Sometimes I wonder
I'm very thankful for this rainy Sunday afternoon. It's providing some time for me to rest. I had a great time at church. When I woke up at six-thirty this morning, I remembered it was pot-luck Sunday at church so I whipped up an old stand-by: mac and cheese and sausages. I couldn't think of what else to make. I forgot about it until this morning so all I could come up with was that. There wasn't time to bake.
Anyway, last time I wrote, I mentioned we were going to talk about love. Well, that's what I thought was gonna be a good topic but sometimes I think it's best to leave things unsaid in a public arena. It's a subject worth talking about but because of the limitations of our language where we use one word for lots of different things, I'd spend all day rambling about something that wouldn't make sense.
I told a story the other day. It was just that; a story. There isn't anything prophetic in it (at least I don't think so) and sometimes as my dear sister pointed out, things just happen. I think otherwise but I also know that not everything that happens in my life is of God. Oh the things are there to be seen but it's what I do with what's there to be seen that can sometimes make the difference between a good and a bad choice.
The things that happened on Saturday I wrote about really did happen. What I chose to do about them was to mow the lawn. I know what God says about things and when I can't reconcile something to God's word, it's time to give the matter up to Him and do the things I know I can and should. Sometimes knowing what you can't do in a certain situation is far more valuable than knowing what you could do. It sounds backward to people but the don'ts that God gives us in His word are really freeing. The don'ts sometimes mark the path more plainly than a Yes! would have. As I said, if things are from God then they will come to pass. If they're not, they won't.
I take that on faith.
I guess in a round-about way I am talking about Love. Scripture teaches us a lot about love. God says we should love Him with all we have and all we are. Jesus said that if we loved Him, we'd keep His commandments. We're to love each other as ourselves. It's that love for God I have (and a reverent fear!) that keeps me from acting on things like those that happened to me. I had to step back and apply some scripture to them. I found compelling arguments on both sides of the issue but was reminded in church today that Jesus was tempted by the Evil One. He told Jesus Scripture said that if He was really the Son of God that Jesus could fling himself from the top of the temple and angels would come to His rescue. Jesus replied with something else written: "Do not test the Lord your God".
Sometimes you need to be careful about what you read into things. I have been about this because the consequences of a wrong answer affect more than me. Sometimes you have to look big picture.
Why those things happened I will never know. If it's a test, I passed. I didn't get an A, but I passed. If it's a spiritual attack, well, I put on the whole armor of God and tried to fight it off. I got hurt in the battle but I didn't lose it. I don't know if I won, but I know I didn't lose. If that makes any sense....
Aside from the pot luck, I'm glad I went to church today. I was reminded of the importance of Scripture and hiding God's word in our hearts. It's a jungle out there. I'm glad I don't have to fight my way through it alone and without any weapons to deal with it.
To God be the glory!
Anyway, last time I wrote, I mentioned we were going to talk about love. Well, that's what I thought was gonna be a good topic but sometimes I think it's best to leave things unsaid in a public arena. It's a subject worth talking about but because of the limitations of our language where we use one word for lots of different things, I'd spend all day rambling about something that wouldn't make sense.
I told a story the other day. It was just that; a story. There isn't anything prophetic in it (at least I don't think so) and sometimes as my dear sister pointed out, things just happen. I think otherwise but I also know that not everything that happens in my life is of God. Oh the things are there to be seen but it's what I do with what's there to be seen that can sometimes make the difference between a good and a bad choice.
The things that happened on Saturday I wrote about really did happen. What I chose to do about them was to mow the lawn. I know what God says about things and when I can't reconcile something to God's word, it's time to give the matter up to Him and do the things I know I can and should. Sometimes knowing what you can't do in a certain situation is far more valuable than knowing what you could do. It sounds backward to people but the don'ts that God gives us in His word are really freeing. The don'ts sometimes mark the path more plainly than a Yes! would have. As I said, if things are from God then they will come to pass. If they're not, they won't.
I take that on faith.
I guess in a round-about way I am talking about Love. Scripture teaches us a lot about love. God says we should love Him with all we have and all we are. Jesus said that if we loved Him, we'd keep His commandments. We're to love each other as ourselves. It's that love for God I have (and a reverent fear!) that keeps me from acting on things like those that happened to me. I had to step back and apply some scripture to them. I found compelling arguments on both sides of the issue but was reminded in church today that Jesus was tempted by the Evil One. He told Jesus Scripture said that if He was really the Son of God that Jesus could fling himself from the top of the temple and angels would come to His rescue. Jesus replied with something else written: "Do not test the Lord your God".
Sometimes you need to be careful about what you read into things. I have been about this because the consequences of a wrong answer affect more than me. Sometimes you have to look big picture.
Why those things happened I will never know. If it's a test, I passed. I didn't get an A, but I passed. If it's a spiritual attack, well, I put on the whole armor of God and tried to fight it off. I got hurt in the battle but I didn't lose it. I don't know if I won, but I know I didn't lose. If that makes any sense....
Aside from the pot luck, I'm glad I went to church today. I was reminded of the importance of Scripture and hiding God's word in our hearts. It's a jungle out there. I'm glad I don't have to fight my way through it alone and without any weapons to deal with it.
To God be the glory!
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