How Powerful Our God

I love this song! I could listen to it all the time!

"The God of angel armies is always by my side!"
How amazing to stop and really think about what this song says.

God goes before us.
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. - Deuteronomy 31:8

God stands behind us (or supports us).
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. - Psalm 37:23-24

God is always with us.
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. - Matthew 28:20
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. - Psalm 73:23

God reigns forever.
God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. - Psalm 47:8
The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord. - Psalm 146:10

God commands armies of angels.
"Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" - Matthew 26:53
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. - Psalm 91:11

So, why be afraid?
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10

What Do Others See?

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

This was my verse of the day on my Bible app, and it really struck me today. Earlier, I was on Facebook, scrolling through funny posts, pictures of cats, and nerd news, as I sometimes do. A celebrity I follow had shared a funny post - a screencap of someone's Facebook status. You know the ones. Well, the status was really funny. So, I shared it. Just before I shared it, I noticed the comments had a lot of foul language. I shared it anyway.

Then, I had the thought: what does that say about me? Now, I know several of my close friends will find it funny, and not think twice about what it says about me, because they know me so well. But some of the people I go to church with, some of the new friends I've made recently...what will that post tell them about me? It will tell them that I tolerate that kind of language, and for all they know, that I use it.

So, today I had a reality check. I have become complacent about the things I post on my social media accounts. I need to be more careful. I need to be sure that everything I put out there does not make people question whether I truly serve God with everything I am.

So, this week I'm going to clean up my social media sites, and make the conscious choice to be more careful about the things I post and share. This doesn't mean I have to stop sharing those cute pictures of kittens, or only post Bible verses all the time, but I will be engaging my filter a lot more, and making the conscious choice to ask "Would God disapprove of this?" "Would it cause someone to question where my heart lies?"

I challenge each of you to do the same.

Everything in Moderation

So, I recently went to the doctor for the first time in several years. I'm okay, but naturally, I now need to start eating better, and exercising (some) and just generally try to be healthier. It's something I've wanted to do before, but I lacked the motivation. Plus, this thought always makes me think of someone rushing in, locking me in a tiny prison, and dangling cake just outside of my reach while laughing maniacally. It always makes me sad. And yes, I know I'm a little dramatic.

But that's not what's going to happen! I can still have cake. Sometimes. Just not as frequently as I think I want it. I also have to cut back on my cheese intake. Everything in moderation!

This is going to be difficult for me, because I equate not being able to eat what I want to a loss of personal freedom, and lots of other bad things that I logically understand won't be the case. Any tips or suggestions for me?

I thought today's post should be a little more personal, about something important that's going on with me. I also thought this post would be the perfect time to share one of my favorite Bible verses.
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"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace" (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).

The Missing Link

At the Bigfoot presentation I attended, the speaker, Mitchell Waite, said "Science has proven that all humans came from 1 man and 1 woman, and is now scrambling to find the missing link between humans and primates."

When he said it, my mind screamed "God is the missing link!" God is the connection between all life, all creation - the only connection. Without Him, there would be no world, no universe. Nothing.

Today's post is short because I just wanted to put this thought down.
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"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters" (Genesis 1:1-2).

"Don't Look Down!"

I was watching a movie (Follow Me, Boys) when this phrase appeared: "Don't Look Down." It is used when people are walking over high bridges, climbing over fallen logs, scaling mountains, etc.

When I heard the phrase, I immediately connected it to the way we are facing spiritually. If we are looking down (at our feet, or toward the thing that frightens us), instead of up toward our Heavenly Father, or back (to where we used to be, or what we used to have), instead of forward to the future He has planned for us, we're not truly focused on Him.

Even if we are faced with a scary situation, we shouldn't "look down" at the situation. Rather, we should keep our focus on God, and we will make it through.
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"I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken" (Psalm 16:8).

Fitting In

According to a version of the Bible called the Christian Bible, 1 Peter 2:9 says "God has not called you to fit in." I agree. But that can't be all the verse says.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (NIV).

Aha! That's the problem with shortened versions. You don't get the whole picture. This verse basically says that God has not called us to fit in. But it also says that we are chosen by God into a "royal priesthood." We are called to be priests of The King. We are called from darkness into His light so that we may declare His praises for His glory.

We aren't meant to fit in with the world, because we are not of the world. We are called to be God's people, and to serve Him. Because we belong to God, we cannot fit in with the world, and the world doesn't want us if we don't fit in.
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"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you" (John 15:19).

Enough

So, I've spent a lot of time looking for things to define me: clothes, jobs, friends, boyfriends, hobbies, etc, and I have failed.

But God has revealed to me (more than once, but much more insistently this time) that He must be enough for me. Whatever else comes into my life is extra compared to Him. It's taken a while, but I finally, truly understand. Now, I define myself first in Him. It has made quite the positive difference in my life.

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"one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:6).

God is Still Here

In church last week, Pastor said something that's really stuck with me.

"God's not asleep. God's not dead. God didn't leave town!"

I loved this so much, I wrote it down so that I could add it to my Musings.

Matthew 28:19-20 - "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

God does not leave us. Humans sometimes choose to walk away from God, but He is always there. He will not leave. He does not tire. He does not sleep. He will never die. God will always be here for those who believe in Him.

Even when it seems like we aren't getting the answer to our prayers, we must remember that God does listen to us. Only His timing is perfect, so sometimes we have to wait, but that doesn't mean He has forgotten us.
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And a song to go with it:

My Redeemer Lives

My cousin, Tiffany, and I adore this song, so today I wanted to do a post about it.

I know, without even the shadow of a doubt, that my redeemer is alive.
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"The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you.'" - Matthew 28:5-7

The Word of Jesus

I learned something new in church on Sunday! I know. Shocking! So, we know that Jesus and the Holy Spirit have been with God from the beginning, from before the universe was even formed. 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:1-2).

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:1-5).

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God (John 1:9-13).

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

When I think of God's Word, I only think of the Bible. And it is His Word. But John 1 says "The Word became flesh." So, Jesus is also God's Word! Or was His Word first. God's Word walked on the earth! I had always considered God's Son and God's Word separately. But they aren't. How cool! I love learning new things!

Declaration Eight

The point of the 8 Declarations is that we have to be careful of our words and speak only ones that bring life.

Declaration 8: I declare that God has a great plan for my life.

God calls each of us for a purpose. He doesn't just want us to be passive followers. He expects us to act on our beliefs. We are meant to do something with our lives.

Romans 8:26 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Proverbs 16:9 - In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 - Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter; Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of all mankind.

Declare first that you will serve God; follow through on this promise. Then, make all 8 declarations. Speak these things aloud so that it will travel from your lips to God's ear. Repeat them every day.

Declaration Seven

The point of the 8 Declarations is that we have to be careful of our words and speak only ones that bring life.

Declaration 7:

I declare that I will store up blessings for future generations.

I think this is one that might confuse some people. Blessings aren't just monetary. Storing up blessings for future generations includes so much more: freedoms, wildlife, natural resources, etc.

Now, I'm not going to make this post about conservation (though I'm thinking about doing one) but it's important to remember that we have to preserve the earth for future generations. I think the greatest blessings we can store up are these: the freedom to worship God in safety, and the beauty of the earth God created.

Proverbs 13:22 - A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.

Declare first that you will serve God; follow through on this promise. Then, make the 7 declarations. Speak these things aloud so that it will travel from your lips to God's ear.

Declaration Six

The point of the 8 Declarations is that we have to be careful of our words and speak only ones that bring life.

Declaration 6: I declare that I will leave a legacy of faith.

What will people say about you when you die? I don't want to be remembered as someone who got rich, and donated a lot of money to get a plaque in my name. (Well, it might be nice to be able to leave a lot of money for a good cause, but...) There are a lot of things I want to do on this earth before I die, but most importantly, I want to live my life serving God. I want to be remembered as someone who loved, lived, and laughed. I want to be remembered as someone who lived in God's light every day, who spread God's love, and always pointed to Him. I want to be remembered as someone who always had time for those I loved. Nicole Nordeman actually sums this all up very nicely:

Matthew 6:19-21 - "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Declare first that you will serve God; follow through on this promise. Then, make the 6 declarations. Speak these things aloud so that it will travel from your lips to God's ear.

Declaration Five

The point of the 8 Declarations is that we have to be careful of our words and speak only ones that bring life.

Declaration 5: I declare that I will be grateful for who God is.

It is important to not get so caught up in the wonders of the blessings God gives us that we forget to be grateful just for the wonder of who God is.

Psalm 147:7 - Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp.

Jonah 2:9 - But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, 'Salvation comes from the Lord.'


Declare first that you will serve God; follow through on this promise. "Make good" your vows. Then, make the first 5 declarations. Speak these things aloud so that it will travel from your lips to God's ear.

Declaration Four

The point of the 8 Declarations is that we have to be careful of our words and speak only ones that bring life.

Declaration 4: I declare that it is not too late to accomplish everything God has put in my heart.

"As long as you're alive, it's not too late," was one of the comments made about this declaration. If we are living and breathing, there is still time to accomplish what God has put us here to do.

I am just discovering the truth of this. I had so many things in my heart that I felt were "conditional" on certain things. God has recently pointed out that I can do them without the "conditions" I had placed on them if I let go of my fear, and just take the risk. I'm still working through some of this, but I know for sure now that it is never too late to start a new venture God has placed in your heart.

Philippians 4:13, KJV - I can do all things through Christ which strenghteneth me.

Matthew 19:26 - Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

So, take the leap of faith. God has placed us here for a purpose. We are here to be servants of God and to shine for Him so that others may come to know His glory. The way we accomplish this could vary. God knows our strengths, our weaknesses, our desires, and our dreams and wants us to use them to glorify Him. We don't all have to be preachers behind a pulpit, but we can use the talents He has given us to reach out to people, to spread the Word of God, even if we aren't called to preach.

Declare first that you will serve God; follow through on this promise. Then, make the first 4 declarations. Speak these things aloud so that it will travel from your lips to God's ear.

Declaration Three

The point of the 8 Declarations is that we have to be careful of our words and speak only ones that bring life.

Declaration 3:

I declare that I will have the grace I need for every day of my life.

This is actually one of my favorite declarations. Some days I really feel like I need grace.

According to Webster's dictionary, grace means "a controlled, polite, and pleasant way of behaving." It also means "unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification."

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.

John 1:16-17 - Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Acts 20:32 - Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

1 Corinthians 15:10 - But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 - But he said to me "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

God's grace is enough for us to make it through all sorts of trials.

Declare first that you will serve God; follow through on this promise. Then, make the first 3 declarations. Speak these things aloud so that it will travel from your lips to God's ear.

Declaration Two

The point of the 8 Declarations is that we have to be careful of our words and speak only ones that bring life.

Declaration 2: I declare that I will experience God's faithfulness.

God is faithful. That isn't my opinion. It's a fact. I have already experienced God's faithfulness, and I know He will always be faithful. We are the ones who fail in our faithfulness. It can be something as small as a moment of doubt, or something as big as walking away from God.

Deuteronomy 7:9 - Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

2 Timothy 2:11-13 - Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 - But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

Psalm 33:4 - For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

Psalm 86:15 - But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Hebrews 11:11 - And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.

Psalm 9:10 - Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord have never forsaken those who seek you.

God is faithful. He is the only one who will always be faithful, who will always keep all of His promises. Therefore, we can safely trust in Him.

Declare first that you will serve God; follow through on this promise. Then, make the first 2 declarations. Speak these things aloud so that it will travel from your lips to God's ear. This is a symbol of your trust in God's faithfulness.

Declaration One

My dear friend Ms. Birrer, who often comments on my blog, suggested that I should write individual posts for more in-depth studies of the 8 Declarations a guest pastor talked about at our church. I hadn't even thought about doing that until she mentioned it. So, here is my first further study of the 8 Declarations.

If you remember, the point of the declarations was: "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit" (Proverbs 18:21). So, we have to be careful of our words, and speak only ones that bring life.

Declaration 1 : I declare God's incredible blessings over my life.

If we follow, worship, and obey God, He will bless us. It may not always be in ways we expect, or imagine, but it will always be exactly what we need. Remember, God sees the big picture, and He knows what's best for us.

That doesn't mean we will never go through trials, or that we will never suffer. In fact, in the Bible, some of God's greatest blessings come after great suffering. Just read the book of Job.

Proverbs 10:6 - Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

Ephesians 1:3 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Declare first that you will serve God; follow through on this promise. Then, make the first declaration. Speak these things aloud so that it will travel from your lips to God's ear.

What if God's People Prayed

It's always awesome to find that worship songs are based on Bible verses!

2 Chronicles 7:14 - "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

This song has a line that I just love! It says "What if the family turned to Jesus, stopped askin' Oprah what to do?" 

What a powerful question! God is in control of everything. He is all-powerful. If we turn our lives over to Him, He can do great things through us.

What if God's people prayed? What could we accomplish if we leaned on the one true God who can do all things? What if we trusted in God instead of ourselves?

The Elusive Christian Male

Okay. I know someone read the title and rolled their eyes. I would have.

But I find this to be a serious problem for single Christian women. How can you find a man who truly serves God? How can you find a man who isn't just a Christian on Sundays, who follows all of God's commandments, not just the ones which are convenient? Where are they hiding?

Well, I think for starters we have to look in the right places. To exhaust a fishing metaphor: we have to use the right bait, and fish in the right spot. If we're wearing low-cut tops, short skirts, and going to bars, chances are we won't find a man of God. Or if we do, we won't attract him.

But today's post isn't about how women of God should act. That will come later, as I want to do a more in-depth study about what God expects of His daughters. Today's post will be about God's expectations of His sons. I think if Christian women know what God expects of men, we will know what we should expect, and even require of all men around us. Or maybe I'm the only person with this problem...

This article does a good job of breaking it down. It's a good read, and I really enjoyed it. Please read it. It not only gave me a starting point to focus my thoughts, it is something I would recommend as a reference.

After reading this article, and the referenced Scriptures, I finally feel like I understand what I should expect from a man, and if he doesn't live up to these standards (God's standards) then he isn't a man I should be considering. I will not include all the verses from the article, as I don't want to recreate it. These are some verses that describe what God expects of men:

1 Corinthians 7:32-33 - I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs-how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world-how he can please his wife

I think this also means that he should not be actively looking for a wife. Now, human nature usually drives us to try to find a "mate," and most people do spend a lot of time dating, so I'm not saying that's wrong. But it shouldn't be his main focus (or ours!). I read a quote online that I absolutely loved! It says "Imagine a man so focused on God that the only reason he looked up to see you is because he heard God say 'That's her.'"

A true Christian who is single (man or woman) should be totally focused on God. Once you're married, your attention is divided between God and your spouse/family.

1 Timothy 4:12 - Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

God expects men to be compassionate and understanding leaders, humble and willing followers, and loving and respectful brothers, sons, friends, husbands and fathers. They can be none of these things without God.

Single Christian women should be looking for men who serve God out in the open, aren't afraid to show emotion, who are leaders both in and out of their homes, servants as Jesus served, respectful, kind and loving, and who recognize the importance of women first as God's daughters and then as men's helpers (Genesis 1:27, 2:7 & 2:18-24).

This verse shows how men of God should treat others:

1 Timothy 5:1-2 - Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

Yes, this means they should not be making lewd or flirtatious remarks towards women.

Christian men must recognize that they are not superior to anyone. They are all supposed to be following God, and even if they are in a position of leadership, they are still meant to serve in that leadership with humbleness, and compassion.

Like the article said, “Somehow we need to get it out of our heads that leadership means superiority and supportive roles mean inferiority.”
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"Courageous" by Casting Crowns is one of my favorite worship songs, and I think it is a perfect way to end this post.

Animal Breeding

Leviticus 19:19 - "Keep my decrees. Do not mate different kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of materials."

I know that Jesus freed us from the curse of the old laws. Galatians 3:13 says "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.'"

But I came across this verse in Leviticus, and had a question. Would mating two kinds of animals count for wolves and dogs, or just say...crossbreeding felines and canines?


I know the question might not be really important in the grand scheme, but these are the things I sometimes think about. I don't have an answer. So, if anyone would like to weigh in, I'd love to hear your responses!

The Strength of a Name

I had this song stuck in my head all day yesterday. It's a great song! It's called "Blessed be the Name of the Lord." There are other versions on YouTube, but this was the only one I found that matches the speed we sing the song in church.

The song says "The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it, and they are safe." How true is that!

I actually changed the lyrics a bit yesterday. When it first got stuck in my head, I was singing the lyrics wrong. I was singing "The Word of the Lord is a strong tower. The weary run into it, and they are saved." I think that's true too, though the change was completely unintentional! Whenever we are weary, we can run to God and His Word, and we will be safe.

So, today I just wanted to share a song that's been stuck in my head. I hope you enjoy!

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"The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe" (Proverbs 18:10).

The Best Case Scenario

I don't know about you, but I'm guilty of "worst-case-scenario" thoughts. Before I take a risk or do something big, I have to know "the worst that could happen."

I'll give you an example. This happened to me today. Just a few minutes ago, actually. 

I don't drive, so I took the bus to the library. I was walking home, and there's an older man on a golf cart who's pulled up to the curb. I don't think much about it. I'm just going to walk right past him and go home. No big deal.

He greets me as I pass. "Hello, dear. How are you?" (A lot of older people call me dear.) "I'm good. How are you?" "I'm good." I walk past him. I notice a cane in his golf cart. I'm on the corner about to turn onto my street when he calls out again. "Do you need some money?"

Okay. I'm going to interrupt myself. I was wearing a cute, but decent butterfly t-shirt, a modest knee-length jean skirt, and tennis shoes. I neither looked poor nor like a prostitute. Okay. Back to the story.

My gut reaction was to say "No thank you," over my shoulder and keep walking. Within a millisecond of his question, 3 thoughts went through my head: "What does he want?" "What strings are attached?" and "Don't trust him!" So, I went on my way - not as merry as I had been.

I had barely rounded the corner when a feeling of guilt overtook me and a thought entered my head: What if? Annoyed, I frowned. "What if what?" What if you'd said yes? Now sure that it was that still, small voice inside me that has always tried to lead me down God's path, I paused. Not literally. It was hot, and I wanted to get home.

What if I had said yes? I began to think frantically. A conversation I'd had with God just this morning entered my head. I had asked God to bless me financially because right now I don't have a job, and don't want to cause any more burden on my mother (who is kind enough to let me live with her right now) than I have to. Uh oh. Had I just said no to one of God's blessings? I'll never know.

Now, let's run the worst-case scenarios. What if I'd said yes and the man had told me I had to come with him somewhere else to get it? By the time he asked, I was already past him, and I had my running shoes on. I'd have politely said no, and moved away more quickly. What if he'd said I'd have to do something to get it? I'd have said no and moved on. What if he'd chased me with his golf cart!? AAAH! I was on the main street, and there are businesses and apartments on it. People would have seen it. Plus, I had a heavy bag full of books that I know how to swing. Just sayin'.

Okay. So, I may have just walked away from one of God's blessings because of fear, and lack of trust. In Sunday school, we're learning about trust, and had to rate certain groups of people. I rated God a 10/10, and people a 5/10. I was horribly wrong. Apparently I trust people 1/10, and God a 7/10. I need to work on that. Big time!

So, this experience taught me to trust God. Unfortunately, sometimes I have to learn the hard way to walk the walk even when I'm talking the talk. Instead of making decisions based on a worst-case scenario, make them based on a best-case scenario. Now, that doesn't mean everyone can be trusted, and absolutely NEVER go anywhere with someone you don't know!

What if I'd made the decision based on a best-case scenario? What if my knee-jerk reaction had been "Yes, actually, I do. How did you know?" What's the best that could have happened? He could have pulled out his wallet and given me a check for a million dollars! Or some such amount.

What if I just rejected one of God's blessings out of fear and distrust of an old man with a cane in a slow-moving golf cart?
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"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).

"The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident" (Psalm 27:1-3).

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).

Fasting

CONFESSION TIME!!! I do not understand fasting! Okay. Now that I've admitted it, and there's no more hiding it, it's time to learn!

I do know that fasting must always be accompanied by prayer. If you fast, you must also be in prayer about the thing for which you are fasting.

What does the Bible say about Fasting?

Jesus said "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:16-18).

Okay. Don't make a spectacle of it. I think this is true of most things we are supposed to do.

Joel 2:12-14 - "Even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing--grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.

Can we fast things other than food?

This is my biggest issue. I tend to get physically ill if I get too hungry.

There was a list of types of fasts in our church bulletin on Sunday. 

1. Normal Fast - No food, water only
2. Absolute fast - No food or water
1. Should not be done over 3 days and only if you have sure direction from God
3. Partial Fast - Abstaining from certain foods
1. For example see Daniel 10:3
4. Juice Fast - Drink fruit and vegetable juice only.
5. Jewish Fasting Period - From 6pm-6pm over a 24 hour period.
6. Fasting and Abstinence - Abstinence from entertainment, hobbies, TV, Internet, and/or sex in addition to a fast.
1. 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 - Paul speaks of a husband and wife abstaining from intimacy.

This list was really helpful for me, as I had never been taught about fasting, and I had never before sought the information.

So, why should we fast?

In the Bible, there are many reasons why people have fasted over the years. King David fasted during a period of mourning. In Mark 9, Jesus tells His disciples that the deaf and mute spirit could not have been removed by them without prayer and fasting. 

Fasting is a way for us to really focus on God, seek His face, and humble ourselves before Him. Fasting is not to be taken lightly. It is used for serious prayer and reflection in times of distress, trouble, or danger.

You can't use fasting to, say, get a new car just because yours is the wrong color. But if your car broke down and you have no way to get to work and you're on the verge of being fired because your boss is uncompromising and you have six kids to feed, I would think that counts as a time of distress. If I'm wrong, please correct me in the comments!

So, this is what I learned about fasting. I understand it better than I did, and I hope you learned something too!

*Note: the Bible says "prayer and fasting," not "hard labor and fasting."

Planting the Seed

I watched The Lorax recently and the main character says "No one believes in trees anymore," and the Once-Ler replies "Then make them believe. Plant the seed. Plant it in the middle of town."

I thought that was really interesting. And can't it apply to other things too? There are people who don't believe in God. But we don't have to accept their disbelief, even though it can be frustrating. Rather, we should spread the Word, and plant the seed. Plant it right where everyone can see it, so that they might believe and be saved.

Does this mean we have to go out into the middle of town and start preaching? No...Not unless God tells you to. But we can talk to people at work, and others we meet. We should read God's Word and apply it to our lives so that the seed takes root and blooms for other people to see through our words, and deeds. Our very lives become "trees" that others can see.

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"Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown" (Mark 4:20).

*I encourage everyone to read the full parable in Mark chapter 4.*

Capital Matters

Today is just a brief musing. Today, church gave me a lot to think about, but I need time to sort through my thoughts.

Why do we capitalize "He" when referring to God, when it isn't capitalized in the Bible? Is it just a respect thing, or is there more to it?

I don't have an answer. I just wanted to put this out there. I know it's irrelevant in the long list of things we can learn from the Bible, but these are the types of random thoughts I sometimes have.

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I don't have a verse to go with this random thought, so I'm just going to pick one of my favorites.

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" (Proverbs 15:1).

Fruit of the Spirit

What is the Fruit of the Spirit?

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-25).

I think this is a really good verse that sums up how we are supposed to act, to show that we belong to God.

The Merriam-Webster definitions - 

Love: "A feeling of strong or constant affection for a person."

Joy: "A feeling of great happiness."

Peace: "A state in which there is no war or fighting."

Forbearance: "The quality of someone who is patient and able to deal with a difficult person or situation without becoming angry."

Kindness: "The quality or state of being kind." 
(Kind- "having or showing a gentle nature and a desire to help others : wanting and liking to do good things and to bring happiness to others")

Goodness: "The quality or state of being good."
(Good - "Of high quality; morally good forces or influences.)

Faithfulness: "Having or showing true and constant support or loyalty."

Gentleness: "The quality or state of being gentle; especially: mildness of manners or disposition."
(Gentle - "Having or showing a kind and quiet nature: not harsh or violent."

Self-control: "Control over your feelings or actions."

So, someone who has the fruit of the Spirit can and will experience and express love, be kind to others, make good choices, feel peace within themselves and their situations, be patient and gentle, possess self-control, be faithful to God and others, and will find joy in all things.

What a Fool!

At some point, most people have wished they were smarter. Some have been embarrassed by a lack of knowledge. They feel foolish. But what does it mean to be a fool?

The Mirriam-Webster dictionary defines a fool as "a person who lacks good sense or judgment: a stupid or silly person."

No one wants to be thought a fool. In fact, there are a lot of scriptures warning against being a fool!

What does the Bible say about fools?

Proverbs 26:1 - Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.

Job 5:2 - Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.

Psalm 14:1 - The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

Psalm 49:10 - For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and senseless all perish, leaving their wealth to others.

Psalm 74:18-19 - Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord, how foolish people have reviled your name. Do not hand over the life of your dove to wile beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.

Psalm 74:22 - Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long.

Psalm 92:6-8 - Senseless people do not know, fools do not understand, that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever. But you, Lord, are forever exalted.

Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:22 - "How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?"

Proverbs 1:32 - For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

Proverbs 10:8 - The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

Proverbs 10:14 - The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

So, we can see from these verses that a fool (according to the Bible) does these things: 

• says God is not real
• speaks in a way that gets them into trouble
• is complacent
• hates knowledge and instruction
• does not understand, even if they are instructed

I think that sums it up. A part of me would love to tell where I got the idea to search for the word fool in the Bible, but "the mouth of a fool invites ruin," and I do not want to be a fool. I think Proverbs 10:14 was my favorite of all those verses.

So, basically I think these are saying that if we don't want to be fools, we have to learn from, and store up knowledge about God and His Word, and guard our mouths and our actions.

I really like the Proverbs. A lot! I'm thinking that soon I may try to do posts on each Proverb. I had trouble reading straight through them chapter-by-chapter, so I think I may just read one proverb a day, and see if it inspires me to do a post. Something for me to think about.

Mercies in Disguise

Sometimes God's blessings aren't always apparent to us. Sometimes things don't work out the way we want them to because God has something better planned.

Blessings by Laura Story is an amazing song! It says "We doubt Your goodness. We doubt Your love. As if every promise from Your Word is not enough."

This song is very powerful for me. There have been times when I haven't trusted God the way I should have.

At the end of the song it says "What if my greatest disappointment or the aching of this life is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy?"

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"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments" (Deuteronomy 7:9).

Everyday Guidelines

I have been trying to find a daily schedule that works for me for years. I need one I will do every day, no matter what. Then I thought: what if I just make general guidelines?

1. Do not oversleep; rather, start your day early.
1. Get a little extra sleep sometimes to refresh yourself, but don't over-indulge.
2. Awake each day with a smile on your face, and a blessing in your heart. Each day is new.
3. Start each day with prayer, meditation, and a filling breakfast.
4. Do your daily tasks with a glad and willing heart.
1. It's okay to have a bad day sometimes, but don't let it affect your daily walk.
5. Finish your day with thankful prayer and meditation.

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"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward" (Colossians 3:23-24).

That Anne-Girl

The Anne of Green Gables books are amazing! From the first time I read the first book, I fell in love with the town of Avonlea, Prince Edward Island, Anne, and all her dear friends.

L.M. Montgomery writes the stories of Anne Shirley, an orphan girl who is adopted in the town of Avonlea; these books follow her life on Prince Edward Island where she finds a home, learns about God, makes friends, learns social etiquette, cultivates her imagination, falls in love, teaches rambunctious and rowdy school children, and much more!

I really enjoy the movies as well, though since it's only a trilogy, they really jam things together so that the overall story feels rushed. They are still amazing movies though, and the first is very true to the books.

  

Or you can just get the trilogy together.

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"A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool" (Ecclesiastes 5:3).

Anne gets herself into a lot of trouble sometimes, and her wordy, "highfalutin" language often marks her a fool. As she grows, she learns, and comes down to earth a bit. In some ways this verse fits the girl she is when she comes to Green Gables very well!