tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-210621562024-03-19T02:46:59.149-06:00Practical FaithFor every day and every need, God is enough!Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.comBlogger6647125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-42173672806875304482024-03-18T15:05:00.003-06:002024-03-18T15:05:43.526-06:00Two ways of self-care…<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4c4279MvDuCJHMiRnW2nDkFE8lCvvYe4Lr2b5awJ9ybh7i8mXOuKpg0cKRFf7V-7767_KOq97YdHGXWAHXbECKmBOmiX9V2nUJQEvpOFvbwl4ZUvERnLvTjZC7H5qJb6qpxhXDyBPAd7lHH4KU4g3Gt0dW9lQYnGmiXRSroATTQbrY1jPmhxm/s600/ways.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="600" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4c4279MvDuCJHMiRnW2nDkFE8lCvvYe4Lr2b5awJ9ybh7i8mXOuKpg0cKRFf7V-7767_KOq97YdHGXWAHXbECKmBOmiX9V2nUJQEvpOFvbwl4ZUvERnLvTjZC7H5qJb6qpxhXDyBPAd7lHH4KU4g3Gt0dW9lQYnGmiXRSroATTQbrY1jPmhxm/w400-h184/ways.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Caregivers need to also take care of themselves. Otherwise there is no energy or even no attitude to take care of someone else. I learned this when my parents lived with us for a year. I found a senior’s daycare where they could go five days a week. They enjoyed their outings and the visits they had with like-minded others. And I enjoyed the break from meeting their daily needs.<br /><br />My wounded hubby is not as demanding, yet the anxiety I have about him means taking a break from thinking about his situation and his pain. I’m reading a Baldacci mystery, absorbing and being engaged in a complex plot is an escape. So is the 1000-piece puzzle on our dining room table, definitely the most difficult one so far. This puts my mind in ‘blank’ mode, almost. This morning I was praying, drinking tea, and talking to Jesus about our needs while putting pieces mostly in the wrong places.<br /><br />Today’s devotional says there are always two attitudes of mind toward anything between which we may choose. One is on the flesh side of things; the other is on the spiritual, spoke of often in the NT: <br /><blockquote>So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:11)</blockquote>Paul goes on to explain the importance of making that choice:<br /><blockquote>Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:13–14)</blockquote>I tried that during puzzle solving. I know this is a form of mental escape and also that this is not something Jesus did. If He was tired, He slept. If He was pressured, He withdrew and prayed. Making the right choice and thinking the facts in these verses helped my attitude from sliding into a “poor me” and pulled it back to presenting myself to the Lord — to do whatever He required of me rather than trying to escape.<br /><br />The devotion suggested to take no interest at all in the old nature and its desires. I need to say my self-centered choices and that old nature is dead, foreign and not of interest. Deny it and its demands. But does that negate self-care? Likely not, for the Bible also says:<br /><blockquote>Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28–31)</blockquote><blockquote>Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)</blockquote>God’s rest is not a mystery or a puzzle to be solved. It is an answer to prayer, a restoration for those who wait on Him, drawing closer and choosing His way rather than the way of the flesh. <br /><br />His rest is a bit of a mystery though. When I come to Him and pray about everything…<br /><blockquote>Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7)</blockquote>…His peace does not make sense when life is not offering much peace, but when waiting on Him, and coming to Him, and praying about all things with a thankful heart, and doing His will by choice rather than trying my own efforts — His peace goes beyond making sense; it is just there no matter what might be happening. <br /><br />PRAY: Lord Jesus, how persistent is my old nature to try and solve things. Forgive me AGAIN for being so self-ruled rather than yielded to You. I know these things and know that You and Your will are what this terribly slow-learner needs. Thank You for your amazing patience, and for Your remarkable peace that defies my rational mind as it sets it to rest. <br /><br /></span><br /><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-54786295238815920032024-03-17T17:03:00.004-06:002024-03-17T17:06:37.071-06:00God uses suffering…<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vnJ7yzPnqsfsnibIbjmEmhwLqNV-17ZFr4Jzh2w0F4WBfZVU63NPN27iKsvjkwMtibXAssNOen4dFZveB4EBExruYDTbJKBoCZa6GjcujP2XDIXFHPfTOlvJGRdaO_iqqYQrmFlp_vRRW-86J_cpFmf_iDTM_JcT5WYQLXx1Krm2OJa2nphk/s302/PerfectInSuffering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="302" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vnJ7yzPnqsfsnibIbjmEmhwLqNV-17ZFr4Jzh2w0F4WBfZVU63NPN27iKsvjkwMtibXAssNOen4dFZveB4EBExruYDTbJKBoCZa6GjcujP2XDIXFHPfTOlvJGRdaO_iqqYQrmFlp_vRRW-86J_cpFmf_iDTM_JcT5WYQLXx1Krm2OJa2nphk/w400-h221/PerfectInSuffering.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As I watch my hubby struggling to move in any direction without severe pain, God is making me more aware of the need to be disciplined, not so much about moving my body but about not letting it dictate to me what I can and cannot do. <br /><br />A few weeks ago, it was my turn. After few days in the hospital, God turned my focus by showing me how easily I can let the desire for personal comfort be an ambition. Had Jesus done that, there would be no salvation or the opportunity to be united to Him. He would never have gone to the cross if He put His comfort above obedience.<br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. (Hebrews 2:10)</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It works the same in our perfecting. We suffer and in that suffering we learn to let God have His way with us. He could use it to comfort us for another reason…<br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all 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. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. (2 Corinthians 1:3–6)</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is how I learn empathy. If I am never sick, then I cannot understand the struggles of sick people, never mind feel their pain or comfort them. <br /><br />But there is another lesson. God wants me to be perfected by suffering, meaning that I will seek the filling of the Holy Spirit and be bearing His fruit, including joy — rather than whining and feeling sorry for myself. I’m sure this is what Paul had in mind when he wrote:<br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:27)</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My hubby knows that God is using this pain in his life. Both of us see how the Lord has used pain in the life of our friend B.T. He is joyful all the time, no matter what is going on in his body. He is a delight to be around because God has perfected his spiritual walk with suffering.<br /><br />Most people complain, run to the doctor or pills or booze, to get it fixed rather than seek the will of God. How badly we need that “Not my will but thine be done” attitude that Jesus had. <br /><br />As for me, taking care of him involves loving patience and help with what he is unable to do because of the pain. He will heal and yet the larger thing is that through this, God has a great purpose.<br /><br />PRAY: Lord Jesus, give my hubby what he needs to trust You in this trial. I thank You that he can laugh even in pain and seek Your face and Your will for him. Grant him the ability to surrender to You and wait on You for the blessings to come. And give me what I need to encourage and care for him.<br /><br /></span></span><br /><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-52517300843189897332024-03-16T16:41:00.004-06:002024-03-16T16:41:36.089-06:00 Dead to old, alive to new…<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCal-kp8uoQVyc8SKsvl7lQO0cNYGtAkQrR2JfvWvOLArppPk593z25V-zIV7ZJFBvlYRRhWHem8OdziDzci0705XRo6O8AWO-SmAycbV09RN54Mtfn06vJ67Jib3QhF7OruPh62XbdtvkSTTCotjYttFaYErtQbZDPcXUVAg5n3ZPm4Gq4LIx/s614/Philippians%201-21.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="614" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCal-kp8uoQVyc8SKsvl7lQO0cNYGtAkQrR2JfvWvOLArppPk593z25V-zIV7ZJFBvlYRRhWHem8OdziDzci0705XRo6O8AWO-SmAycbV09RN54Mtfn06vJ67Jib3QhF7OruPh62XbdtvkSTTCotjYttFaYErtQbZDPcXUVAg5n3ZPm4Gq4LIx/w400-h145/Philippians%201-21.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Today’s devotional offers a good illustration of what it means to be dead to my old life and living in the new. When I was a child, I loved to make little rooms in the forest beside our house, ride horses, play with our dogs, and play all day. I did not like housework, especially dusting and was not interested in cooking. But when I became an adult woman, my feelings were reversed and I enjoyed the things I once avoided and could not be bothered with the things I once loved. <br /><br />In other words, I “took up the cross” to my childish play and no longer wanted to do those things. I became delighted in the pursuits of maturity and left behind the pleasures of childhood. While this is not a perfect illustration (I still love horses and hate dusting), it does illustrate what it means to take up the cross and die to my old life and live the new life.<br /><br />Some Christians look at the Christian life as a child might view the adult life — thinking it means giving up the things they love and to do the things they hate. They call this “taking up the cross” and actually think God enjoys their grudging service. However, this idea totally misses what Jesus meant when He said: <br /></span><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">When God saved me, I entered His family as a babe in Christ. As the Bible says, I needed to grow up through realizing the goodness of God. He is not a mean taskmaster:<br /><blockquote>Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:2–3)</blockquote>Perhaps the problem with those who think that doing the will of God is “grudging service” that gives up everything they enjoy is that they have not spent enough time in the Word of God (pure spiritual milk) to taste His incredible goodness. Or it could be that they are clinging to the ‘playtime’ of their former life, preferring to stay in control of what they want to do instead of submitting to the good will of God. This submission is a choice — to turn from that worldly way of thinking and allowing God to transform my mind. In that process, I learn that His will is good, more than acceptable, even perfect.<br /><blockquote>I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1–2)</blockquote>As the devotional says, and as He is teaching me, if my affections are set on the will of God, I will love it. If I love it, then how can it seem a great burden? This means saying what David said and what Jesus repeated:<br /><blockquote>I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)</blockquote><blockquote>Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. (John 4:34)</blockquote>God wants me set on His will and delighting in it. This is possible as my new life in Christ changed my heart. I now recognize that I am dead to anything that is contrary to Jesus. This is my cross — that recognition that I am dead to the world and alive only in Christ. How heavy that cross can be is determined by how mature I am in Christ.<br /><br />PRAY: Today’s ‘cross’ is being dead to my plans that I can do God’s will in taking care of my husband. His pain is severe and he cannot do small things, like pick up a dropped pencil or reach something at the other end of the sofa. I’m dead to my I-wants on my to-do list and alive to the will of God that urges me to pick up or reach or do whatever is needed for my hubby. Because of You, loving Your will (and loving my husband) makes that cross a great deal lighter!<br /><br /></span><br /><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-33772218557783884142024-03-15T17:54:00.003-06:002024-03-15T17:54:46.808-06:00 Dead to sin, alive to God<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu5-niXqmTfy5aPdzSce9BiCMN6Yj1uzHw_Wx2Fvr-YssT2oxXd42rLAfdfp2Pzq6EMwcvYEkbfWgFYpjQhIXDdXhadnw4fMiq_T4hsM2r30cZFHVg_wC8TJ_TF1IROaXRg0Cs5HzogywpPnvFaFO2jwFzxv0naUYQouGn4xocodF0t8L2VLm/s689/Dead-to-Sin-Alive-to-God.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="689" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu5-niXqmTfy5aPdzSce9BiCMN6Yj1uzHw_Wx2Fvr-YssT2oxXd42rLAfdfp2Pzq6EMwcvYEkbfWgFYpjQhIXDdXhadnw4fMiq_T4hsM2r30cZFHVg_wC8TJ_TF1IROaXRg0Cs5HzogywpPnvFaFO2jwFzxv0naUYQouGn4xocodF0t8L2VLm/w400-h104/Dead-to-Sin-Alive-to-God.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Today’s devotional begins with this: <i>“There is a subtle enjoyment in torturing the outward self if the inner self-life may be fed thereby.”</i> It goes on to say that that old nature of a Christian likes to share in the glory and cannot bear to be counted as dead or ignored. All religions based on rules and do-it-yourself principles give followers the opportunity to be exalted. <i>“Look what I did”</i> is a common goal in even those who follow Christ. How many of us will credit ourselves (<i>I follow Christ</i>) rather than glory in God who changed our lives?<br /><br />Legalism permeates the Body of Christ. We have our ‘rules’ even though many of them are unspoken because obedience to a rule is opportunity to pat myself on the back. In contrast, life in the Spirit is action that is seldom premeditated. It is doing the will of God and looking at what we have done with wonder (<i>where did that come from?</i>) rather than taking credit for it.<br /><br />This is a serious matter. The NT says:<br /><blockquote>For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:6–8)</blockquote>Living legalistically by rules is useless. It does not accomplish the will of God nor give inner peace. It may produce a deep sense of inferiority, or feed the ego and fuel boasting, but that ‘pleasure’ does not last nor does living this way fill the empty place in our hearts. God gives His children the desire to serve Him, but doing it by rules cannot please Him. It should not please me either.<br /><br />Being “in the flesh” is about living by the self-centered old nature of the life lived without Christ. It is being governed by the I-wants and gives little attention to what God wants. It is doing life without Him or the new power He gives. It is living to please me and impress others. The flesh can seem pious and full of goodness, but the inner man (mind, will, emotions) run the show, not the Spirit of God.<br /><br />Being ‘dead to sin’ requires having the Spirit of Christ living in me. This is not an event that I can control or make happen.<br /><blockquote>Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:3–11)</blockquote>I need to read that often. Death to sin is my reality. Alive to God is my reality. Anything else is an illusion. I died with Christ and need to consider this is so, like Paul wrote:<br /><blockquote>I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)</blockquote>It’s important to know the difference. The flesh can make itself look good, sound good, even do good, but how can I know for sure when that dead thing is flopping around? My flesh resists being exposed for what it is, but God will let me know:<br /><blockquote>For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12–13)</blockquote><blockquote>Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23–24)</blockquote>PRAY: Lord God, You show me that my old nature with its desire for self-glory motivates me far too often instead of wanting to glorify You. I confess these as sin, and am thankful You forgive and cleanse (1 John 1:9) As the psalmist says, lead me in the way everlasting, that the life You gave me will glorify You.<br /><br /></span><br /><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-36882747228576054042024-03-14T21:40:00.003-06:002024-03-14T21:40:40.491-06:00 Contentment begins with thankfulness <p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-acUWntt2AfEbUW-WDeDirR3zvgJlEYNVj4MYSALwPQAHJjP80htt6ON13PlC_N2b10fueXKXRxKUWzR5zzxcqSlKJHIq0jbf1NboE1wNW8BOB7TvRWn-eP7pTvQXyXlIDJUFPLziLlfbLAMYgxhQ-wC4rMclMIo9GFluJsmUS4cGmjaYk2X/s1269/thankful-contentment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="1269" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-acUWntt2AfEbUW-WDeDirR3zvgJlEYNVj4MYSALwPQAHJjP80htt6ON13PlC_N2b10fueXKXRxKUWzR5zzxcqSlKJHIq0jbf1NboE1wNW8BOB7TvRWn-eP7pTvQXyXlIDJUFPLziLlfbLAMYgxhQ-wC4rMclMIo9GFluJsmUS4cGmjaYk2X/w400-h151/thankful-contentment.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Life’s experiences can become life’s habits. My adult children speak of an inner desire that wants to move to another place — something they grew up doing. I’ve moved more than thirty times and this same urge hits me now and then. Usually I solve it by moving furniture or purging unused stuff so that my space seems like a new space. <br /><br />However, what to do when that inner desire persists? When moving is not practical and yet the yen for it remains, almost creating a sorrow of discontent? To that question, God gives a simple answer. It started with a small story of a man who stood on a high peak in the mountains watching a storm below him. Then an eagle soared up through the clouds towards the sun. The rain’s water glistened on its wings in the sunlight. The man realized that if the storm had not raged, that eagle would have remained in the valley and he would miss seeing the beauty of its escape into the heights. He also thought how the sorrows of life cause us to rise towards God.<br /><br />After years of not moving, I must have thought that I had given up the yen to move, yet it hit this past few weeks, but been thwarted over and over. My space needs no changes except to declutter, but that is not helping remove the habit of a life of constant change. Even though the song says, <i>“He will break every fetter,”</i> I feel a slave to this restlessness. Yet God’s Word warns me that yielding to Jesus will break every form of slavery.<br /><blockquote>Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (Romans 6:16)</blockquote>It also tells me again that I have died to sin and must live for Jesus, not my desires, but His:<br /><blockquote>Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)</blockquote>The only use of the cross in Scripture is about being put to death, not to keep alive. When Jesus told His disciples that they could not be His disciples unless they took up the cross, He could not have meant that they were to find it hard to do His will. He was expressing that they must be made partakers of His death and resurrection as the old nature was crucified with Him. They must now live in the resurrection life of the Holy Spirit.<br /><br />I do not crucify self by accepting my lot in life and being miserable with it. A painful self-sacrifice is not <i>“taking up the cross” </i>but is instead counting the stuff of the flesh and my old nature as utterly worthless and fit only for death.<br /><blockquote>We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. (Romans 6:6)</blockquote>Then the Bible gives me this:<br /><blockquote>Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. (Philippians 4:11)</blockquote><blockquote>But godliness with contentment is great gain, (1 Timothy 6:6)</blockquote><blockquote>But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. (1 Timothy 6:8)</blockquote><blockquote>Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)</blockquote>Being content is what God wants from me. He may offer a move, but not because of my desire. It has to be His will. If that never happens, I must be content with whatever He does.<br /><br />PRAY: Lord, my time with You this morning was interrupted with a phone call. After a stressful day, I am so thankful that my hubby was not seriously hurt when hitting some ice and taking a hard fall. Prayer time with others also was a blessing because we recognized Your presence and care for us. I slept a long time this afternoon, another thank You. All of this makes full yielding to Your will much easier. The cross is not always heavy — because You are with me and help me deny my I-wants and instead be content and thankful.<br /><br /></span><br /><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-60332197567797585932024-03-13T17:29:00.003-06:002024-03-13T17:29:32.306-06:00 Jesus is my endurance…<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2dxkXAWU5_RsjTLgVfUxi4lIwpvdrpHgeZPJaua0hOupPPv1ILhZhIdwY0YK1bynXfw7Ixgo7lWVZaGTPCwOMIfZgE3MHX_lwN_vFAbBP-TgtbfvbC9lIpXvISRGbjgGIGRH_sOLrAQ-iJOhE_FwT6QjnevQG-Sy2baJ_6kcl4O3tszU8AeK/s1098/Hebrews%2012-1-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="1098" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2dxkXAWU5_RsjTLgVfUxi4lIwpvdrpHgeZPJaua0hOupPPv1ILhZhIdwY0YK1bynXfw7Ixgo7lWVZaGTPCwOMIfZgE3MHX_lwN_vFAbBP-TgtbfvbC9lIpXvISRGbjgGIGRH_sOLrAQ-iJOhE_FwT6QjnevQG-Sy2baJ_6kcl4O3tszU8AeK/w400-h160/Hebrews%2012-1-2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />In <i>“Streams in the Desert”</i> the author tells of a deep trial in which God revealed to her the why of the agony she experienced. An old oak log in her fireplace began to ‘sing’ releasing noises that was trapped in its knotty hardened growth. She realized that those sweet sounds would not have been released if the log had not been in the fire.<br /> <br />This was the Lord’s way of showing her that His sweet music was like the songs of praise that flow out of hearts that are purified by trials, something like the singing of Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16) but even more — like Jesus who died on the Cross and out of that great pain brought forth the sweetest music of all time, the song of forgiveness and eternal life.<br /><br />This story speaks to me of two things. One is that my trials are to produce the music of Jesus, His very goodness comes forth when my hard heart is totally yielded to Him in that fire.<br /> <br />It also speaks to me of the yielding. That log had no choice. It was in the fire and it could burn without a sound, but it yielded a song. I can be the opposite — silently enduring, making no music. Or I can deny myself and let the trial be my cross, my place of dying to self where music can come forth.<br /><br />Today’s devotion says that trusting Jesus is both simple and very difficult. The old nature continually resists. When Jesus said to take up my cross, He was not talking about the challenge of obedience being a difficult cross, but the challenge of death to self and being willing to obey, even dying for Jesus.<br /><blockquote>Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? (Matthew 16:24–26)</blockquote>Some have assumed that <i>“taking up the cross”</i> means doing the will of God and the challenge of obedience is the ‘cross’ but that is not the main idea. While obedience means giving up what I want to do, the heavy burden is not in obeying God but dying to sin. That old nature resists death rather than welcomes it. As for obedience, Jesus said:<br /><blockquote>Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)</blockquote>He never indicated that taking up His cross is about serving Him. Instead, it is about leaving me, myself, and I out of it. Doing His will is a delight and the abundant life. Denying myself is a battle and all about death.<br /><blockquote>And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:38–39)</blockquote><blockquote>We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:6–11)</blockquote>This is where I always need to remember that facts pull the train and faith follows facts, not feelings. The old nature bases its desires on what feels good or what I think will feel good. The new person in Christ bases its desires on the will of God and considers the old nature a bothersome noise and a slave to sin. But that slave is dead.<br /><blockquote>I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)</blockquote>PRAY: Lord, that old nature already died on the cross in You. I need to take up that cross and quit trying to retain anything of that old life. This is a wonder and a joy. May I stop fighting to keep a dead thing alive, always remembering I was crucified with You, but also that <i>“if I endure, I will also reign with You” </i>(2 Timothy 2:12) — and not only that, You are my endurance!<br /><br /></span><br /><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-28619520794659183472024-03-12T18:41:00.003-06:002024-03-12T18:41:53.802-06:00Trusting God in all things…<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXCj1L8mWFP9XtIxFyQyfL_JVPLpFcTuzmkx3YtJ4y1fg-0xGlfFgj4v0cACDkQxNNzvQVGzrd1Q3Kd7GCY3nMXt6rtfQ90RIetHHN9bFehYXwlKKM_57tgWOdHcCvWFDnCrWl8CYutja66NESf29hR63_Crc2Ex6eVwIsQyCV6ubdzrQtrds/s950/Proverbs%203-5-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="950" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXCj1L8mWFP9XtIxFyQyfL_JVPLpFcTuzmkx3YtJ4y1fg-0xGlfFgj4v0cACDkQxNNzvQVGzrd1Q3Kd7GCY3nMXt6rtfQ90RIetHHN9bFehYXwlKKM_57tgWOdHcCvWFDnCrWl8CYutja66NESf29hR63_Crc2Ex6eVwIsQyCV6ubdzrQtrds/w400-h206/Proverbs%203-5-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br />Last night, every prayer request involved situations over which none of us have any control or ability or even ideas about what to do. They involved broken relationships, lack of opportunities, and others making poor or even dangerous decisions. Today’s devotional is about letting go of our possessions, yet this and those prayer requests require the same attitude — total trust in God.<br /><br />Broken relationships prompted: <i>“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” </i>(Malachi 4:5–6) God is able to turn hearts even in these days of split families and feuds between people and nations. While I am responsible to live at peace with those in my life, there is nothing I can do that will change the wars in the world or bring peace between fathers and children. Surely we need to trust the Lord God to change things. <br /><br />Lack of opportunities can involve everything from wanting a job, wanting a new car, to wanting a husband. Waiting on the Lord does not mean sitting and waiting for the phone to ring, yet in human searching for changes or new things, the doors can be repeatedly closed. My best efforts do not automatically mean success. Writers can send book proposals to dozens of editors. Skilled workers can submit resumes to dozens of employers. People can belong to several match-making groups yet still be disappointed. God must be trusted to open doors.<br /><br />Paul and Silas were in jail — praying, singing and worshiping God. They did not look for a way to escape yet…<br /><blockquote>Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. (Acts 16:26)</blockquote>Even then, the opportunity was not for escape but to lead the jailer and his household to faith in Jesus Christ. We have an Almighty God who can open literal doors as well as doors of opportunities to do His will.<br /><br />As for decision making, He says:<br /><blockquote>If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5–8)</blockquote>This is an incredible promise even though it comes with a caveat; I must ask in faith that God will answer. Why do I need to be certain? Because God’s answers are often not what I expect. What if I wanted wisdom for buying a new car and He told me not to buy a car at all? What if I wanted wisdom for other choices and His choice was not on my list? This happens, and I must not let my I-wants clash with His wisdom because, as these verses say, my I-wants will mess with my faith. When they are strong, I tend to assume they come from God and make me think He will do whatever I want. Again, this calls for prayer but also a plea to be yielded to the will of God and to whatever He knows is best for me. And this is how I can pray for others — for wisdom and faith, both from God and given by His goodness.<br /><br />PRAY: Lord, each day is filled with choices, never mind prayer needs that I cannot begin to do anything about, even pray specifically for because I don’t know what You want done in many situations. Surely I need wisdom in prayer as well as in taking action. Grant this to me today for all decisions, including what I need to do and what I need to avoid. May Your will be done in my life and in the lives of the people in my heart and in my prayers. And as I prayed yesterday, guide me in what to give away and what You want me to hold unto.<br /><br /></span><br /><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-67077648984800558242024-03-11T17:31:00.001-06:002024-03-11T17:31:05.859-06:00Saying NO<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnSv4X7BSfXSkHgVN70TEe0mbaT0yEPyuClgNMnE6UfYeQnSJYjACy7e1VUPW3w0kh0famFR0uws8_oIkgUg1d797py7YyPLUY7KUvOlX5xCgYN-vlcJqVQYuW3PrOl4b99U-tg5KYd0uNqXRw0R9E1pqqW3b5Hv53E2TCHBpVc8SyW_GNmsa/s1280/Decisions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnSv4X7BSfXSkHgVN70TEe0mbaT0yEPyuClgNMnE6UfYeQnSJYjACy7e1VUPW3w0kh0famFR0uws8_oIkgUg1d797py7YyPLUY7KUvOlX5xCgYN-vlcJqVQYuW3PrOl4b99U-tg5KYd0uNqXRw0R9E1pqqW3b5Hv53E2TCHBpVc8SyW_GNmsa/w400-h225/Decisions.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br />In the past few weeks, demands on our time have delayed my time in devotions. Missing the normal schedule is something like missing a meal. I’m not starving but definitely hungry. I love bread but understand Jesus’ words: <br /></span><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">“It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:4)</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Much of what we do here on earth is necessary. I must eat, sleep, and so on, but also must spend time with Jesus and His people. If I don’t, it is like missing too many meals. God asks:<br /><blockquote>Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. (Isaiah 55:2)</blockquote>This is metaphor. It means that if I spend my time and effort on the stuff that is not important to God and to my spiritual well-being, I will not have the satisfaction that He offers in Jesus Christ. His will is that I draw my supply of righteousness moment by moment from the Lord.<br /><blockquote>And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, (1 Corinthians 1:30)</blockquote>This means giving up, dying to self, saying no to all efforts to feed the hungers in my heart with anything other than what God supplies. Paul sets the example. He listed those things that may have once been important or could make him higher in the eyes of the world, and then he said:<br /><blockquote>Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:8)</blockquote>This was no easy decision, at least in his short-range experience. In gaining Christ, he went through trials that most people would totally avoid. Yet he also experienced life in Christ that he would have otherwise missed:<br /><blockquote>As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. (2 Corinthians 6:4–10)</blockquote>God told the OT Levites: <i>“You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel.” </i>(Numbers 18:20) He would be their possession, their everything. <br /><br />I’ve been standing on the edge of this, looking at it with understanding, singing words that desire it, yet not certain what it is like to “suffer the loss of all things” yet “possessing everything” in Christ.<br /><br />PRAY: Jesus, clarify this. I know it is more about attitude than actually selling all and living on the street. I also know it is living without any concern about having stuff or going without. I also know that all my ‘stuff’ can be used to minister to others. You tell me if I need wisdom then just ask for it. I’m asking — and listening.<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-41792707449151977052024-03-10T19:35:00.003-06:002024-03-10T19:35:18.762-06:00Treasures? <p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJrAfHU3XRxXKhS8OjythWxsNVmBKlwu2Bjapeww4qiu42gM0ThVhBjODwZRId4pwYyBUrFEh6TLYeT-0dqZQX4jH-kqi9AL_uU6_q_jEZNZiFnpVbHobn-7SLu1hIBMIDs7Dy_i1du784tbYkLwV5oGWvQacGpV0UQ3lkaO1XILQOHjn_C8l/s1269/2%20Corinthians%206-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="1269" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJrAfHU3XRxXKhS8OjythWxsNVmBKlwu2Bjapeww4qiu42gM0ThVhBjODwZRId4pwYyBUrFEh6TLYeT-0dqZQX4jH-kqi9AL_uU6_q_jEZNZiFnpVbHobn-7SLu1hIBMIDs7Dy_i1du784tbYkLwV5oGWvQacGpV0UQ3lkaO1XILQOHjn_C8l/w400-h89/2%20Corinthians%206-10.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Early in life I collected stamps. Later, it became pictures of Elvis Presley. After that, all I wanted to collect was information. Sometimes I save to my hard drive photos of art and fine quilts, just to look at and not possess because God has been teaching me something…<br /><blockquote>Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19–20)</blockquote>I’ve wondered if growing weaker in body and memory is the reason for wanting to declutter, but when I read these verses, I think that the folly of collecting stuff is basically, “I cannot take it with me.” When my father died, he left the only possessions he was using — his electric shaver and a bottle of aftershave in a small cardboard box. <br /><br />I look around me: three computers and an i-pad, a smart phone, yards and yards of fabric, sewing equipment, books including a stack of cookbooks, kitchen stuff, a full pantry, a full closet, an SUV and a bike, and so on and realize if God called me home today, none of it, even the most used or most loved stuff, would go with me. Possessions are really not mine anyway. All of it is on loan and I’m to be a good steward of it.<br /><br />In the OT, God’s people were given a far more valuable possession:<br /><blockquote>And the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel. (Numbers 18:20)</blockquote>What an amazing gift from God — Himself! This ensured that the Levites were content to live without any other possessions because in having nothing, they possessed all things, for God was their possession.<br /><br />This remains true for God’s people now. Many NT verses speak of it, first concerning His supply of the necessities of life, but also all we need to serve and glorify Him:<br /><blockquote>Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:31–33)<br /><br />His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, (2 Peter 1:3)<br /><br />And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)<br /><br />He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)</blockquote>All my physical possessions are supplied by God if I make seeking Him a priority. All spiritual needs are supplied by God as I serve Him. By grace, He gave me Jesus. By grace He supplies all that I need. I can only conclude that if I have any physical possession that I do not need or use, it should belong to someone else. Not only that, I learned from my generous sister that if I give something away yet eventually need it, God will somehow give it back to me. In other words, He is my resource, no one and nothing else.<br /><br />PRAY: Jesus, it is easy to see that when my hands are full of my own things, I cannot fully grasp possession of the things that are eternal. As today’s devotional says, only empty hands can grasp a gift, receive the filling and the gifts that You give. Forgive me for any glorying I have done over my possessions, physical or otherwise. May You enable me to be a good steward and wisely deal with anything that is not for me and could be helpful for others. You indicated that when my life is emptied, I am more able to receive what You want for me. I can get too distracted by my stuff. Give me wisdom for this decluttering task.<br /><br /></span><br /><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-42407731525941769272024-03-09T22:00:00.002-07:002024-03-09T22:00:16.196-07:00When faith is attacked… <p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74jJb3AkT-N0vzoxa45W2FTX_op0CSdKJCHlsV8SkEMVwNiEC-4jiMe6LXaMr8LoSBptDknHooK9cTXXOZS7BMV_RxjYDYmZjOYF-BWRfffBHlTqLkH30kAoQSEyJKaDFFyf12blc6aZWvb3ZASDLx0OiLIzmMIFXItSgUFmL4kD6gGE51J3b/s949/FactsFaithTrain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="949" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74jJb3AkT-N0vzoxa45W2FTX_op0CSdKJCHlsV8SkEMVwNiEC-4jiMe6LXaMr8LoSBptDknHooK9cTXXOZS7BMV_RxjYDYmZjOYF-BWRfffBHlTqLkH30kAoQSEyJKaDFFyf12blc6aZWvb3ZASDLx0OiLIzmMIFXItSgUFmL4kD6gGE51J3b/w400-h104/FactsFaithTrain.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br />Faith follows facts and emotions are the caboose. If emotions pull the train of my spiritual life, then God often feels so far away that He cannot possibly know or understand my needs and pays no attention to my pleas. I say ‘often’ because His presence and actions and answers to prayer can often be so spectacular that I wonder why I even doubted Him. Of course it is better to let facts pull the train of life.<br /><br />This is why the illustration of the train says faith fuels the facts. It is not merely the presence of facts, or that I read and know what God says about Himself. This is about believing them, knowing that God exists, hears my cries and is who He says He is. What if faith falters? What do I do when my assurance is attacked? How do I keep faith focused and trusting rather than letting emotions or anything else distract me and start thinking, ‘Is this really true’?<br /><br />The answer is always Jesus. While some say He never existed, even the most skeptic of historians have ceased to do that and no longer question that He was an historical person. A figment of someone’s imagination does not change lives for thousand of people over thousands of years. A book of fiction claiming to be the true Word of God does not last on the best seller list if the author and central character is a fraud.<br /><br />Even those who do not agree or commit themselves to Jesus Christ acknowledge that His message and life have power. Someone recently told us of a podcaster who is not a Christian hosted a professing atheist on his podcast. Both agreed that all countries in the world were far better off when their population was mostly Christian. This speaks to the power of the gospel and the reality of the One that died and rose again. Facts pulling faith.<br /><br />When my feelings waver and God seems to be fiction, I think about Jesus. He said things so contrary to how we humans think and did things that startled, challenged, and changed the religious ideas of even the most religious. His ability to control the weather, illness, even to change water into wine, makes Him unique. He is human yet He is God? There is no other explanation for Jesus.<br /><br />My emotions cannot turn God into a puppet pulled by the strings of what I think and feel. He is not controlled by me — and if He was, then I would be God. That thought is so absurd, but I’m not laughing. I know who and what I would be like if that were true. The world would look like my desk does most of the time — total chaos. And if that isn’t enough, this generation has largely said NO to God and Jesus Christ and many are doing whatever humans want to do — and we have total chaos. It seems God is saying, <i>“You want to live without facts pulling your train, then this is what happens.”<br /></i><br />My emotions and the selfish desires of many are capable of making a mess of things, but that does not negate the existence and sovereignty of God. Only He has the audacity to claim this:<br /><blockquote>And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:28–29)</blockquote>All things? Even chaos? He is doing exactly that — using the chaos to draw millions to trust Him, right down to my own life being changed by the stuff that makes me feel helpless. Even the results of trusting myself show me how little I know about being my own god. This God and His facts are worthy to be at the front of my life. <br /><br />PRAY: Jesus, trusting You and the truth about You is the best way to live, and keeping feelings in their place means that instead of fear, hatred, and other emotions influencing how I live, You give me a deep joy that continually rises to the surface and lovingly pushes faith to follow those facts along with an overwhelming joy that overcomes my selfish ideas and feelings and gives me a deep desire to live as Your facts tell me to live…<br /><blockquote>Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)</blockquote><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-70710086644982912472024-03-08T18:49:00.004-07:002024-03-09T08:22:52.218-07:00Am I Listening?<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWM-m-Mgxnq417OUh9lAOzw84ERZraWdc72mu_vxyvhRYFqk2Mdl7o-aeWUGe4HwFSinaJgxhmlgL8Sd-D73qi1SLzlC5JjN0xscBq1XciDDYegRADPogp1pHxmUcQ9nNSrDNjhyPwzj7lHOAbStvudnmQibDBNIDmHXDhOYS1Hn8kfP1swGd/s1538/James%201-19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1538" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWM-m-Mgxnq417OUh9lAOzw84ERZraWdc72mu_vxyvhRYFqk2Mdl7o-aeWUGe4HwFSinaJgxhmlgL8Sd-D73qi1SLzlC5JjN0xscBq1XciDDYegRADPogp1pHxmUcQ9nNSrDNjhyPwzj7lHOAbStvudnmQibDBNIDmHXDhOYS1Hn8kfP1swGd/w400-h217/James%201-19.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <br />The popular idea of each person having a ‘love language’ reveals that I feel most loved when engaged and listened to in conversation. Gifts are nice, as are hugs, but communication is my thing. <br /><br />One of our friends is a lousy listener. Any clear explanation brings questions from this person that reveal her ears heard but she didn’t really listen. I had relatives who did this and finally understood that each sentence they heard reminded them of something familiar from their own life — so that is where their mind went. It was their way of trying to relate to the speaker.<br /><br />The annoying part is that many ‘listeners’ respond with something about themselves rather than a, <i>“Oh that is interesting. Tell me more” </i>kind of answer. If too many ‘listeners’ do this, I generally stop talking and try to do for them what they didn’t do for me.<br /><br />Listening is important. A young woman told me God saves us because of our good works. I had her read this aloud:<br /><blockquote>For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)</blockquote>Then I asked what it said about how people are saved. She said, <i>“Oh, by doing good works.” </i>She was not listening, even to her own words as she read.<br /><br />What goes on in the minds of poor listeners? Several possibilities include: a desire to talk rooted in a need to prove self-worth, dismissing the importance of what others say, self-defensive, not really caring about what the other person is saying, using the speakers words as a reason to talk about themselves, and so on. These sound negative and from my own life I can see how self-centered a poor listener can be. Been there, done that.<br /><br />1 Corinthians 13 is called the love chapter in the NT. Two verses say: <i>“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.” </i>(1 Corinthians 13:4–5)<br /><br />While this does not say love is a good listener, these words indicate qualities that apply. For instance, a good listener is patient and lets others finish speaking rather than being so busy thinking of a response that they stop listening to what the other person is saying. Love is also kind indicating that a loving listener cares about what the other person says and will express that rather than jumping to memories of their own life and experiences. <br /><br />Pride can be at the root of not listening too. That means a proud person can be bored by what others have to say thinking their own life is more interesting and want to boast about a similar experience. If not, they may envy the experiences of others and play a “I can top that” game. If someone is rude and refuses to listen to me, that is not an excuse to stop listening to them.<br /><br />I’m glad God is a good listener. He is not bored when I pray, or half-listening and thinking how He will answer me, or judging my words, or being rude. If people in my life do not listen, I can run to Jesus and know that He gives me His full attention.<br /><blockquote>The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry…. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:15–18)</blockquote>Sometimes Christians feel like God is not listening. Job had that problem too, yet he also knew differently:<br /><blockquote>Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat! I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would pay attention to me. There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge. “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him; on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. (Job 23:3–10)</blockquote>The ‘silence’ of God can build patience. If it seems He is not listening it is folly to conclude He does not love me. I must not wander away because He seems no longer interested in me. Those negatives are lies from the enemy who told Eve that God didn’t really care about her, and is still using the same lie to tempt me to sin. I cannot measure His truth or faithfulness by my lack, or by the lack in others. <br /><br />PRAY: Jesus, I can see my own failures to be a good listener. I get impatient with self-centered boasting and me-me-me stories, but must remember that the habit of poor listening can go both ways. Enable me to be the kind of listener that You are, always there, always paying attention, and always connecting with others who are sharing what is on their mind. Help me be a good example of Your wonderful ability to be listening one hundred percent when others are speaking to me.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-27375521699416427062024-03-07T17:06:00.005-07:002024-03-08T18:27:04.225-07:00Interruptions and Detours<p><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCRqoPveqSXtibOC_D004Rra1PYUicyAGNyNov8yRWx4T6hWX67-l-g2PeKYURfIUmWoJFTiMJXnX7HeumNUNdjwKjbPsl6FKnnUJF8VeIoIldMsn121MXbGrtMBw6BYrFsfB1hhWbIsaH8UwpxiDNIPB-rwQvj8Lzqx745cRlFSZc-pKnBc8/s876/Detour_Signs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="876" height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCRqoPveqSXtibOC_D004Rra1PYUicyAGNyNov8yRWx4T6hWX67-l-g2PeKYURfIUmWoJFTiMJXnX7HeumNUNdjwKjbPsl6FKnnUJF8VeIoIldMsn121MXbGrtMBw6BYrFsfB1hhWbIsaH8UwpxiDNIPB-rwQvj8Lzqx745cRlFSZc-pKnBc8/w400-h94/Detour_Signs.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> <br />The goal is good. I go that way, but then comes a detour sign and my route changes with this interruption. The signs are not large. I need to keep my eyes open to see them and turn where they indicate. Soon I am back on the route originally planned after this loop de loop that took me through unfamiliar territory. If it had not been for the signs, I would have lost my sense of direction and location. <br /><br />This time, the signs are minuscule. I feel like turning around, or at least pulling over to wring my hands and wonder what next. But that still small voice urges me to do the next thing. Oddly, even in unfamiliar territory, I always know what it is.<br /><br />Joseph had this experience from a youth to a mature man — a long time. He was told his destiny in dreams but not the route. Did he focus on that message from his dreams? His story does not say he did and those dreams seemed unlikely as he was sold into slavery, mistreated, lied about, put in prison, forgotten, and finally became a leader in a foreign land. Then his betraying brothers showed up and he had the authority over them that his dream foretold. He could have taken revenge, but his detour taught him something…<br /></span><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50:19–21)</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This was the lesson learned in the detour. He listened, responded to his trials as God desired, and came to his destiny with the attitude that God wanted for him. It was worth it all to weep at the end when his entire family was rescued.<br /><br />This story makes me weep. It is God telling me that that His chastening and refining work of sorrow and trouble has a higher purpose. He can and will thwart my course, detour my plans. And put me on a path where I will reach the goals He has for me with an attitude that is far better than anything I could imagine. Like Joseph, He works all things together for my good — and for His glory.<br /><br />Disappointments are gateways to prosperity in the very things we have thought they were going to ruin. It seems like God is slowing me down, putting obstacles in my way, yet these things are part of His purposes. Today’s devotional says that I must not conclude that all is over and give up in despair. These obstacles and challenges are shaping my heart and life for divine opportunities and challenges that are far better than my desires and goals. He is changing the very thing I resist and what seems to ruin good plans will turn into a crown of joy, a greater result and a destination far beyond what I thought was His goal.<br /><blockquote>Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20–21)</blockquote>PRAY: Lord Jesus, the KJV says You are <i>“able to do exceeding abundantly above all that I ask or think”</i> and my asking and thinking is already far more lofty than seems possible. Help me endure the present trial. I don’t want to detour from the seeming detour that You have put me on for I know that You know the way better than I do. In fact, You are the way. . . !<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-54300033400144319872024-03-06T20:54:00.004-07:002024-03-07T07:49:49.421-07:00Holding God’s hand<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyTXQNQIGawyXtNiNifBpe5O41yKSdktAzhAOa56OZGhjwImSoGZLpDhnUFBOV3DsZBtaSKft2d8xuZSRxzTa8ewR2-sE7bMEQze_7KrPvxkd669XNJ3FjPJJXft7YaRicVJQu6vuzHEjapWwEId0zBEuJ18Ia4LxEYWNKTfHFezwT1PVra4C/s720/be%20careful.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyTXQNQIGawyXtNiNifBpe5O41yKSdktAzhAOa56OZGhjwImSoGZLpDhnUFBOV3DsZBtaSKft2d8xuZSRxzTa8ewR2-sE7bMEQze_7KrPvxkd669XNJ3FjPJJXft7YaRicVJQu6vuzHEjapWwEId0zBEuJ18Ia4LxEYWNKTfHFezwT1PVra4C/w400-h225/be%20careful.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sometimes Christians tell me to be careful what I pray for. I understand why — because the answer is never what I expected and I often do not connect my prayer with what happens after praying it.<br /><br />Not too long ago I prayed that God would remind me to always be relying on Him, always be thinking how much I need Him and that He is here for me. The past few days, I’ve had a pain in the lower inside of my knee. It is totally unpredictable. Not there Monday, nearly unbearable Tuesday, gone this morning. It occurs to me that this pain is His reminder. How can I do even the smallest chores? I could go to the clinic and get pain killers, or x-rays, or something, but the medical system right now is in a state that could easily have a long wait. Besides, if this is the answer to my prayer, it’s purpose, as with all trials, is to make me more like Jesus. <br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Trials are not a test of pain tolerance, nor even wisdom, or the ability to endure discomfort. They are a test of faith. Will I trust God in this? Or will I panic? Give up? Whine? Hurry to get it fixed? Since Jesus was sinless and didn’t need reminders to rely on His heavenly Father, I cannot ask what would Jesus do, but I can see how He want me to trust Him in this. If I am to seek medical help, fine, yet I hear Him saying to seek Him every moment and He will direct me. He is using this to <i>“cast out the chips, stones, and sand that mar the perfect purity of my clay.”</i><br /><br />My devotional reading says I need to see my trials in this light to easily be able to say <i>“Thy will be done.” </i>God wants me to recognize that trouble means a blessing for me! The psalmist figured this out as he wrote of his people and how God worked in their lives: <br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy! … (Psalm 107:17–23)</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The entire psalm tells of chastening that brought them back to praise God for His goodness and the way He worked in their lives, even as they repeatedly didn’t “get it” and had to learn over and over. Such is the power of self — even though this verse is true, that old nature fights and forgets it:<br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">PRAY: Lord, I asked for a reminder and got it — not at all what I expected. I don’t know what will happen next. If the reminder works, will the knee pain go away? Or will You leave it there as a constant weakness that demands Your strength? Faith says I need to trust You, no matter what Your will is and rely on You. Because You are my Savior and I cannot save myself, I know what to do next — hold tight to Your hand.<br /><br /></span></span><br /><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-30823866847945187752024-03-05T20:11:00.000-07:002024-03-05T20:11:08.080-07:00The Goal and the Heat<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwy-5IW9kdv_Wt7CgDLnASgsXkyRc1cgV-w5BC3GoOs1e1gdxT3r0J9Y5E2xtOJqX546pptranCHMksxCGcuBM96XKxPG3r0BxUi4pt1IL7ilLn1C5xHAze1YmQoLZNyxtr_DbAoP9pBLbw_yXr2bfuuwK3XCLTyLmjeGBFueAf05xkfYNhgw/s640/Isaiah%2048-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="640" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwy-5IW9kdv_Wt7CgDLnASgsXkyRc1cgV-w5BC3GoOs1e1gdxT3r0J9Y5E2xtOJqX546pptranCHMksxCGcuBM96XKxPG3r0BxUi4pt1IL7ilLn1C5xHAze1YmQoLZNyxtr_DbAoP9pBLbw_yXr2bfuuwK3XCLTyLmjeGBFueAf05xkfYNhgw/w400-h215/Isaiah%2048-10.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />God constantly fills me with awe — yet I know awe is only part of His intention. I have four devotional books on my desktop. When the main selection offers only a little, I read the others. Today all four speak to what is on my heart: the desire to finish well, perhaps not soon, but be ‘with it’ in my spiritual life for the time left here, to be joyful in obedience, living the way God wants me to live:<br /><blockquote>But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)</blockquote>Joy is about the perfect fulfillment of why I was created and given the life of Christ, not the successful doing of a thing, not having perfect health or ideal conditions, but being faithful to all that God wants from me. I want to hear Jesus say—<i>“Well done, good and faithful servant”</i> and know that I have done what He intended.<br /><br />Peter heard Jesus say, <i>“Do you love me?… Feed my sheep.”</i> I hear that too. My challenge is having choices. I can write — and He told me to write this blog. I can lead Bible studies — and I did that for many years. I can paint and for many years supported myself and children and missionaries with the sale of paintings. I can make quilts to give to needy people — and I still do that. I can encourage brothers and sisters in the Lord at our church — this is happening. Yet as I get older, the physical aging process yanks at my attention span and God uses that trial to show me so many ways that my attitudes need refining and how I need to ignore the demands to feel sorry for myself.<br /><br />God keeps refining. This is not punishment but purification. He knows my garbage as well as the abilities He gave me and wants to bring out the best. The trials are a blessing, not something to endure but to learn from, to allow Him to transform me to be more like His Son. His love actually MUST do that and I MUST want Him to do it.<br /><br />One Christian leader says that I have a claim on God, a claim that any pain, want, disappointment, or misery will help make me what I ought to be. I can ask to be never spared one thing that could urge me toward repentance even if it makes me hedged in on every side, thwarted in any desire. He can foil my plans or frustrate my hopes until I see nothing that makes life worth having — only His presence. This takes time and involves challenging experiences. The problem of getting great things from God is being able to hold on in that last half hour.<br /><br />He desires a blind trust in Christ to do the thing He asks, an exercise of faith, a coming to the end of self and relying on Him to do the whole work for me and in me. It is being utterly in His hands. I know that resting in Him alone is worth the struggles. I know that nothing is compared with Him, just Him. I also know Jesus said:<br /><blockquote>I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)</blockquote>PRAY: Today my knee is screaming at me. Is wanting to sit all day a way of abiding in You, Lord? Is praise part of resting? Or am I being a coward with this process? You are with me in it and know far worse pain — for my sake. Help me to be a clinging vine, but one that is fruitful rather than withering up out of self-pity and wanting to merely nap the rest of the day.<br /><br /></span><br /><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-15813929947304734252024-03-04T18:49:00.004-07:002024-03-04T18:49:59.841-07:00Chastening hurts? Or helps?<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2r9-i2jnjJ0stNWizVZlHwfChpcDwPiF7Pp4NK92iK4p74i5m_WirggZLv2lUvoAhqjncqRWxXVNH_xxqT4a0Sl82FFX2lehmj5M_6a9HO5SGIBcytmFhcNM6Z0-2ykd-q1HPCoAFEIMlai9KSWTTUHegXGfS6znkUZxJbvuoI9c8eHQUw4Zu/s1376/Proverbs%203-11-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1376" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2r9-i2jnjJ0stNWizVZlHwfChpcDwPiF7Pp4NK92iK4p74i5m_WirggZLv2lUvoAhqjncqRWxXVNH_xxqT4a0Sl82FFX2lehmj5M_6a9HO5SGIBcytmFhcNM6Z0-2ykd-q1HPCoAFEIMlai9KSWTTUHegXGfS6znkUZxJbvuoI9c8eHQUw4Zu/w400-h209/Proverbs%203-11-12.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Yesterday was a delight. God granted great joy and opportunities to encourage others in their faith. I woke early this morning thinking of all that God was teaching me and how I wanted to be useful to Him. He reminded me of this:<br /><blockquote>But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)</blockquote>Paul was called to do what he did. I’ve never had a sense of a call, only the ‘next step’ and this has sometimes been a concern. Yet I see now that God has used me as I obey Him, not in an official church position or a ministry with a name attached, but to speak truth. Years of leading Bible studies is part of that. Lately it is just talking with people, three of them yesterday who thanked me, even though I felt it was me who should thank them. <br /><br />One writer says it is easier to serve God without a vision or a call because common sense can easily replace His requirements. I’ve never felt that I have common sense. I only know that the Father wants me to be like His Son and that has been my goal. He continually lights my darkness and is on my mind. I know what it means to not account my life precious to myself, but I also know the discipline needed from God to think that way and not be concerned about my usefulness, only that I belong to Him and He loves me.<br /><br />Yet with that love comes what is needed to become what He wants me to be. He uses all things, some pleasing and some that feel like punishment. But God’s idea of punishment is the parental idea of chastening. According to Webster, chastening means <i>“to inflict pain upon anyone in order to purify from errors or faults.” </i>This means:<br /><blockquote>The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” … For (our fathers) disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. (Hebrews 12:6, 10)</blockquote>To build my character and transform me, what happens to me is not as important as who I am and what God is trying to make of me, both for now and for eternity. <br /><blockquote>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 4:17–18)</blockquote>Affliction seems less harsh if I can focus on the outcome. Another writer illustrates it with the words of a village blacksmith: <br /><blockquote><i>“When I am tempering a piece of steel, I first heat it, hammer it, and then suddenly plunge it into this bucket of cold water. I very soon find whether it will take temper or go to pieces in the process. When I discover after one or two tests that it is not going to allow itself to be tempered, I throw it on the scrap heap and sell it for a cent a pound when the junk man comes around. So I find the Lord tests me, too, by fire and water and heavy blows of His heavy hammer, and if I am not willing to stand the test, or am not going to prove a fit subject for His tempering process, I am afraid He may throw me on the scrap heap.”</i></blockquote>Job was more confident, at least at times. He said it this way: <i>“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” </i>(Job 23:10) <br />A poet wrote it this way: <br /><blockquote>“Things that hurt and things that mar<br />Shape the man for perfect praise;<br />Shock and strain and ruin are<br />Friendlier than the smiling days.”</blockquote>PRAY: Jesus, I am understanding Your love for me with a much broader perspective. Being “God’s spoiled brat” has brought much enjoyment, but I now see being God’s disciplined child is a far greater joy. Thank You for loving me while still a sinner, but loving me so much that You are not leaving me like that. I’ve never wanted to be on the shelf or in the scrap heap.<br /><br /></span><br /><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-83195675078498071142024-03-03T19:04:00.003-07:002024-03-03T19:04:41.063-07:00The Greatest Joy<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OYwYWUCmr9MIXcgbmncS84FnlgjeFN2zOqejnhnVjmcYiAmGjwarTYPQ4gQ6cxBMXD_fjRMbbCg1C-xh0iLMdsxAOstv2RBHT5Kz1EaxrQ0hy0pSEGSNQVmhM5tP7uZbnlwrcQdCi-ABR5vTaYkr-bIEc_QOcDD4KEt8KA9F4Q69_OtTFG5L/s3840/greatest-jpy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OYwYWUCmr9MIXcgbmncS84FnlgjeFN2zOqejnhnVjmcYiAmGjwarTYPQ4gQ6cxBMXD_fjRMbbCg1C-xh0iLMdsxAOstv2RBHT5Kz1EaxrQ0hy0pSEGSNQVmhM5tP7uZbnlwrcQdCi-ABR5vTaYkr-bIEc_QOcDD4KEt8KA9F4Q69_OtTFG5L/w400-h225/greatest-jpy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Last night my knee was bothering me and I complained to God that unless this was healed, I could not go on. This morning He rebukes me for idolatry of good health and comfort. I can easily criticize others for making comfort their god, but He wants me to look in the mirror. I can easily write how God is enough, no matter what, but He shows me that when the ‘no matter what’ is painful, I’m full of hot air. I know the facts — God is enough — but when push comes to shove, emotions so easily pull the train and faith becomes the caboose or gets left behind.<br /><br />He speaks with this statement: <i>Our souls are of such a divine origin that no other joy but God can ever satisfy them. God made the soul for this high destiny, and His object, therefore, in all the discipline and training of life, is to bring us to the place where we will find our joy in Him alone. <br /></i><br />To do that, He must <i>“stain our pleasant pictures and thwart and disappoint our brightest anticipations. He detaches us from all else that He may attach us to himself.”</i> This is not God being mean or unkind. He wants me to be truly joyful in Him, not in “the good life” or His many blessings. <br /><br />As today’s devotional says, this does not mean that all my friends must die or my prosperity will be taken away, but that my joy will not come from inner or outward causes. Only from Him. He wants me to come to the end of everything that is not God in order to find my joy in Him alone.<br /><blockquote>It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” (Isaiah 25:9)</blockquote>I’ve been looking to Him to give me joy and He is waiting for me to get this right, to seek Him for joy, not seek well-being or anything else to make me joyful. His disciplines are leading me to this:<br /><blockquote>Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. (Psalm 43:4)</blockquote>Again, today’s devotional sums it up well. I know that God is always seeking to make Himself my “exceeding joy” but until I have been detached from all earthly joys and am ready to find my joy in Him alone, I must still wait for Him. I was assuming the delay was God’s, but realize that it is God who is waiting for me.<br /><br />PRAY: Jesus, in years of Bible study, much of my slow learning is because I tend to rely on myself, a pitiful excuse for being slow and stubborn, for thinking I know better than You. You show me over and over that self is dead and I need to let that fact be part of what pulls me through the years. You make me love the verses that say I am alive in You, yet living them is another story. Some say that “letting go and letting God” is a Christian cliche, but reality, it is a huge part of being able to experience Your great joy. Forgive me for holding on to my ideas of what will make me happy and enable me to rest in You, my greatest joy.<br /><br /> </span><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-24806897625914625112024-03-02T20:08:00.005-07:002024-03-02T20:08:41.874-07:00Always the Same<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlk2uWWOgscyNVHnV9Q_zxcq51BZ3kNwd8gdcKlDoYHsCjNQQmW1AdbRUwt_PASp8g0qfMEvujasMHLepz-rVDwHCULiH1FA5hGBgcDfuYSB2bg8fIK9hD_s10r8SP-MjP90A_7lsxtvtZ2sFWoeJEv2_s8FHAf-Hpc480H1Sv6EcjWY4duUU7/s718/Focusing%20on%20God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="718" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlk2uWWOgscyNVHnV9Q_zxcq51BZ3kNwd8gdcKlDoYHsCjNQQmW1AdbRUwt_PASp8g0qfMEvujasMHLepz-rVDwHCULiH1FA5hGBgcDfuYSB2bg8fIK9hD_s10r8SP-MjP90A_7lsxtvtZ2sFWoeJEv2_s8FHAf-Hpc480H1Sv6EcjWY4duUU7/w400-h201/Focusing%20on%20God.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Myself and two other women met on Thursday to pray. Most of our time together was marked with praise. God had answered our prayers for several people and we rejoiced. During that time, one person’s phone rang. It was her husband. He’d heard so many answers to prayer that morning that he had to call and tell her. On my way home, I was filled with joy and humbled by the incredible goodness of God.<br /><br />Today’s devotional offers the observation that Christians who experience a morning like that can see wisdom, strength, or spiritual riches of one kind or another in which to glory. But when we come down from this “high” into ordinary life, these thoughts vanish as if we had nothing left to glory in. As I read that statement, my reaction was mixed. If I am rejoicing in only the good times and what I can see, is not my focus off God and more about the pleasant blessings He bestows and the comfort of His care rather than the reality that He is good all the time — even when I cannot see it?<br /><br />When the disciples were out on a boat with Jesus, He was asleep and they were afraid they would drown. Before they started this voyage, He told them they were “going to the other side” but they seemed to have forgotten that, and did not think that He the has power to get them where He told them they would go. <br /><br />This is what the Christian life is filled with — days and times of total uncertainty. Our situation and feelings go up and down, but that does not mean that our God is bouncing us on a yoyo string. In all of the ups and downs, I am learning that He is unchangeable. What we call “spiritual blessings” are not the same, at least unchangeable to my vision, but they ought to be like that in my theology. Truth pulls the train, faith follows — then emotions. If I let emotions take the lead, then when prayers go unanswered and life is full of uncertainties, my faith falters and what happens to truth? It gets shoved into a corner and I need a rebuke, or a pointed sermon, or some discerning soul to give me (and those emotions) a good boot back to where I should be thinking.<br /><blockquote>Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)</blockquote><blockquote>Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17)</blockquote>If joy is lost, then I’ve forgotten that my joy is in the truth about God. Life may seem as if all is lost except the desire to have my comforts return, yet God is still with me, and still the same as when I am aware and focused on His goodness. He didn’t move; I did.<br /><br />I’ve had aches and pains this week, partly related to a cold snap that aggravates these old muscles and bones. This is a distraction from the goodness of God. Why do we tend to relate that to our health? Most of the prayer requests we hear are about health. While I understand the desire to feel good, might I be better to pray for an increased focus on the Lord who never changes? He is still sovereign, still loves me, still using all things for my good — to transform me into the image of His Son. That should make me overflow with joy all the time.<br /><br />PRAY: Lord, I’ve no idea what the day will bring, but ask that You will allow me to focus on You and Your unchanging goodness and find joy in that. May You be the delight of life, a delight that can look beyond aches and pains, unanswered prayer, and any other discomfort that might come along. Use all things, as You say You will do, to change my life and to be stedfast and faithful to You, just as You are to me.<br /><br /><br /> </span><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-17164713996841560482024-03-01T16:10:00.001-07:002024-03-01T16:10:18.206-07:00Submission is always a prerequisite to resistance… <p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvKY3LCZShqjQZL0XV8Hfp6iiQai2PeQFWWYQUFbsbIe9mib3GIDAy4DtwYdrlXPt1ItZHan3mD3uyj4gnV62_9P9VSrgGpzmtgRC9vu38MW2tGlwDxRTA63C890aarkivErbMV1uqFyMeWqYeTWaeWbz72ftb9sek4BEDKSit9MS9hFb1C5C/s1330/James%204-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="1330" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvKY3LCZShqjQZL0XV8Hfp6iiQai2PeQFWWYQUFbsbIe9mib3GIDAy4DtwYdrlXPt1ItZHan3mD3uyj4gnV62_9P9VSrgGpzmtgRC9vu38MW2tGlwDxRTA63C890aarkivErbMV1uqFyMeWqYeTWaeWbz72ftb9sek4BEDKSit9MS9hFb1C5C/w400-h105/James%204-7.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">God hears the needs of our hearts. Yesterday, a big decision was confusing because of my emotions. Weighing the options didn’t help. Making a list of pros and cons didn’t help. I had a few strong I wants on both sides and had no sense of God’s will, except realizing how easy it can be to read His will according to my ‘I wants’ —as in giving emotions the power instead of looking for truth.<br /><br />However, this morning I wondered if I should think of the negatives of both choices and see if that helps. But before I could grab paper and pen, this came to mind:<br /></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. (Matthew 4:1–11)</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">Ha! That is one thing that had never occurred to me; that the choices presented are a test. Do I know who is presenting at least one of them? Is the devil trying to get me to jump off a cliff so I can have something that appeals to me and using “God will help me do this” as an excuse to consider taking the leap?<br /><br />Immediately my mixed emotions were gone. This does not mean that the devil is behind the choices; they could be an opportunity from God. Yet if the opportunity appeals to my flesh and will draw me away from genuine worship, then the devil is trying to twist it so that the will of God is thwarted. Thinking this could be a trap gave clarity. Making this decision is no longer muddled because of my personal ‘I wants’ — being clarified. God does this very well: <br /><blockquote>It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)</blockquote>In this case, it was not His will that first needed to be revealed, but that my will was clarified, changed or settled to want His will, no matter what it is. This could apply to many choices, such as buy or sell, go or stay, say something or shut up. <br /><br />Not only that, experience shows that the devil is able to use any option or choice as a temptation — if I am not clear on how I am thinking about it. In this case, a couple of strong I wants and a list of logical reasonings were not helping me do that. God made it black and white: Me — or the enemy? And that booted my wishes off to the side as non-issues. <br /><blockquote>Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)</blockquote>Now I’ve done the first part and the second part and waiting to see if the devil takes the options with him or if this is a choice that God presents to us for our good and His glory. <br /><br />PRAY: Jesus, I’ve shared this with my spouse. He and our son are going to decide, and I am totally okay with whatever decision they make. I do not want to “put You to the test” with the option that seems totally impossible, but if You will be glorified in it, that’s okay. I also will not balk or be unhappy with the easier choice and will worship and serve You no matter what. Thank You for giving me clarity on how to think about this!<br /><br /></span><br /><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-13933395324109040452024-02-29T19:20:00.003-07:002024-03-01T10:09:25.881-07:00Is God doing a new thing?<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiO0ZDsEupX1cBpff4EsKR9Bb9292Gb2R269k9v2Ct6g9jh_50hhWdkxClh17pNh_IX3Y48eNQgTvuYF-9_tWwOiCXm09iQzi7943s_E01E53ulYTdpTUZdt7tJCGm_mu0-TbNrpwslgD8_GJr70-kjHM1Muvp5rvWWDrukYK19t_Ql9FF0YN/s1920/isaiah%2043-18-19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqiO0ZDsEupX1cBpff4EsKR9Bb9292Gb2R269k9v2Ct6g9jh_50hhWdkxClh17pNh_IX3Y48eNQgTvuYF-9_tWwOiCXm09iQzi7943s_E01E53ulYTdpTUZdt7tJCGm_mu0-TbNrpwslgD8_GJr70-kjHM1Muvp5rvWWDrukYK19t_Ql9FF0YN/w400-h225/isaiah%2043-18-19.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Choices between the will of God and my will are relatively easy because I see the selfishness of my will. But what about the choices that have pluses on both sides, those choices between what is good and what is best? Is it as black and white concerning my will vs. His? <br /><br />We are faced with a decision that involves clarity. For me, the will of God is not yet clear because either choice could be the right one. But my emotions are mixed to the point that I am not able to discern my will in this matter. Knowing what I want could clarify what God wants. Or are the emotions involving my will causing this confusion?<br /><br />It does not help that today’s devotional reading says that without any regard to the state of our emotions, I must have the right attitude toward the will of God. Since He is not telling me what choice He wants, that means I must blindly yield, like Abraham:<br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. (Genesis 12:1)</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This man had no idea where God would take him, but in faith he went as the Lord told him, taking his family and all their possessions. I’ve been able to yield ‘no matter what’ to smaller things, but this is a larger choice. Yielding to one or the other would be okay as far as I can see because He isn’t telling me His will in the matter, only presenting two opportunities.<br /><br />That means I have to be willing to do whatever, not have a preference until He helps me with all the reasonings and preferences that keep wandering through my head. It means being willing to go with either choice, having my will given up to Him no matter what it is or when He reveals it. It may also mean making the choice and trusting Him with the results.<br /><br />Decisions like this need to be unencumbered with a lot of unmanageable feelings. If I have any emotions, I’m not to be troubled by them. I’m simply to put my will in God’s hands and leave it there. <br /><br />Another devotional reading happens to speak of the same thing. It adds this thought: <i>“When Jesus asks us what we want Him to do for us in regard to the incredible thing with which we are faced, remember that He does not work in commonsense ways, but in supernatural ways.” </i>I’m not to limit Him by past experience, neither success or failures. He can do the impossible so that should never enter into decision-making. If I ask His help, He gives what is needed because He does the impossible thing as naturally as breathing. My stress is about not trusting Him, nor about His power to do something.<br /><br />This is about the depth of my trust. One of our choices is easy. The other seems impossible. Is that a clue? Is God asking us to launch out into the deep?<br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken. (Luke 5:2–9)</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If so, then God will surprise us with the results. Like this story, my needs are to be met in the deep things of God and His Word, with deeper meaning than ever before. Is He asking for deeper trust?<br /><br />PRAY: Lord, I know You are with us even in places of difficulty. Yet this perplexity seems a test of trust to see if we will rely on Your grace and power. I sense that You will deliver us and give us a lesson we will never forget and never be able to thank You enough for having done whatever You are going to do. Continue to guide us in the right direction and make the best decision.<br /><br /></span></span><br /><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-47731276122149446432024-02-28T16:57:00.004-07:002024-02-29T09:03:19.380-07:00From the Heart<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QUNHsOml-CMK7vU2q85cqyNDt4CcSldIrhfFmbSvZODmQnWQf8hkAApQSfET9AHPE_oI90kdSJr-e5dsifGtJnY99_Rs-a6I2oBJ_Z5BST8W73tyTvRwa5ilev53JTs0IjFR0wNysFbKPmMKcY7oEUe55mkWKXSG5Br0JsUamOLm2tyQmh1_/s319/DoGodsWill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="158" data-original-width="319" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QUNHsOml-CMK7vU2q85cqyNDt4CcSldIrhfFmbSvZODmQnWQf8hkAApQSfET9AHPE_oI90kdSJr-e5dsifGtJnY99_Rs-a6I2oBJ_Z5BST8W73tyTvRwa5ilev53JTs0IjFR0wNysFbKPmMKcY7oEUe55mkWKXSG5Br0JsUamOLm2tyQmh1_/w400-h198/DoGodsWill.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I’ve been in two hospitals is the past few years. In the first, the staff were professional and did all they should do, yet I still felt like a number rather than a person in need. The second was entirely the opposite. The staff did all they should do, but it was ‘kindness from the heart’ — and the difference was obvious. Now I better understand the power of obedience from the heart.<br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man. (Ephesians 6:5–7)</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I recovered quickly, surprising the doctor. I credited the Lord who heals and the prayers of my Christian friends, but now I also credit the hospital staff who were doing the will of God from the heart. It was a “faith-based hospital” and those caregivers know how to serve the Lord.<br /><br />“Doing the will of God from the heart” is the only way of doing His will. Some servers are trained in the correct way to do their job, but I see now that those who have surrendered their will to God are the only ones capable of doing anything “from the heart.” As today’s devotional say, this is the essence of true virtue. It is not about the state of our emotions nor the greatness of our illuminations nor the multitude of our good works. It is about being surrendered to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to direct and empower us in what we do. <br /><br />This morning as I tidied up the kitchen and looked forward to devotions and the morning, the phone rang. My hubby had to take his vehicle to the dealer for servicing and it needed to stay there the rest of the day. Instead of getting a loaner vehicle, he wanted me to pick him up. I’ve been hearing God say, “Do the right thing” and knew my plans were not it. I was unsure how this could be a blessing, but have realized that doing the will of God is always right. I was given time to spend here with my Bible and God, but outside it was near -20C, windy with lots of blowing snow. Do the right thing. <br /><br />And ignore my emotions. I love time alone with Jesus. Isn’t that what Jesus told Mary was the best thing?<br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38–42)</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hubby knows this. At the same time, God is telling me that I am always ‘with Him’ — always listening to Him, and this time He is telling me to worship and then go — do as my husband asks and pay no attention to my I wants or the weather. He will bless this obedience. Submit to Him and He will take care of the rest of my day. After all, this may take only an hour out of it.<br /><br />PRAY: Jesus, You are so practical. This may not seem like a big deal. I know some women who would say, ‘Call a taxi’ or belly-ache about going out on such a miserable cold and snowy day, but You tell me not only to do this but do it from the heart. With the Holy Spirit I know that I can. Thank You. <br /><br /><br /></span></span><br /><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-90994145814269348172024-02-27T19:30:00.003-07:002024-02-27T19:30:38.081-07:00 All for Jesus means all…<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtFw5iwzFWy8EqDQvAcZg_rCu3ynBVwmmf-tthg7Ka6WUGmvkaQ5WFq8ZbRwJ0MDiWZDL7OxPrK_QqvD09yKFG_7ZOQ84hYyl70ExBJ-2rt1CMo4ulUSP_cqYVpiR7FJjOUJ_13TDsEPWvbBkfptV9D8OvtSz436nSi7qa4Xui-QYSy5k78UU/s480/Yielded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtFw5iwzFWy8EqDQvAcZg_rCu3ynBVwmmf-tthg7Ka6WUGmvkaQ5WFq8ZbRwJ0MDiWZDL7OxPrK_QqvD09yKFG_7ZOQ84hYyl70ExBJ-2rt1CMo4ulUSP_cqYVpiR7FJjOUJ_13TDsEPWvbBkfptV9D8OvtSz436nSi7qa4Xui-QYSy5k78UU/w400-h300/Yielded.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Christian living is like a train. Facts about God and His will lead me, faith follows those facts and feelings are pulled by faith. <br /><br />The Holy Spirit is the center of my spirit with intellect, emotions, and volition acting according to that core. This means I do not dump those three things but yield them to the Spirit. Then my actions follow coming out of what the Spirit is telling me rather than from what I want, or feel. <br /><br />However the Christian life is described, all parts should be listening to God and doing what He says, willingly, and with emotions and whatever brain power I have. Faith is telling me that the will of God is true, correct and factual in every way.<br /><br />This mean that “not my will but thine be done” is not about giving up my will but yielding it to God’s will. It also means that… <br /><blockquote>Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:5–7)</blockquote>…does not mean I give up using my brain, but that I yield my ideas and understanding to the engine that pulls the train. In other words, be aware of the lies about God that get presented to me by the world, the flesh, and that old liar, the devil. Instead, use my will to cooperate with God’s truth.<br /><br />The people of God are not meant to become empty of will power, to be left poor, flabby, nerveless creatures who have no will, and are brainless and governed by our emotions. We are meant to rely on the will of God rather than our own sinfully misdirected will. My will needs to yield to and be obedient to God’s will. <br /><br />The same is true for intellect and for those with a high IQ. Giving it over to the Lord is just as challenging as giving up our will or anything else that a person might rely on. This is why God says…<br /><blockquote>For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26–31)</blockquote>Just as the will must be yielded and determined to seek and obey the will of God, so must everything else, not just my thinking and feelings, but any strengths that I may have. There is no shame in weakness for it makes this obedience a little easier. So also do verses like these:<br /><blockquote>Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13–18)</blockquote>Paul gladly boasted in his weakness because the power of Christ was his strength. This is an important truth to learn and follow rather than wanting to be a big shot without Him.<br /><br />PRAY: Lord Jesus, You are my strength, sometimes surprising me and yet realizing I cannot boast, only in You. Anything good comes from You, and I am so thankful that You persist in teaching me that my own strengths are useless unless they are totally yielded to You. <br /><br /></span><br /><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-53090248803848475522024-02-26T16:31:00.000-07:002024-02-26T16:31:02.872-07:00Muscle building means …<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPeWNcHLWdldxeRGAHRglJoVGwUr3XXH_MtcbpPysyTUeCDiVQ09FpgyqEJ1qnSyt_iqnp6q-RatlaVhVwzeX-oiETUdnUrRjVZEOBa_YiUlsGa7colOgJgthh5iMK8l35ixh8Zewlsi7rpuiPbLDX3V_yev0gYFxrD2hTvHvu4WNT29IO5q1/s319/DoGodsWill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="158" data-original-width="319" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPeWNcHLWdldxeRGAHRglJoVGwUr3XXH_MtcbpPysyTUeCDiVQ09FpgyqEJ1qnSyt_iqnp6q-RatlaVhVwzeX-oiETUdnUrRjVZEOBa_YiUlsGa7colOgJgthh5iMK8l35ixh8Zewlsi7rpuiPbLDX3V_yev0gYFxrD2hTvHvu4WNT29IO5q1/w400-h198/DoGodsWill.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />My hubby says golf is a muscle memory game. Other sports are described that way, but yesterday’s sermon came close to using the same terminology. Our pastor described faith in three ways: what we tell others we believe, what we tell ourselves we believe, and how our beliefs show up in the way we live. He said some say they believe (public belief), or think what they believe (private belief) but true faith is belief in action (core belief). <br /><br />I’m not sure about these terms, but I get what he was saying. There are people who trust Jesus and their lives show it, and that is core belief that the Bible describes. Faith is not merely knowing and agreeing that something is true or real. Even the demons believe in that sense, but their ‘faith’ does not affect their response to God. Our pastor pointed out that our lives reveal what we trust.<br /><blockquote>And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? (Mark 8:34–36)</blockquote>Jesus describes faith as submission to the will of God. My devotional author is convinced that all our struggles to do that would disappear if we could see clearly that His will is good. We struggle and struggle in vain to submit to a will that we do not believe to be good, but when we see that it is good, we submit to it with delight. I get that. If I really believe God is good and His will is perfect, I want it to be accomplished.<br /><br />Christians sometimes say that faith needs to move from the head to the heart. This is moving from thinking it verbally to really believing but it would be more accurate to say faith needs to move from the head (or heart) to the muscles! It helps to realize how God makes this happen and then cooperate with the process.<br /><blockquote>Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)</blockquote>According to the Bible, it happens by mind renewal (a new way of thinking that is contrary to worldly thinking) and by testing that way of thinking — or simply trying it out, another way of saying ‘find out what God says, then obey what He says’ and then I will know that God’s will is good, acceptable, and perfect.<br /><br />Trying it involves choosing. I heard God say ‘Do the right thing’ all day Saturday and Sunday and each time it involved two options. I’ve done enough Bible study to know which of the two was right and that the other choice was ‘my way’ instead of God’s. While understanding the best choice is not always the case, this time it made it easier to choose the will of God. <br /><br />If the choice is sin or obedience, that one is easy to discern too, but if the choice is between good and best, then it often more difficult. Knowing the Word of God is a big help. <br /><blockquote>For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)</blockquote>God, who knows all things and knows me better than I know myself, is able to use His Word to reveal my intentions. He did that Friday night in a discussion of jealousy and I realized this truth: when I feel threatened by what someone else has or can do, that emotion is jealousy. It can be good if it is protective of my marriage, or my relationship with God, but sinful if it involves feeling threatened by someone who has more or does better than I do and I want what they have or can do. <br /><br />PRAY: Lord, You persist in these lessons about trusting You and I am glad. You want me to have a soft heart when options appear, not harden my heart against Your will. You want me to do the right thing and confess any areas where I always go my own way. You also want me to listen for Your voice because You do speak and I cannot hide from You or even try to hide. You love me no matter what, and Your will is perfect. Why resist it? How wise to pay attention and do what You say, wanting Your will to be done in my life, no matter what it is!<br /><br /></span><br /><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-7175359393970248192024-02-25T17:53:00.002-07:002024-02-26T09:49:14.194-07:00Willing?<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFY7DPFwaOarrr9xcmuUSkD-hTYwdFvj4Sxyy770y7HT7hjJ-0xwVwHpLC-b0Q5UF7YCSczq45Cze0CHIuCN55IEme9JJIRkHgXP0KBHCFv289CkbwQ7ESxqxFbZHqHZIE5GxWpByRY3utbxRGF2pfNbZ_ixE5u52QK5kUEZ6Bc8IPPiNlKVKC/s1280/notmywill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFY7DPFwaOarrr9xcmuUSkD-hTYwdFvj4Sxyy770y7HT7hjJ-0xwVwHpLC-b0Q5UF7YCSczq45Cze0CHIuCN55IEme9JJIRkHgXP0KBHCFv289CkbwQ7ESxqxFbZHqHZIE5GxWpByRY3utbxRGF2pfNbZ_ixE5u52QK5kUEZ6Bc8IPPiNlKVKC/w400-h225/notmywill.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> <br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A British statesman and Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom was criticized for his policies and replied: <i>“Gentlemen, get larger maps.” </i><br /><br />I get that. Yesterday God clearly told me to do the right thing, and the decisions made to obey Him produced what Jesus calls <i>“abundant”</i> life — clearly better in comparison to what it would have been had I selected my options. <br /><br />Today’s devotional says something similar. An abundant life in Christ is not about using my talents, doing great deeds, having fervent emotions, or being given wonderful revelations. It is simply to want what God wants and do what He says. Stop waiting for some grand experience or feeling, just listen to the indwelling Holy Spirit and follow His directions. These are simple truths, learned early yet it seems to take me years to consistently do life His way. I am a most stubborn saved sinner. <br /><br />God’s plan is to transform me into the image of Christ. His glory was having His will set to do the will of His Father. When faced with His own “Do the right thing” He replied, <i>“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” </i>(Luke 22:42)<br /><br />Even though Jesus makes a distinction between His human will and the Father’s will, God does not leave me to “do the right thing” by the power of my human will. He says;<br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12–13)</span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now may the God of peace . . . equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20–21)</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">How does He do this? That is not a short answer. The reality is that He does do it. Paul knew that:<br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God’s grace is shown in His love and when loved like He loves, doing His will is a delight — not because my life is godly but because His love shows me that His will is best. Even when what He wants seems unpleasant to me, satisfying Him gives me delight — and that is what makes life abundant.<br /><br />His love is not the same as human love, which expects a return. God loved me while I was a sinner and He had no return whatsoever. The NT expresses it like this:<br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? (2 Corinthians 12:15)</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Essentially, the writer was saying, ‘I do not care whether you love me or not, I am willing to destitute myself completely, not merely for your sakes, but that I may get you to God.’ He reflects God’s love…<br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)<br /></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This love is tied to obedience for it produces a glad willingness to do what God asks. It may mean household chores, calling a shut-in, giving finances, sitting with a senior, and doing everything without asking why or being concerned about what’s in it for me. Obedience without reserve.<br /><br />PRAY: Jesus, You speak to me continually about making right choices and following through with obedience. You know I have days of feeling useless, or filled with fatigue, or just wanting to do nothing. May grace and love motivate me to pay close attention; not only listening with obedience but doing Your will from the heart and with great joy.<br /><br /></span></span><br /><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-54229857603034628912024-02-24T18:21:00.005-07:002024-02-25T08:30:47.593-07:00God’s Power and my choices<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbF26EttH8Y7_FpthaCVG0Yv3XD_2NR_wI3CsK_YBdyvzFMU20rJzeI9auGgN92OCbR3wQ1gW1UJAVJxUaG53E_0ufCQewL9DDDayrgJGjChqj6PzbrjAD1vlf0xjLm4ECRW491EQLL1MezgF0g15L_4ytI_jjoVkv2fYxOeIwV21T0ODuxBq/s600/power-of-god.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbF26EttH8Y7_FpthaCVG0Yv3XD_2NR_wI3CsK_YBdyvzFMU20rJzeI9auGgN92OCbR3wQ1gW1UJAVJxUaG53E_0ufCQewL9DDDayrgJGjChqj6PzbrjAD1vlf0xjLm4ECRW491EQLL1MezgF0g15L_4ytI_jjoVkv2fYxOeIwV21T0ODuxBq/w400-h225/power-of-god.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I’m being challenged continually to trust Jesus with everything. Last night we prayed with friends and part of that included a discussion about repetition. Do we ask God once for something and trust Him to do it? Or do we pray every day until it happens?<br /><br />The question in my devotional: Is it not hard to trust the management of the universe and all of the outward creation to the Lord? <br /><br />My first thought: Why not then trust Him to open up a parking place close to the door of a store when it is pouring rain and the umbrella is at home in the other car? Can my concerns be more complex and difficult than keeping the earth in orbit, or taking care of animals and birds, or even making flowers grow and bloom. Why then be anxious or troubled about His management of my life, or the lives of those around me? Why not pray as often as concerns arise? <br /><br />If I take my stand on the power and trustworthiness of God based on just creation, it is easy to see that He knows how to turn a patch of weeds into a field of flowers, or protect a hive of bees, or turn a lanky and very shaky foal into a sleek race horse. It should be easy to pray about everything as long or only once.<br /><br />I can trust Him to forgive my sin and give me eternal life — and <i>“I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” </i>(Romans 1:16) For those who are perishing, the word of the cross is folly, but to me it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)<br /><br />Jesus died in weakness but rose again by the power of God. I am weak yet live and will live forever in the power of God (2 Corinthians 13:4). Why then do I not pray about everything since God can do anything? Is it not because the sin nature so easily rules? The sin nature simply wants to be lord of my life. Compared to what God can do, how foolish is that! If I do not pray, is it because my sin nature assumes I can handle all things? <br /><br />I woke this morning with an agenda. But the dishwasher needed to be unloaded. The words “Do the right thing” ran through my head so I unloaded it. I have a role in a nonprofit group and saw an email that needed a response from my position on their board. A voice in my head said “Answer this now” and again, “Do the right thing” and no worry of responses for my response was a rebuke of sorts. At the same time, I knew this was the Holy Spirit telling me what to do, not my agenda. <br /><br />I’ve been complaining how my to-do list runs my life when I have the God of the universe standing by and quite willing to take on that role. I do not alway listen. How foolish is that?<br /><br />Once someone said to me that God was to be relied on the big stuff, like the wars in the world and the weather and anything else we cannot control, but we are not to bother Him with things we can do ourselves. I do not agree. That person has never felt helpless or unable to take on the challenges of life — a weakness that God allows to those of us who stubbornly insist on managing our own lives without Him. Doing the right thing means doing what God tells me to do, not what I want to do. Sadly, my ‘I wants’ are the essence of sin.<br /></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6, italics mine)</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">PRAY: Jesus, I hear You loud and clear. The bottom line for me today comes from this seldom preached verse: <i>“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” </i>(James 4:17) Keep me hearing it. I’m tired of trying to do my own thing and even if my actions are not what others might consider sinful, if I am not doing what You tell me, then I am sinning against You.<br /></span><br /><br /></span><br /><p></p><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21062156.post-56807180910961119182024-02-23T18:09:00.003-07:002024-02-23T18:09:46.875-07:00Facing Giants<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VBkCg1dfHmZwkOnVXjrhuQKhqu8Ut0L8DdYNhHFolRe-rwxVqwYBM2MKEIxydTuiNKp5fHST-IS72X0DuWE2W2Bfx6DRLePTmCQ-w8g_3JZyvz_v-Fwmtnr7CZvFtG-G7sUs6UbRV9k80dOh-2teyg7KkTvY-pT4gVmqkiOJKhZNatF3_6L1/s3840/FacingGiants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VBkCg1dfHmZwkOnVXjrhuQKhqu8Ut0L8DdYNhHFolRe-rwxVqwYBM2MKEIxydTuiNKp5fHST-IS72X0DuWE2W2Bfx6DRLePTmCQ-w8g_3JZyvz_v-Fwmtnr7CZvFtG-G7sUs6UbRV9k80dOh-2teyg7KkTvY-pT4gVmqkiOJKhZNatF3_6L1/w400-h225/FacingGiants.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br />Planning a family reunion that could involve up to a hundred people from various parts of the world is for me a huge task. I’ve felt like David facing Goliath at times, but the Spirit would not let me give up. I went searching for help and several volunteered, some that I did not expect, even one that his mother told me he would never come. These have become the stones in my sling when I began this task. Having never done anything close to it, I’ve felt small and unable — which is a good way to feel when taking on anything. The Lord keeps saying to me:<br /><blockquote>“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)</blockquote>This week, one of those ‘stones’ that volunteered showed me the faithfulness of God. In trying to trust Him, I’ve struggled, but with a cousin’s cheerful help, my feeble faith is being strengthened. We have not totally slaughter that huge task, but the plans made it seem less threatening. <br /><br />Today I read of David’s attitude toward the giant that he faced. He talked to King Saul this way:<br /><blockquote>Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God. (1 Samuel 17:34–36)</blockquote>Through faith in God David conquered a lion and a bear, and afterwards overthrew the mighty Goliath. When that lion came to take out sheep from his flock, David considered it as an opportunity. If he had failed or faltered he would have missed this and other challenges and may never have come to be God’s chosen king of Israel. <br /><br />Most of us do not consider the lions or giants that come into our lives are a special blessing from God. They seem more like enemies, threats, and at least an occasion for alarm. However, in David’s case, that threat was an opportunity from God in disguise. I know that every difficulty that presents itself to me, if I receive it in the right way, is God’s opportunity, even every temptation as well. <br /><br />One writer reminds me that the OT tabernacle of God was covered with badgers’ skins and goats’ hair. This did not suggest there would be any glory in that place, but the Shekinah of God was manifest under that crude, even ugly covering. I need God to open my eyes to see Him, whether in temptations, trials, dangers, or misfortunes, or in huge responsibilities that I cannot do all by myself as mere coverings for God’s glory.<br /><br />I also realized as we planned that not everyone will appreciate our efforts or even show up to this event. Another writer reminded me of Paul’s idea of service putting it like this: “I will spend myself to the last ebb for you; you may give me praise or give me blame, it will make no difference. So long as there is a human being who does not know Jesus Christ, I am his debtor to serve him until he does.”<br />Paul’s service is not love for men, but love for Jesus Christ. If I am devoted to the cause of humanity, I will be disappointed because so many are never grateful for anything. Yet if my motive is to demonstrate my love for God, no ingratitude can hinder me from serving others.<br /><br />This writer even said, <i>“I was before a perjurer, a blasphemer, an injurious person” </i>— and that is true for me too. No matter how others may treat me, they will never treat me the way I once totally ignored Jesus. He serves me even in my selfishness and sin. With His attitude, nothing others do can change my determination to do whatever is required in serving people.<br /><br />PRAY: Jesus, I realize a tiny bit of what is needed to bravely serve others in Your name is a big dose of Your great love. Open my heart to do this with grace and great faith in Your ability to use it to bring glory to Your name. Enable me to overcome all anxieties about responses or lack of responses and trust You to make of this family reunion a blessing both to You and to those who arrive and participate.<br /><br /></span><br /><p></p>Elsie Montgomeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13739927333538419518noreply@blogger.com0