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Galatians 6:9

photo courtesy of istockphoto

Last Monday, I was sharing how my husband and I are truly enjoying a beautiful harvest from the hard work of our parenting years. A couple of you commented on the verse that day, so I thought I'd put something pretty with it so if you wanted to post it up, you'll have something more than an index card to use.

Though many of the Company Girls are not in a season of parenting, I'll bet there are a good number of moms who cling to this scripture like a drowning swimmer clutches a life raft. It's a perfect verse to apply to the years of toil that seem to have little return on the effort you put in. I well remember an older woman sharing Galatians 6:9 in a parenting class, and though I often repeated it through gritted teeth, I saw the word of God truly come to life as the years unfolded. Our kids have become incredible people - and not because I think we did such an excellent job - but because we simply kept loving and laughing, and working together. We didn't give up.

My sweet friends, this will happen for you, too.

You might have to look hard, but along the way you will see "early fruit" that will help you stay in it for the long haul. Celebrate those moments! It's when one child comforts another, shows a rare generous gesture, or when you feel little arms wrapping around your neck or witness the joy of discovery on your baby's face. When you realize your teenager has said a whole sentence without using the word "like." These are glimpses that tell you there are good things to come.

But Galatians 6:9 isn't really a "parenting" verse, even though the principle certainly applies. In the context of the passage, it is talking about the law of sowing and reaping in a spiritual sense.  When we sow to the things that feed our sinful nature, we reap destruction. Likewise, when we plant spiritual things in our lives we reap eternal life. It seems so obvious, right? But how easily we forget this simple truth! It stands to reason that we will reap what we sow.

I've found that the words of this verse have brought me strength in many areas of life. Sometimes, when my reservoir of good will toward a co-worker or family member is running dry and I feel myself slipping toward the breaking point where I'm really gonna haul off and give a piece of my mind.....the Lord reminds me to stay calm. To dig a little deeper. To keep working the soil. To remember that "this, too" is a season. And I'm sure you have your own scenario that fits the bill, don't you?

Are you weary today?

Don't give up. Your harvest will come.

Today's Small Thing is to take a moment to print off Galatians 6:9 or put it on your computer desktop. Let's commit our situations to Him and ask for the grace to continue on through the hard stuff. We'll ask Him to give us a vision of what the harvest will look like...perhaps He will give us some "early fruit" to enjoy along the way. Then eagerly watch as He blesses your hard work! Your harvest is on its way.

POINTS: 40 for printing off, posting up or writing out Galatians 6:9 today. Download Gal6.9

How does this apply to the season of life that you're in?

Finding God's Will: Micah 6:8

Have you ever found yourself begging and pleading with God for Him to show you what to do? You SO want to please Him and serve Him...but how? What does He want from you? What does He require?  Sometimes it seems like all your questions go unanswered, and you wonder where to start to find His will.

Well, here is a perfect place to start: Micah 6:8.

  Background photo: istockphoto, Ilena Simeonova

I won't spend much time on the background history here, but God used Micah to prophesy to His people, who had fallen away from Him (750-687 BC). There was corruption, idolatry, poor civil government, violence and the belief that personal sacrifice satisfies divine justice.

Much like today, in fact.

But even in the midst of impending judgment for their wickedness, God was reaching for the hearts of His people.

It's His redemptive thread. It's what He's always done.

For those of you who read my blog regularly, you know that my devotional posts come straight from my own life's journey and are usually fresh (sometimes raw) takes from what God is speaking to my heart along the way. And this scripture is no different. God is working this one on me and it kinda hurts. A lot.

See, I've been asking God to show me His Big Plan: the great unfolding of ministry or purposes that seem hidden from me. "Pleeheeheeeze, God!" And not surprisingly, God hasn't given me a clear vision of the future, just a clear vision of what He wants me to do today. Right now. 

And I'm convinced that getting this verse right will lead me to the next step in His plan for me.

I think of Micah 6:8 as a "bottom line" statement that is repeated throughout scripture in different ways. It holds straight answers for those who really want to know how to please God. God is saying here, "look, you don't need a new word from me, I've already told you what I require." Let's take the three requirements and see how they might apply to our own situations.

1. Act justly: In other words, live according to justice and do what's right. Now before we happily skip on to the next part because we've got this one covered, let's ask a few questions.

• Do I owe anything to anyone?
• Have I cheated on my finances, taxes or legal obligations?
• Do I tell the truth?
• Have I "done right" by people? Treated others as they should be treated.
• Are there sins that need to be confessed and turned from?
• Am I living by God's moral law?

I have to be honest and tell you that I was jolted out of bed at 5 am the other morning to make of list of things I needed to make right. I couldn't sleep. I owe someone a forgotten sales commission from 2004 and I need to pay it. I've said I would do something for someone and have not fulfilled my promise. I got a pretty good little list going. I know God can't bless me further until I obey His conviction to live justly today.

2. Love mercy: Some translations say, "love kindness." 

• Am I merciful to others when I have it in my power to help someone?
• Do I live in such a way that others are first, and I am last?
• Do I see my material blessings as a means to bless others?
• Do I give of myself only when it is convenient?

I'm so aware that I don't LOVE mercy! I sorta like it when it's convenient, but I can't say that my actions reflect the heart of God in all circumstances. Being merciful and loving kindness should be my way of life, no matter where I am or what I'm doing. That's His will for me.

3. Walk humbly with your God: Live in complete dependence upon a holy, righteous and awesome God. He alone deserves glory.

• Do I make decisions based on how they will benefit me, or God's kingdom?
• Do I feel the need to take credit for the wonderful things I've done?
• Do I feel I "deserve" a particular job/ministry/position/recognition?
• Do I rely on my good deeds to count, when my heart is far from Him?

Walking humbly doesn't fit too well in our culture. We now must tweet our every stellar action, and post photos of our accomplishments on our own websites. We're so aware of personal marketing that even parenting has become fodder for the "look at me" society. I fight the urge to look really spiritual and all put together for the people who frequent my blog. Do you struggle with this, too? I think all of this lops over into our spiritual life. I want to be willing to be nothing, if it means glorifying Him.

Finding God's will for your life is really pretty simple. It starts, and ends, with your heart. When you begin applying the paradigm found in Micah 6:8, you'll be amazed at how clear things become. As for me, I feel like I'm waking up in the middle of heart surgery...and although I'd like to jump off the operating table, I know my heart needs fixing.  I want to embrace all that God has for me, and that means obeying what He's already shown me.

Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly.

Today's Small Thing is to print off (or digitally post up on your computer) Micah 6:8 where you can see it. Would you take some time to ask yourself some hard questions? Work through the things that God has "already showed you." Let this be a foundation for Him to build on, and I have a hunch that all the rest of His will for you will fall right into place.

Download Micah6.8a

POINTS: 50 for putting Micah 6:8 somewhere where you'll be reminded of what God really wants you to do.

How does this verse affect your life? Feel free to share.

NOTE: I just realized that the graphic doesn't look right in all browsers so I'm working on fixing it!

November's Verse: 2 Peter 1:3

I love Fernando Ortega's song, "Give Me Jesus." It's perfect for today's post...click play to listen.

 

Today, I will leave you with my meditation on a scripture that has been sinking down into my heart in recent days.  I'll be back on Monday, November 30, to collect this month's points and get ready for another fun month of Small Things!

I was asked to create a piece of artwork around this verse some time ago.  And as I chose the background, selected the font and placed the pretty doo-dads, each phrase began to float and slowly settle on me like a warm blanket.

Everything we need.

Everything we need, He has given us.

Through His divine power.

For life and godliness.

He has called us.

Through our knowledge of Him who has called us.

By His own glory and goodness.

With Thanksgiving on Thursday, I've become especially mindful of the incredible gift of Jesus Christ.  To be honest, sometimes I get so busy living the Christian life that I forget about the very person my faith is based on. I'm often so wrapped up in trying to do and say the right things, avoid sin and live righteously, that I miss the wonderful truth that is sitting in this little gem of a verse.

You see, the beauty of our faith is that it's not about what WE do for Him.  We can't earn, or finagle, or worm our way into righteousness.  We can't muster the goodness and character we need to obey His laws or meet His holy commands.  It would be a sad state of affairs if our standing with Him depended on our own efforts to be worthy.

It's really all about what HE has done for us.

By his divine power, He has given us everything we need for life and godliness. His grace, in the form of Jesus' sacrifice, is offered to us freely.  And when we believe in Him, He fills us with His spirit, giving us the power to live in a new way.  It's the same power that created the universe, causes the sun to shine, makes the mountains tremble and the seas roar.  It's the power that took that crushed human body, and raised it from the dead to be the King of kings and Lord of lords.

THAT's the divine power that gives us everything we need.

So if that power is there, why don't I seem to have any of it?

The answer is in the next phrase: it's through our knowledge of Him who has called us.

While I'm busy spinning around in my self-made circles, it's so easy to miss His tender voice that calls me to a deeper knowledge of Him.  I find myself exhausted and frustrated with my failures...completely overlooking the reality that if I would just stop.  Stop and spend time with Him. Stop and know Him, He would hook me up with the divine power I'm lacking.

I love this last phrase: Him who has called us....by His own glory and goodness.

Oh, what would it be like to see God's glory?  We have inklings of His glory when we see His handiwork in the heavens, or admire the perfection of a leaf, or feel the softness of a baby's skin, but these are only glimpses that hint at his radiant perfection.  And His glory is what draws our soul away from this dusty old world and toward a hope that is beyond us. It's his goodness that melts our decaying flesh and brings us into a holy relationship with Him.

His glory and goodness...to give us life and godliness. We are called by the very person of Jesus, who wants us to know Him and experience life through the power of His spirit.  

Will you think about this verse today?  Then allow God to do the work in you that you've been trying to do by your own power.  He has given you everything you need, now simply walk in it.

Download 2Peter1.3

POINTS: 40 for printing off and posting up 2 Peter 1:3 where you will see it.

October's Verse: a Prologue

I fought this month's verse almost as much as the Quarry verse, maybe because it's so personal.  But in the end, I decided that since this blog is about sharing where I'm at, and because I've never pretended to have it all together, I realized I should go ahead and share my spiritual journey. Even if it's not that pretty.

A couple of months ago, I found myself at home late at night, completely alone.  It was one of those times when you can really CRY over something and not feel embarrassed or inhibited.  And I was bawling my eyes out over our desperate business crisis: the cancellation of several projects had left us with no income and nothing on the immediate horizon.  It had caught us so unaware, so unprepared, and I was in a state of panic and anger and frustration. Also, terror played a minor yet significant role.

I could not believe that we'd worked this hard, this long, only to fail. Where was the justice in all this?  For someone who avoids crying, these cries came from the depths of my toes, and these were not the pretty, gentle tears of mild disappointment. Oh no, these were torrents of bottled up emotion.

I don't know how long I was sobbing, but finally, in sheer desperation, I grabbed my Bible.  I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep in this state, so I might as well read something.

I opened the Book and I could barely see through my tears as my eyes fell on Micah 4:9.  The words shot right off of the page.

"Why do you now cry aloud?"

Oh, I wish I could act this out for you because I literally choked on my sob. Waaah-huh? I wiped my face and blinked my eyes and re-read it:

"Why do you now cry aloud?"

I froze and looked around the room, moving only my eyes.  I knew. 

God had showed up to speak to me in that moment.

Then I read the next line:

"Have. You. No. King?"

I can only describe the next moment as a rush of answers, flooding me like a river. Exposed, humbled, ashamed, I could only close my eyes and confess that I have been living like I have no King.  No ruler. No one to watch over or care for me.  I've been acting like a nomad, wandering about, making my own decisions, and becoming a warlord of my own kingdom.

In truth, I've set my own self up on the throne of my heart.  I've expected provision to come by my own hand. I've cherished my own self above the King of kings.  I've put my own thoughts, my own desires, my own ambitions first. And this had nothing, and everything, to with our financial struggle.  The question cut through to the heart of the whole matter.

Have you no king?

In that same moment of realization, I knew that Jesus alone should be my King.  And that by the very act of confessing it, I was putting Him back on the throne of my life.

But it hit me that I didn't know a whole lot about Jesus as King.  And that's when I began to meditate on His Kingship.  His kingdom.  His reign over me.  What it means to be in submission to a King.  I've whispered "Jesus, YOU are my King," a thousand times in the last few weeks. Jesus, BE my King.

So I've embarked on a journey to discover Him as King, and I wonder if you would join me today? The Christian faith might be new to you, but I want to encourage you to take a small step with me.  If you are searching for answers, they can be found in the pages of the Bible and the King who is revealed there.

This month's verse is in the next post.  Grab a cup of coffee and read on.

Zechariah 9:9

 

Today's song, "You Are my King," by Newsboys is perfect for this post. Click "play" to listen!

I've found that the Bible has a lot to say about Jesus being The King. Zechariah 9:9 is a prophecy, given about 520 years before Christ, and fulfilled when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey just before the Passover.  I love the words of this verse, and the undercurrent of excitement you can feel as you read it.

"Rejoice greatly!" reminds me of I Thessalonians 5:16's command to "rejoice always."  Well, rejoicing was the furthest thing from my mind on the night of the Big Cry. But imagine being liberated from the tyranny of a dictator, i.e. the chains of sin and defeat, and WELCOMING a triumphant king!  You have been freed from the sins of your past, and the bondage of slavery, defeat, and failure.  Shout, girl! Your King comes to you.

"See, your King comes to you," is saying, "Look up! Pay attention! SEE!" When your head is bowed down under the weight of your burdens, you can't see that your salvation is on its way.  That night, I was so busy boo-hooing that I was missing out on the greatest scene in the world: Jesus coming toward me to take control.  I want to be in a place of expectancy to see my king riding in...not looking down at the ground and miss the whole thing. 

And I love how the King is coming to ME. To US.  Sometimes it feels like I'm chasing after Him, when the reality is that HE is coming my way.  The battle has already been won and now I'm welcoming his victorious reign in my life.

"Righteous and having salvation."  A righteous king rules with justice, and I can rest under His rule knowing that He will make all things right in the end.  I may experience "unfair" things in life, but I can trust that He ultimately holds my destiny in His hands.  His salvation has brought me out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of light.  That's a fancy way of saying He saved me from a really rotten existence into one that's amazing and eternal!

Now, I promise that I did not choose this verse because it features a donkey!  But the donkey here is significant, not only because Jesus fulfilled this prophecy literally, but because a king riding on a donkey would be a ludicrous sight!  Why, his feet would almost drag on the ground as the lowly beast of burden carried him along!  A king on a donkey clearly shows that He comes in peace and gentleness.  He is down at the level of the people, where they could touch Him and speak to Him, not up on a high horse or imposing chariot. Jesus took the humblest of creatures to make His triumphant entry.  So typical of Him. He tenderly leads, carefully rules, and graciously uses the lowliest for His glory.

What a King.

When the question "have you no King?' rocketed through my heart, I hadn't spent a whole lot of time thinking about the answer beforehand.  I'd sung the songs and spoken the words, "you are my King," without my heart fully understanding what it even means to HAVE a King.  Now, as I begin to comprehend His greatness, it is a whole lot easier to submit to Him.  Why hang on to my own puny lordship, when the King of all kings gently waits for me to step aside and let Him rule?

Today's Small Thing is to print off (or post up) Zechariah 9:9 and put it where you can see it.  That's it.

Download Zech9.9

But would you take it one step further and leave a comment about our King?  I've made several observations about Jesus as King today.  Now, it's YOUR turn.  Scripture is full of direct and indirect references to the King.  I'd love to hear your thoughts, meditations, or discoveries today!  Try doing a search and then share what you find.

LOOK UP and SEE! Your King comes!

POINTS: 40 for posting Zechariah 9:9 somewhere

Matthew 5:16

For the past three years, I have driven through Ft. Worth to do projects for a major ministry there. The freeway travels through an older part of the city, which is filled with dilapidated buildings, crumbling streets, and tiny, run-down homes.  Most of the houses have burglar bars on the windows, and some are boarded up completely.  It is a depressed area, one you like to get through quickly.

But one day as I whizzed past, I caught a glimpse of a little house right near the freeway, and I was immediately captivated.  It is outstanding!  With crisp, white paint on the exterior and dark green trim adorning its doors and windows, it lives in stark contrast to everything around it!  A sturdy fence surrounds the front yard, which is its crowning glory.

Perfectly manicured grass rolls from stoop to curb, and at the gate stand two tall cylindrical shrubs, tightly clipped into sentinels on each side.  Topiaries shaped into stacked balls greet passersby near the street, and more topiaries stand near the shelter of this small white jewel.  Cone shaped, rectangular and even gumdrop-looking shrubs, are all symmetrically planted and carefully formed.  It looks like a tiny fairy land!

I make a point to look at that little white house every single time I pass by, and I marvel at the care the owners have taken.  These people really take pride in their landscaping, and it shows!

Not long ago, as I craned my neck to glimpse the "topiary house," I noticed a banner on the fence.  It read:

"Lawn Care"

(555)-555-5555

"Ahhhhh!" I said with a nod, and actually chuckled out loud.  "Well, THAT'S no surprise!"

Whoever lives there certainly knows all about lawn care!  With the way they keep their own place, you can be sure they will take good care of their customers' yards.  

What they advertise on the outside comes from what is true on the inside.

The people who own that little house "walk the walk."  For months I'd witnessed the topiaries and lawn care: the lifestyle, if you will.  And when the day came that I saw the advertisement, I was not one bit surprised!  It made perfect sense!  The sign rang true because I'd seen the evidence.

Let me ask you about your lifestyle:  When people find out you're a Christian, are they surprised?  Or do they nod their heads and say, "I could have guessed that!" because your life shines?  Do you stand out in a crowd, or do you blend in with the world around you?

Oh, I want to live in such a way that, even without a banner telling people I'm a Christian, they can see the evidence of it.  It's all about bringing glory to Jesus: how I talk, what I do, where I go, what I watch, how I conduct my business.  The topiary house is a constant reminder to let my life shine for Him.

Today's Small Thing is to put Matthew 5:16 where you can see it.  Think about what you are advertising on the outside.  Is it the same as what's on the inside? 

Be OUTSTANDING for Christ!

POINTS: 50 for posting Matthew 5:16 somewhere

Download Matt5.17

How about a little Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir to inspire your light!....today's song will get your toes tapping!

Isaiah 51:1 - July's Verse (a little late)

I've been stuck in Isaiah 51 for weeks.  I haven't wanted to use the verse God had put on my heart for this month because I couldn't make a "pretty" picture out of it.  The artist in me balked until last night, when Michael Hyatt tweeted a joke while I was wrestling with it: "a man says to his wife, 'meet me at the gravel pit, I'm a little bolder there.'"

cricket. cricket.

OK, Lord.  Even I know when a dry joke is your way of pushing me toward obedience.  You don't have to hit me over the head with a....well, boulder.

 

I so desperately wanted to focus on the flowers and gardens in the following verses.  You know how I feel about the petals and blooms and God's redemptive thread that I can't get enough of.  But instead of pretty gardens, we are going to spend some time in the quarry today.

And I do love the metaphor God uses here. Rocks. Stones. Quarries.  Words like "hewn."

See, rocks take eons of time to form: layers and layers of sediment and mineral deposits.....compressed and forged into mighty stone. The heat of the earth's core melds the elements into solid rock.  Rock that can be quarried for special purposes.

Are you in God's quarry?

I can imagine some of you "granite people" thinking God has forgotten all about you, all buried and pressured by the weight of the world.  Hey, what's the point of being the handsomest and strongest rock around if you never get your day in the sun?

But life in the quarry means that eventually the Master stone cutter will find you and start his work. 

He inspects.

He measures.

He admires your color and strength.

He envisions where you will be most useful and utterly glorifying to Him.  He contemplates your quality and sees the areas that need work.

And then He begins to chisel.

First with the heavy tools to separate you from the rest of the rock around you. It's noisy and messy and dirty. It's kinda painful, really.  But he needs you to be fully and completely His to work with, so he chips you away from what has held you back.  Finally, you are free.

The Master strokes his chin and feels His way around your rough edges.  He knows the location you're going to eventually be placed like the back of His hand.  He knows he needs a very special stone that is both strong and beautiful.  He brings out the finer tools to form and refine you. You will be a work of art by the time He is done.

"But Lord, I'm anxious to get to the place where I'll REALLY be used, like building your church!" you might be chafing under the grinding tool.  What can possibly take so long in this dreadful pit?

Ah, but you must be patient! Don't forget that the stones used for Solomon's temple were perfected in the quarry so they could be fitted into place without hammer or chisel in the house of the Lord! (I Kings 6:7)  All the flying chips of rock and dust were left in the gravel pit so that only polished stones would be brought up out of that hole.  The veins of imperfections and weaknesses had been removed so that what was left was the incredible craftsmanship of the Master.

It isn't very glamorous down there in that quarry. 

And yet.

When we submit to the selection process, the measuring, the chipping, the chiseling, the fine grinding and polishing, we will emerge ready to be placed into God's building program.  We are living stones, fitted together with Jesus as our cornerstone.

Life in the quarry isn't easy, but it's part of how God builds His kingdom.  He is looking for those stones that have been beautifully marbled with life experience, sparkling with iridescent joy, and infused with the kind of faith that is borne in difficulties and pressures. He is skillfully smoothing and polishing each one of us for His purpose and glory.

Today's Small Thing is to take Isaiah 51:1 and print it off, post it up, or use it as desktop decor.  Meditate on the process the Master is using in your life and know that He is preparing you as only He can. 

POINTS: 50 for posting up Isaiah 51:1

Download Isaiah51

Not a "Flash" Story, But Almost

Say!  Grab a cup of coffee and let me tell you one of my very favorite stories.  Eventually, I'll get around to our verse of the month, but not before we've had some fun.

When we moved to the country almost 7 years ago, one of the first things we did was get a borrowed horse.  The girls and I had begged and pleaded for a horse of our own, but my husband, in his wisdom, decided on taking a slower path to equine ownership.  Since we didn't know anything about taking care of a horse, he thought it might be a good idea to try it out before committing to the huge financial and care-taking responsibility.  So we made arrangements to borrow a horse from some friends.

We tried not to show our disappointment when Snowbird got unloaded from the trailer and into our pasture.  Almost 30 years old, she was a white mare who was well past her prime.  In fact, you might say that our pasture was her last stop before the glue factory.  Shabby and bony, her legs splayed out and her back sagged.  Her lower lip hung permanently down, as if she just didn't have the wherewithal to tuck it up and look interested in life any longer.  But she came with a saddle, bridle and a scrawled list of instructions, and so we began the task of learning all about horsemanship.

Snowbird had once been a showstopper.  In her youth, she'd been a barrel racer, nimble and quick on her feet, able to cut around the triangular course in record time.  She was used to being loaded into trailers for weekend rodeos and treated like a diva.  She knew tricks like sucking in air when being cinched up, and stumbling on purpose so we'd cut our rides short.  Seeing her now, as a faded star, was a little sad, but we had a soft spot for our geriatric friend. She would teach us what we needed to know.

One morning, Meghan went to the barn to let Snowbird out of her stall.  Suddenly, she was running back to the house with a panicked expression.

"Snowbird got out of her stall and someone left the gate to the pasture open!  Oh, Momma!  She's GONE!"  Too late, we realized that Snowbird was also an accomplished escape artist, who knew how to unlatch a stall door with her teeth, a small detail her owners had neglected to tell us.

A frantic search ensued.  We started in the nearby properties, calling her name and rattling buckets of feed.  I imagined the worst: discovering her bloated carcass days later and having to rent a backhoe to retrieve her.  I dreaded breaking the news to her real owners.  See, this is what we get for borrowing a whole horse, for pete's sake!  Who are we kidding??  We're CITY people!

As the hours went on and our search widened, we really began losing hope.  Hot and tired, we reconvened over lunch and discussed our strategy.  Just then, the phone rang for Lauren, our oldest daughter.  Her friend, who lived about 3 miles down the road, happened to mention that some old, white horse had shown up by their fence and they'd put her in their pasture until they could figure out where she belonged.

Snowbird!  That crazy horse.

And as we leaned up against the trailer, chatting with the horse rescuers, we learned just what had happened.

Come to find out, the horse rescuers had three gorgeous young stallions in their pasture!  Muscular and ripped, these guys were HOT!  They pranced and posed, tossed their heads and whinnied, as Snowbird came clip-clopping around the corner.  Lord have mercy, there was a WOH-man, and they didn't care WHAT she looked like!

And how did Snowbird "happen" to get there?  Why, she was jest out for a lil' stroll, jest checkin' out the scenery.  Yep, that's all she was doing.

For three miles.

What a surprise that her "little stroll" should end up at the Chippendale's down the road, where those beefcakes were looking to chase a little tail.

"That there mare of yores was runnin' up and down the fence with her rear end up, jest taunting my boys here," said Mr. Rescue.  He had a real good chuckle over the scene: an old has-been mare, flirting outrageously with the young studs.  "She shore knew what she was doing!" he winked.

We looked at our shabby mare, the harsh midday sun revealing her age and wear.  Why, it was downright shameful for an old girl to be acting like a tramp with a trio of young bucks half her age. No amount of explaining could ever convince us that she hadn't been hoping for some trouble down the road.

We pulled into our pasture and Snowbird dutifully backed out of the trailer and lumbered out into the tall grass.

"Girls," my husband shook his head. "I know I don't have to tell you this now, but you have GOT to mind those gates!"

Which brings me to our scripture.

May's Verse - Proverbs 4:23

In my Snowbird story, an open gate led to a bit of trouble.  We had thought that our old horse was secure in her stable without having to latch the pasture gate outside.

And, seeing her opportunity, Snowbird left the security of the pasture "just to see" what might be down the road.  It took her awhile, clip-clopping over a dam, through the woods, over a bridge, up a steep hill and around some dangerous curves.  But she finally found the mischief she thought might be out there.

Our verse is a reminder to "mind our gates," as my husband told our girls.  You see, if we go a-Sunday-driving just to "see what's out there" in the world beyond the safety of our own pastures, eventually we'll find the trouble that's waiting down the road.

The New Living Translation says, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."

It is far easier to stop at the gate than to turn around when you're three miles down the road, when you've set a course.

Maybe, for you that means being careful about the types of books you like to read.  Steamy novels make my marriage feel boring and stale, so I've learned to stay away from them.  Or, you may need to close the gate to having lunch with an attractive co-worker.  Don't even walk down that road just to see how it feels.  Don't spend your time in the mall if God has convicted you about staying on a budget. Going to a club with friends (just for the conversation) probably isn't a good idea.

And maybe we should think about the attitudes of our hearts that we should guard: humility, love, gentleness, teachibility, faith, hope and grace for others.  It's so easy to open the gates to bitterness, anger, jealousy, hatred, and pride that before we know it, we are far gone.

Well, I've done it again.  Gone long on the preaching.  But I hope you'll think about Snowbird and the gates in your own life today.

Today's Small Thing is to print off or post up Proverbs 4:23 somewhere where you will see it for the next few weeks.  Ask the Lord to show you the areas of your heart that you need to guard.  He will give you the strength to make the right choices that will bring a well-spring of life to your journey.

 Download Proverbs4.23

POINTS: 50 for putting the verse where you will see it

April's Verse - Psalm 51:7

I've been musing about laundry lately.  Maybe it's because God uses the most mundane things to speak to me.  No grandiose visions of heavenly choirs here, nope, nuh uh.  He speaks to me in a language I understand...the language of spot removers, sudsy water and clotheslines.

This devotional is for anyone who has ever prayed, "Lord, You May Wash Me on the Gentle Cycle, But Please Don't Put Me Through the Wringer and Hang Me Out to Dry."

Our verse this month made me remember my grandmother's back porch.  It was home to shelves filled with Ball jars of jams, jellies and canned vegetables, a deep sink and an old fashioned wash machine.  It was the kind of machine that was made in the 1940's or 50's, complete with an electric wringer attached.

To our modern 70's eyes, that wash machine was awfully Old School.  My grandmother would start with the whites and work her way to the denim overalls, carefully putting each item through the wringer to squeeze out the water after it had been washed.  Then came the task of hanging the laundry out to dry on a clothesline.  The job of washing clothes was laborious, to say the least.  There was no "multi-tasking" while doing laundry, because it took all your effort to get it done.

People in Bible times knew all about hand-washing clothes.  They may have used rocks and sticks to beat the clothing, and soap made from lye and animal fat.  So when David gives his heart-rending prayer in Psalm 51, after being confronted by Nathan over his sin with Bathsheba, he understands what is involved in being made clean.  Only he wasn't talking about his clothes, but his heart.

It's funny how a crisis can put the state of our hearts into a whole new perspective.  When things are just purring along, we sort of think all we really need is a gentle spot cleaning with a Q-Tip to keep our souls pure.  But when things start falling apart, we are faced with the reality of our own filth, our sinful pride, and our lack of faith.  It's when things get uncomfortable, like losing a job, a relationship souring, or finding ourselves in a crisis of our own making, that we start getting serious about the condition of our heart.  I think sometimes God lets these predicaments happen so that we can get beyond our superficial prayers of "Bless me, Jesus," to "Oh, God!  Do what you've gotta do to make me right with You!"

See, David is saying some really important things, here.  First, he says "wash me with hyssop," which was a ceremonial way of purifying from sin.  The hyssop branch was what was dipped in lamb's blood and touched to the doorposts during the Passover.  It symbolized purification from sin by the shedding of blood, a forecasting of the shed blood of our Savior.  Awesome.  It is only through the death of Jesus that we can find forgiveness.

Then he reiterates this by saying, "God, YOU wash me!"  In essence, David is saying "scrub me, pound me, put me through a wringer and hang me in the purifying rays of the sun so I can be as white as snow!"  He knows he needs more than a tender dabbing of the surface to be made clean....he needs the very fibers of his being to be washed.  He wants to be soaked and worked over by the hands of his forgiving God.

That's where I want to be today.

I don't want to be content with a little dry-cleaning now and then.  I'll take the agitator, and the wringer and the clothes pins if that's what it takes to be where I need to be with my Lord.

I hope you'll take the time to read the entire 51st Psalm today.  I would have loved to have used the whole thing for our scripture, but I've already gone long this morning.  David goes on to ask for a clean heart, a steadfast spirit, and for the joy of his salvation to be renewed.  He understands that God doesn't just leave us in a state of penitence and sorrow, but gives us new life and hope in Him. 

I'm going to stop now, before I REALLY start preaching!

Today's Small Thing is to print off (or download to your computer) Psalm 51:7 and put it where you can see it.  Meditate on what it means to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus and washed by His Word.

POINTS: 40

Download Psalm51.7