below), I’m hearing God say something like this:

Do not be afraid of the storms in life. I am greater than them no matter their source. Seek the shelter I offer, but offer only to the meek for I refuse to safeguard the haughty lest they take the glory for themselves and think they are able to control the storm or protect themselves. Let them try. It may or may not work. But for those who humble themselves, who seek my protection my way, it will always work. Maybe not the way they want. Maybe not without damage. Maybe not even their physical lives. But, whether on earth or in heaven, they will be stronger, safe, and with Me on the other side.

What do you hear God saying?

Scriptures:

Ex 19:9a And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak to you, and may also believe you forever.”

Ex 19:16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.

Lev 16:2b …for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.

1 Kings 8:12b …”The Lord has said he would dwell in thick darkness.”

Ps 18:11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds with water

Ps 57:1b … in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by

Ps 97:2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

Ps 104:3 He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind;

Ps 107:25a He commanded and raised the storm wind…

Ps 107:29b He made the storm be still …

Ps 135:7 He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

Ps 138:6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.

Prov 1:27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you

Is 2:11 The haughty looks of men shall be brought low and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

Is 25:4 For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the need in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat, for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,

Is 28:2 Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong, like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest, like a storm of might, overflowing waters, he casts down to the earth with his hand.

Is 30:30 And the Lord will cause his majestic voice to be heard and the descending blow of his arm to be seen, in furious anger and a flame of devouring fire, with a cloudburst and storm and hailstorm

Jer 23:19 Behold the storm of the Lord! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest, it will burst upon the head of the wicked

Ez 13:13 therefore thus says the Lord God: I will make a stormy wind break out in my wrath, and there shall be a deluge of rain in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to make a full end.

Jonah 1:4 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.

Nahum 1:3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way in in the whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Luke 9:34-35 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

Rom 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own eyes.

2 Peter 2:17 These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them gloom of utter darkness has been reserved.

Rev 4:5a From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder…

Is God Too Busy For the Little Things?

On By LindaIn short stories5 Comments

She listened as the people around her talked.

“We need to do what we can before we ask God to help,” one person said.

“Yeah, you know what they say, ‘God helps those who help themselves.'” said another.

“God’s too busy with requests from so many people for us to bother Him with little things or things we could do ourselves.” said a third, shaking his head adamantly.

And they all nodded their heads in agreement with each other.

She’d had heard similar comments most of her life. They didn’t surprise her. What did surprise her was where they were coming from. These were all Christians, all professing a personal relationship with God… yet saying He was generally too busy for them.

Were they right? She didn’t think so. She knew in her own prayer life, nothing was too small for God. And He was never too busy for her. Yet there were times He was quiet. She had thought it was to grow her faith. Or because it was something He had already told her. But now she started thinking maybe it was because He was pretty busy and hadn’t had time to answer her.

She went to the only source of truth she knew – the Bible. “OK, God, are You too busy for the small things?” she asked as she opened it.

Eph 6:18 “… pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

Phil 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Hmmm, she thought. All occasions. All kinds of prayers. Every situation. That doesn’t sound like just the big things. God wants us praying for everything – small as well as big.

She had a new question for God. “Can You really hear us each time we pray, or are You too busy sometimes and You miss some of our prayers?”

1 Peter 3:12  “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer.”

Ps 145:18 “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.”

Ps 33:18 “The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His unfailing love.”

So, she thought, His eyes and ears are always open to my prayers. That doesn’t sound like He misses any of them.

She had one more question. “How can You listen to so many people and still have time for our little things?”

Is 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways… as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Eph 3:18-20 “…how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ… and to know this love that surpasses knowledge… able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…”

I get it, she thought. He’s not limited like we humans are. We may try to understand God as if He were human like us because that’s all we know, but He’s not human. He’s God and He is BIG! Big enough to handle every one of our prayers – no matter how small they might be!

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