Category Archives: Consider Your ways

Biblical Boundaries Matter??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #78

20 Monday Mar 2023

Posted by in A Form of godliness?, Be ye doers of the Word, Be ye DOERS of the word NOT hearers only, Be ye HOLY, Biblical Boundaries Matter!, Born Again, Bow Before our God, Choices And Consequences, Choose you this day?, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Cleanliness?, Compromise, Confessing Sin, Consider Your ways, Darkness or Light?, The Word

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Biblical Boundaries Matter???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #78

As our culture seems to be abandoning everything godly and biblical, I would like to call us to consider God’s Word on the matters of godly living, living holy lives, and being a reflection of Jesus rather than popular fashion, morality, and questionable pursuits.  Will you spend some time with me today considering God’s Word in contrast to the popular message of the world.

“As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:15-16

And note “conversation” here means lifestyle not just our words!

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him;

for he careth for you.”  1 Peter 5:6-7

“Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:

We are called to “humble” ourselves under our Lord God, and Jesus The Son, rather than humbling others with our often sharp and crass words.  For when our hearts are humbled before God, we will find opportunities to lift others up and not tear them down.  We will also learn to see people with eyes of love and forgiveness, rather than going around with a pocket full of rocks to throw.

“Let no corrupt communication

proceed out of your mouth,

but that which is good

to the use of edifying,

that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,

whereby ye are sealed

unto the day of redemption.

31 Let all

bitterness,

and wrath,

and anger,

and clamour,

and evil speaking,

be put away from you,

with all malice:

32 And be ye

kind one to another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God

for Christ’s sake

hath forgiven you.”  Ephesians 4:29-32

Oh, that we can learn to spread kindness and joy rather than the meanness of the world all around us.  When will we (with a capital “ME”) learn to allow the Holy Spirit of Jesus to direct our hearts, lives, words, and actions crying out, “Father, forgive them for the know not what they do….”?  Rather than throwing those rocks that we have in our pockets, Jesus gives us great instruction that is often misunderstood, for Jesus never told us NOT to judge things at all, but to render right judgment with love, kindness, and discernment.  Scripture is replete with instructions in regard to holiness, morality, and just plain right and wrong–and there is still ‘right and wrong’ for the rules haven’t changed.  How are you ‘judging’?  Remember God made mirrors so that we could see our own shortcomings before passing judgment on others.

“Judge not,

that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge,

ye shall be judged:

and with what measure ye mete,

it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou

the mote that is in thy brother’s eye,

but considerest not

the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother,

Let me pull out the mote

out of thine eye;

and, behold,

a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite,

first cast out the beam

out of thine own eye;

and then shalt thou see clearly

to cast out the mote

out of thy brother’s eye.”  Matthew 7:1-5

“For our rejoicing is this,

the testimony of our conscience,

that in simplicity

and godly sincerity,

not with fleshly wisdom,

but by the grace of God,

we have had our conversation

in the world,

and more abundantly

to you-ward.”  2 Corinthians 1:12

“Of his own will begat he us

with the word of truth,

that we should be a kind of firstfruits

of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren,

let every man be

swift to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man

worketh not the righteousness of God.

21 Wherefore lay apart

all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness,

and receive with meekness

the engrafted word,

which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man beholding

his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

 this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you

seem to be religious,

and bridleth not his tongue,

but deceiveth his own heart,

this man’s religion is vain.”James 1:18-26

Just ‘hearers’, or are we ‘doers’?  What do we rejoice in?  Simplicity and “godly sincerity” or with the indulgence and excesses of the world?  Satan makes it so subtle that we are often easily influenced if we don’t know God’s Word to “withstand in the evil day”!  And surely, we are in an evil day!

We also live in a day that not only places no value on “life” but have pretty much written off the sanctity of marriage and a biblical home.

“Marriage is honourable in all,

and the bed undefiled:

but whoremongers and adulterers

God will judge.

5 Let your conversation

be without covetousness;

and be content

with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”  Hebrews 13:4-6

And in closing, I’d like to simply share Paul’s contrast between the deeds of the flesh and the “fruit of the Spirit”.  Where are you walking?  Which set of life-choices are you and I promoting and teaching to those around us–by example as much as by our words (if not more so!)!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit against the flesh:

and these are contrary

the one to the other:

so that ye cannot do the things

that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit,

ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest,

which are these;

Adultery,

fornication,

uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry,

witchcraft,

hatred,

variance,

emulations,

wrath,

strife,

seditions,

heresies,

21 Envyings,

murders,

drunkenness,

revellings,

and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit

the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections

and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:16-25

Note which of these things are accepted, promoted, and flourishing in our culture, and which ones are despised.  The choice is yours, but choose wisely, there is a test.  And remember what we who are Christ’s are called to in the passage that we began with:

“As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:15-16

Amen and Amen

Building Up or Tearing Down??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #75

10 Friday Mar 2023

Posted by in Building up or Tearing down?, Consider Your ways, Contentment, Controlling the TONGUE!, Conviction, Keepers At Home, Kindness, Kindness has no expiration date., Women of God, Women of Kindness & Godliness

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Building Up Or Tearing Down???A Word from THE WORD!!! #75

This post is not just for ladies, but since I am one, I can speak to us ladies with a voice of love, compassion, and experience.  I pray that this word will go where God sends it, for it is a word that I believe is much needed today, I think especially in Christian circles.

“Every wise woman

buildeth her house:

but the foolish

plucketh it down

with her hands.”  Proverbs 14:1

Those of us who are wives, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and just friends and neighbors, need to remember that our words have the power to build up or tear down!  We have the power to encourage or discourage!  We have the power to speak words of love, kindness, truth, and compassion, or we can blurt out words that hurt to the core of someone’s being, that cause those in our circle (especially those in our own home) to wonder where the real “love of Jesus” went?  I know many who use their words to put down rather than lift up; that speak words that exalt ourselves as we destroy the hopes, joys, dreams, and efforts of those we claim to love.

I remember an example that a Bible teacher gave once–a true account–while teaching classes on being godly women and wives.  An older lady who seemed like she had sour lemons for breakfast made comments about her ‘useless’ husband, and there was no use to put any effort into her relationship, for he would never respond, and she couldn’t think of anything nice to say.  She was encouraged to think of something nice to say to her husband that night before the next class.  Well, she went home feeling like she just couldn’t think of anything nice to say and went in and after a bit of time she went to sit with her husband and told him, “You really do a good job with out taxes”!  Well, not very romantic, you might think to no avail, but the woman returned to class with a broken heart and a more teachable spirit, sharing that her husband broke down and cried, saying that was the nicest thing she had said to him in years.  Needless to say, their marriage got a jump start because one wife was willing to hear and obey God’s voice, humble herself and say ‘something nice’!

Now, some of you are shaking your head, saying, “I’m not that bad!”  But in whose eyes?  Your husband’s?  Your children’s?  Your in-law’s?  Your neighbor’s?  The old adage that we all sang on the playground as children is NOT true–“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!”  Words can hurt and can stay with us years and decades longer than any broken bone!  What will you do with your words (and believe me, this hits me in the heart more than any of you reading it, for my tongue has often gotten loose in the wrong direction–no, I don’t curse, but you can be ugly without using one profanity!) today?

I simply want to leave you with a story and a challenge from the famous Proverbs 31 woman.  May we strive to please our Lord with our words and actions toward others, especially our husbands, children, and family.  I think many of us, like the woman in the story above, have become so proud in our own ‘self-righteousness’ that we haven’t heard God’s voice of conviction.  May we truly seek forgiveness, wisdom, and grace to be powerful and kindly women of GOD?

The story is told of a little boy who said mean things about another child and his father overheard his comments.  He asked the boy if he could take his words back, to which the child replied, “sure”.  Well, the father gave him a feather pillow and asked him to scatter the feathers around the town, which he did gladly.  The next day, the father gave the boy the pillow cover and asked him to go and gather the feathers back into the cover, and so he set out to obey.  But as we all know, he came back with only a few of the feathers that came out of the cover.  The boy’s father took the pillow cover and told his son, “so it is with your words”, once you spread mean things around about others, you can’t take them all back, no matter how hard you may try.  Our words fly just like those feathers, into places where we can’t retrieve them.  May we all learn a lesson from the feathers and ask God to set that “guard on my mouth” and think before we share, before we let those ‘put-downs’ make us feel exalted!

“She openeth her mouth

with wisdom;

and in her tongue

is the law of kindness.

27 She looketh well

to the ways of her household,

and eateth not

the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise up,

and call her blessed;

her husband also,

and he praiseth her.”  Proverbs 31:26-28

Blessings on your day and week, may Jesus Christ receive praise and honor by our living!  Ladies let’s step up to the plate and bring the glory of JESUS into our homes and circles of influence-whether at the coffee-klatch, the ballgame, our living room, our bedroom, or shopping!  We can make a difference TODAY for good not harm! I love and pray for you all.

Amen and Amen!!!

Please share as you see fit!

Conforming or Being Transformed??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #49

25 Friday Nov 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Approved Unto God, Are you ready?, Conformed or Transformed?, Conformed to HIS image, Consider Your ways, Examine Myself?, Eyes that SEE HIM, God's provision, God's ways are not our ways, Greater is HE that is IN US!, Holiness, Holy, Holy Living, Holy Spirit, IN Jesus!

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Conforming or Being Transformed? A Word from THE WORD!!! #49

A simple but profound question for each of us on this day after ‘Thanks-giving’–‘Black Friday’ to many shoppers–decorating day for some, yet perhaps we ought to make it a day for some soul-searching.  Have we allowed so much of the world into our hearts, that we have forgotten the admonitions of scripture to be not only “holy” before God and man, but “wholly” devoted to The One who saves, redeems, and transforms us day by day (when we will cooperate) into the image of Jesus (See Romans 8:28-29). I think Paul says it best.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed

to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.

3 For I say,

through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God hath dealt

to every man

the measure of faith.”  Romans 12:1-3

It saddens my heart that so many around us, many who claim the name of Jesus, are so calloused to the corruption of the world.  We no longer seem to take any regard to the words we use–no matter how crass, vulgar, or hurtful to others they may be; and the word “prove” simply means to display before the world a transformed life–reflecting the grace, glory, and power of our LORD!  Just because a word or phrase is popular, doesn’t mean that it should come out of “my” mouth–the Psalmist says it pretty concisely;

“Who can understand his errors?

cleanse thou me from secret faults.

13 Keep back thy servant also

from presumptuous sins;

let them not have dominion

over me:

then shall I be upright,

and I shall be innocent

from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth,

and the meditation of my heart,

be acceptable in thy sight,

O LORD,

my strength,

and my redeemer.”  Psalm 19:12-14

Even as Paul stated so clearly in Romans 12, we are to be “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service”!  The call for holiness in the lives of God’s own, is replete throughout scripture, yet we seem to have relegated it to an “optional” selection for living a Christian life.  I don’t think that God sees it that way.  He loves us, calls us, saves us, by faith through grace, and equips us for HIS service, yet we seem to have forgotten what “service to The King” ought to look like. Peter calls us to remember the cost of our redemption–Jesus’ own blood–how long will we disregard the price paid for our salvation?

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought unto you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.

17 And if ye call on the Father,

who without respect of persons

judgeth according to every man’s work,

pass the time of your sojourning here

in fear:

18 Forasmuch as ye know

that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb

without blemish

and without spot:” 1 Peter 1:13-19

We are “redeemed…with the precious blood of Christ…”!  So, my challenge to each of us is to spend some time today examining our own heart and asking God to reveal to us what HE sees.  Not measuring with the world’s yardstick but with God’s Word–both the written Word-the Bible–as well as The Living Word, JESUS, who has given us HIS precious Holy Spirit, to guide us “into all truth”!  Will you join me today in the pursuit of holiness?

“Search me,

O God,

and know

my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see

if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me

in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

May Jesus Christ be praised through us as we:

“Let the words of my mouth,

and the meditation of my heart,

be acceptable in thy sight,

O LORD,

my strength,

and my redeemer”!

And remember there are little eyes and ears watching and listening to what we do, way more than just what we “say do or don’t do”!

Amen and Amen!!!

What Am I Thankful For??? A Thanksgiving Word for today! #6

06 Sunday Nov 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Bow Before our God, Consider Your ways, Glory of God, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Praise God Today!, PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!, Prayer, Prayer or Panic?, Thankful, Thanksgiving

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What Am I Thankful For???  A Thanksgiving Word for today! #6

When I don’t know how I’ll make it, what do I do?  I bow before The King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who cares about everything that comes into my life and yours!!

“Rejoice in the Lord alway:

and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation

be known unto all men.

The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing

by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known

unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:4-7

Taking every single one of our “requests” to “be made known unto God”!  All because HE cares for us. And Paul goes on to remind us of how to keep our hearts and minds set on Jesus and tuned in to God’s ways.

“Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.”  Philippians 4:8

The prophet Micah writes an amazing instruction regarding our posture before our God, as well as what our God desires from us!  And when we think on these eight things that Paul recommends, we will find the strength, grace, and truth to stand “against the wiles of the devil” no matter the circumstances–standing in Jesus, our truth!

“Wherewith shall I come before the LORD,

and bow myself before the high God?

shall I come before him

with burnt offerings,

with calves of a year old?

7 Will the LORD be pleased

with thousands of rams,

or with ten thousands of rivers of oil?

shall I give my firstborn

for my transgression,

the fruit of my body

for the sin of my soul?

8 He hath shewed thee, O man,

what is good;

and what doth the LORD require of thee,

but to do justly,

and to love mercy,

and to walk humbly

with thy God?”  Micah 6:6-8

And how do we “walk humbly with thy God”?  John revealed the answer to Nicodemus, and it’s still true for everyone who will receive it today!

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave

his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son

into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten

Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”  John 3:16-19

 I pray that you will find comfort, encouragement, and hope in these Thanksgiving posts; and be sure and keep that “attitude of gratitude”!  Remember, you can be “humbly grateful, or grumbly hateful”!  It’s your choice but remember there is a test!

“In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus

concerning you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18

Amen and Amen!!!

 

It’s Not About Feelings??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #43

19 Wednesday Oct 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Confidence, Consider Your ways, Deceivers, Encouragement, For Such A Time As This, Forever, Forgiveness, God's Faithfulness, God's got you and me!, Good News, Gospel, Grace, Hearing God, HOPE, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, I Will Never Leave You, Listening To God

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It’s Not About Feelings??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #43

 

Maybe you can relate to this idea of “feelings” and how they have come to rule in our culture:  I don’t ‘feel’ like going to work; I don’t’ ‘feel’ like taking care of my family; I don’t ‘feel’ like getting out of bed’; I don’t ‘feel’ loved, or appreciated, or cared for, or able to cope….and the list could go on!  But God has given us clear truth in HIS Word that I pray will encourage you today that no matter how you “feel” right this moment, God Has not given up HIS sovereign control, or HIS love for you and me.

I understand that sometimes we become so overwhelmed with the circumstances that we find ourselves in, that we feel like throwing in the towel, so to speak—to let the lies of the enemy take our joy, our hope, our confidence in our God.  So, I felt that we all needed reminding that “the Lord God omnipotent reigneth”!  (See Revelation 19:6)

Peter gave some great instruction to believers who were facing persecution and difficulty; and we can count on this same truth.  I pray that it will lift you up today.

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you

in due time:

7 Casting all your care

upon him;

for he careth for you.

8 Be sober,

be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist

stedfast in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished

in your brethren that are in the world.”  1 Peter 5:6-9

The enemy of our souls is ever vigilant, whether we recognize it or not, to devour those who aren’t aware or prepared to “stand fast in the evil day”!  May we truly come to stand on what we know about our Lord, not our feelings that are flighty and change like the wind (especially the Oklahoma winds which never blow the same direction two days in a row, and Satan is always coming in new and surprising ways when we don’t know what God says!)!  We must stand fast in confidence of the sovereign control of God Almighty—who sent Jesus “right on time”!

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God

among you

by miracles

and wonders

and signs,

which God did by him

in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him,

being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands

have crucified

and slain:” Acts 2:22-23

“But when the fulness of the time was come,

God sent forth his Son,

made of a woman,

made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law,

that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6 And because ye are sons,

God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son

into your hearts,

crying, Abba, Father.

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant,

but a son;

and if a son,

then an heir of God

through Christ.”  Galatians 4:4-7

We are sons and daughters of God, by the love and grace of God, through the blood that Jesus came to shed for sin, yours and mine!  We don’t have to let the enemy steal our joy, our confidence, or our assurance that God hasn’t gone to sleep and forgotten about us!  HE hasn’t!  He never will!  I must simply choose to believe truth NOT lies!

“Being confident of this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work

in you

will perform it

until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6

We can stand in what we KNOW!  But we must dig into HIS WORD and find out what God says about us, not what our feelings may say on any given day!

“Whereunto I am appointed a preacher,

and an apostle,

and a teacher of the Gentiles.

12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless

I am not ashamed:

for I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded

that he is able

to keep that

which I have committed

unto him

against that day.

13 Hold fast the form of sound words,

which thou hast heard of me,

in faith

and love

which is in Christ Jesus.”  2 Timothy 1:11-13

And two passages in closing, which are a great comfort and encouragement to me, and I pray that they will help you today as well!

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD,

which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:

he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel

shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper:

the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day,

nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve thee

from all evil:

he shall preserve

thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out

and thy coming in

from this time forth,

and even for evermore.”  Psalm 121:1-8

And Paul’s admonition to Timothy is just as necessary for us today!  May God’s blessings of hope, joy and encouragement abound in your heart today.  My heart has been lifted even as I write these words!

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;

but of power,

and of love,

and of a sound mind.”  2 Timothy 1:7

 Amen and Amen!!!  Today and every day!!!