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crazedmom -> RE: Sunny Side Up (6/28/2008 12:53:04 PM)
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It's the Weekend! Yeah! Well, my ds and his fiance stopped by for a little while yesterday. He had just come back from the Dr. and was in major pain with his back. He does a lot of heavy lifting with his job and had a herneated disc last year. He was out of work for about three months last year because of it. The Dr. gave him some medicine, but basically said he needs to find a new job. If the pain persists, he'll have to have another MRI done.
He couldn't stand up straight because of the pain and as a mother, it hurt me to see him that way. I'm praying that the Lord will touch his back and heal him; and that he will be able to find a new job shortly.
It was good to see him and my future d-i-l. They were excitedly telling me about all they've accomplished in the way of wedding planning. They have secured a church and a country club nearby for the reception. Her dress came in way ahead of schedule. They said it would take about three months; and it hasn't even been one month. She's still working on selecting the bridesmaid's dresses. A friend of theirs is making the cake and flower bouquets.
Yesterday was a day filled with a lot of prayer! I was praying for my dh's feet as they've all of a sudden been bothering him. He's on his feet a great deal during the day and he should've replaced the shoes he was wearing apparantly long before he did the other day. Shoes make all the difference, don't they? He finally went to this New Balance store and bought a comfortable pair and some insoles. Hopefully his feet will not be hurting so much soon. If he's still miserable by next week, we may not go to Disney for the 4th. That is a lot of walking!
I also received a phone call from a new friend at church and she has a myriad of health issues, so I was praying for her as well. My heart went out to her because we are the same exact age and here she has all these problems. We know that the Father is also "touched with the feelings of our infirmities".
Sometimes we can get so burdened down with everyone else's burdens if we are not careful, can't we? I believe the heart of God is touched when we show compassion for others; but He wants us to lay all of those burdens at the foot of the Cross and leave them there. It is only then that we release the power of God to go to work on our behalf and others. We do not have the answers to so many of life's difficulties; and it is with that understanding, that we trust an Almighty God to intervene.
I did a lot of "catch up" reading once again in my 90-day Bible reading plan. I'll be caught up today and am on Day 16 and in the book of Joshua now. Whew! That was a lot of reading. So, I've made it through Genesis through Deuteronomy, and now into Joshua. Genesis and Exodus are filled with great stories most are familiar with. Then into Leviticus, it is filled with the Law and various Offerings they had to make in atonement for their sin.
I love the story starting in Numbers 13 where God tells Moses to send some men into Canaan to explore the land. He sends in a representative from each of the 12 tribes and only two, Joshua and Caleb, come back with a favorable report. The others bring back all the reasons why they can't take the land. Then the people grumbled and complained some more, and even talked about stoning Moses and the leaders. It seems like they were always complaining, God spoke, they said they'd obey what God said, they wandered around the desert some more; then they complained, then God spoke again; then they came to their senses again... and it was a vicious cycle. Of course, there was some sin going on, which separated them from God's will for their lives. Even though they had seen God speak through a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day, they still continued in their rebellion. They had seen and heard things no other generation had; yet they continued to reject God's sovereign leadership and plan. Amazing.
God's love was longsuffering with them. (as it is today) It was sad to come to the part where Moses died, after he had been the central figure for much of my reading. The Lord used him in a powerful way, though. "Since then, no prophet has rise in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face". (Deut. 34:10 NIV) Isn't that amazing? The story of Moses alone is one of great inspiration because here was a man who God had set aside for a specific time in history. The Lord preserved him when all the other boys his age were being killed, he was raised in the palace for such a time. He grew to be a strong man, and later killed a man who was oppressing one of his kinsman. He fled to the desert to escape punishment; and it was there God met with him. That's when Moses' real story begins. He takes a wife, starts a family, and God begins to develop him as a leader. Isn't that God's way? He meets us where we are, broken and all, and begins weaving the tapestry of our lives into a beautiful piece of art for His glory and His honor. It is when we are broken that we are the most pliable.
But, back to Joshua and Caleb, the only two, who believed that if the Lord was with them, they would be able to achieve victory in Canaan... Who did God wind up using after Moses died? Was it the ten, who all they could see were the reasons why they would meet defeat? No. They didn't become the next great leaders. You cannot lead with a defeat mentality. No. God chose to raise up Joshua for such a time as this. He believed God and the Lord led them to victory as He had promised.
In Numbers 22, there's the story about Balaam and his donkey. You know, the famous donkey of the Old Testament. He was headed to Moab to speak to Balak, the King, to deliver a word from the Lord. For whatever reason, Balaam's spiritual eyes could not see, nor his ears hear the message God was trying to give him. God had to use a donkey to get his attention. Now what does that say? His donkey even saw the angel of the Lord with a sword drawn in the middle of the road and Balaam did not see it. Here, his donkey was trying to protect him; but he didn't perceive it. The donkey kept Balaam from being killed and because he wasn't "tuned in", he was mad at the donkey. (not even realizing there was a reason!)
Well, this whole episode was enough to make Balaam straighten up and fly right and he delivered the word of the Lord to Balak. (not what he wanted to hear, but it was the word of the Lord nonetheless.)
There are countless lessons we can learn throughout the Old Testament if we study it. I challenge you to read it through cover to cover. There is something about the continuity of reading the O.T. through; rather than a sampling from the Old and New, a Psalm and a Proverb, like many daily Bible reading plans prescribe. You get the whole feel for what was happening and how each event relates. Already I have gotten so much out of my reading and I'm excited because the Word of God is like no other book, it is alive and brings life to those who read it! I want more life down on the inside, don't you, my friend?!
We can fill ourselves up with the bad news of this world and it can make you depressed and have a negative outlook on life... or we can fill ourselves up with the life changing gospel of Christ. There is no hope outside of Christ.
Input = Output
We must "guard our hearts with all diligence", as the Word says, "for out of it flow the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23)
The NLT says it this way: "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life".
We must guard what we put in our ears, what we set before our eyes, the influences we allow in our lives, the places our feet walk, and the words we choose. They all determine our future. Wow! That's pretty powerful.
Some things may be acceptable for us, as Christians, but are they producing good fruit? That is the question. Everything reproduces after its own kind, that's what the Word says. So, if we fill ourselves with seeds of violence, indifference, lust, greed, anger, selfishness... What kind of a harvest do you think will we reap? A farmer would not waste his time planting seeds he knows will not produce a good harvest in the fall, right? So, why do we?
The short answer, I think, is because it is much easier to obey this flesh than it is to develop strong spiritual muscles, so that "we'll be able to stand against the evil one". The broader answer is because there is a spiritual battle raging for your soul. It is ultimately a battle between God and the devil; and the choice is ours. Who will we serve?
Joshua told the people to "fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped... and serve the Lord". (Joshua 24:14)
At the end of Joshua's life in chapter 24, he says, "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord". (verse 15)
Even so, let it be for us and for generations to come...
Until later... Be blessed!
~Crazedmom
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