Rindy's Devotional Tidbits
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The Spiritual Cafe is pleased to share her daily facebook thoughts. It is our hope that her reflections will be a service to you on your spiritual growth journey.
Week 13 Archives
Year 5; Day 85 Acquitted or Condemned Pt. 3
I have been doing a lot of thinking about Jesus' words found in Matthew 12:37. "For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Scripture has much to say about words and this verse is very concise and to the point. Our words matter to God and we will have to give an accounting. As I was looking up Scripture on this topic and doing some pondering, I came across Paul's admonishment to young Timothy, "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage---with great patience and careful instruction." (2 Timothy 4:2) "In season and out of season..." An interesting phrase. Timothy was to be prepared to preach the Word (with words) in season and out of season. I looked up the verse in the Amplified Version and it says, "…stand by, be at hand and ready, whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable, whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it be welcome or unwelcome,..." And whatever words need to be spoken...they need to be said with "great patience and careful instruction." Good advice for Timothy and for us. "In season" is not so hard. That is when we are prepared, when circumstances are familiar, when we know what to expect. Like in church. It is easy to sing along, enter into worship, maybe raise your hands, or whatever is asked or expected. Easy to smile, be friendly, and shake hands. Everyone else is doing it and it is the right place. But what about on the job? Do snatches of hymns and choruses still get hummed, does the head still bow for grace before the lunchbox gets opened, is the language the same on Monday at work as Sunday in church? What about when you are in a bad mood? When everything seems unfavorable, inconvenient, and unwelcome? When family irks, drivers irritate, and life stinks? Is there any leeway, accommodations, exceptions? "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season..." But most of us are not preachers. True. But we are all called to represent Christ in whatever we do...in season and out, convenient, favourable, welcomed or not...words are to be spoken with patience and great care. Not in anger, not in irritation, not thoughtlessly or carelessly. Maybe we all need reminding...I know I do. Words can come out so effortlessly and with so little premeditation. And maybe that is the issue and the problem. Maybe we need to say less and with more care. Today is Sunday. I have the "in season" down pretty good. If only the "out of season" were as easy...or not included...but it is...sigh...
I have been doing a lot of thinking about Jesus' words found in Matthew 12:37. "For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Scripture has much to say about words and this verse is very concise and to the point. Our words matter to God and we will have to give an accounting. As I was looking up Scripture on this topic and doing some pondering, I came across Paul's admonishment to young Timothy, "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage---with great patience and careful instruction." (2 Timothy 4:2) "In season and out of season..." An interesting phrase. Timothy was to be prepared to preach the Word (with words) in season and out of season. I looked up the verse in the Amplified Version and it says, "…stand by, be at hand and ready, whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable, whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it be welcome or unwelcome,..." And whatever words need to be spoken...they need to be said with "great patience and careful instruction." Good advice for Timothy and for us. "In season" is not so hard. That is when we are prepared, when circumstances are familiar, when we know what to expect. Like in church. It is easy to sing along, enter into worship, maybe raise your hands, or whatever is asked or expected. Easy to smile, be friendly, and shake hands. Everyone else is doing it and it is the right place. But what about on the job? Do snatches of hymns and choruses still get hummed, does the head still bow for grace before the lunchbox gets opened, is the language the same on Monday at work as Sunday in church? What about when you are in a bad mood? When everything seems unfavorable, inconvenient, and unwelcome? When family irks, drivers irritate, and life stinks? Is there any leeway, accommodations, exceptions? "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season..." But most of us are not preachers. True. But we are all called to represent Christ in whatever we do...in season and out, convenient, favourable, welcomed or not...words are to be spoken with patience and great care. Not in anger, not in irritation, not thoughtlessly or carelessly. Maybe we all need reminding...I know I do. Words can come out so effortlessly and with so little premeditation. And maybe that is the issue and the problem. Maybe we need to say less and with more care. Today is Sunday. I have the "in season" down pretty good. If only the "out of season" were as easy...or not included...but it is...sigh...
Year 5; Day 86 His Everlasting Arms
When son was small he had a reaction to one of his baby needles. He was very sick with a temperature of 102°. All he wanted was to be held in my arms...all day long. After he would fall into a feverish sleep, I would try and get up to put him to bed but he would instantly wake up and begin to cry. As long as he was lying in my arms, he was quiet and would sleep but even shifting his weight would cause him to wake up and cry. He needed to feel my arms around him and under him. Only then would he allow himself to get some much needed rest. The other day I read a verse that just spoke to me. I didn't think of this memory right away but the image of the verse stayed with me. Deuteronomy 33:27 says, "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms,..." My arms weren't everlasting. They got so tired after a few hours of holding son. But God's arms are everlasting...forever-lasting. He doesn't have to keep switching positions, shifting around, or deal with pain or numbness. There is no worry that His arms will give out or that He would like to put us down. God is our refuge, our secure place, our place of safety and protection and His arms are underneath. Holding. Supporting. Comforting. Whether it is sickness or loneliness or worries or finances or fears or whatever, we are being held...completely, securely, totally, absolutely. So we can rest and relax and let His healing peace minister to our needs. Isaiah prophecies this wonderful picture of Christ. "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." (Isaiah 40:11) Held in His arms close to His heart. If that is where you need to be, then you needn't worry that He'll weary or that you aren't secure because His arms are everlasting...forever-lasting...lasting forever. Today is Monday. Whatever your situation, whatever this day brings, He is our refuge and underneath us are His everlasting arms. Today is Monday. He won't drop us.
When son was small he had a reaction to one of his baby needles. He was very sick with a temperature of 102°. All he wanted was to be held in my arms...all day long. After he would fall into a feverish sleep, I would try and get up to put him to bed but he would instantly wake up and begin to cry. As long as he was lying in my arms, he was quiet and would sleep but even shifting his weight would cause him to wake up and cry. He needed to feel my arms around him and under him. Only then would he allow himself to get some much needed rest. The other day I read a verse that just spoke to me. I didn't think of this memory right away but the image of the verse stayed with me. Deuteronomy 33:27 says, "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms,..." My arms weren't everlasting. They got so tired after a few hours of holding son. But God's arms are everlasting...forever-lasting. He doesn't have to keep switching positions, shifting around, or deal with pain or numbness. There is no worry that His arms will give out or that He would like to put us down. God is our refuge, our secure place, our place of safety and protection and His arms are underneath. Holding. Supporting. Comforting. Whether it is sickness or loneliness or worries or finances or fears or whatever, we are being held...completely, securely, totally, absolutely. So we can rest and relax and let His healing peace minister to our needs. Isaiah prophecies this wonderful picture of Christ. "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." (Isaiah 40:11) Held in His arms close to His heart. If that is where you need to be, then you needn't worry that He'll weary or that you aren't secure because His arms are everlasting...forever-lasting...lasting forever. Today is Monday. Whatever your situation, whatever this day brings, He is our refuge and underneath us are His everlasting arms. Today is Monday. He won't drop us.
Year 5; Day 87 What Good Thing?
"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" (Matthew 19:16) Before doing our Beth Moore Bible study, "Breaking Free," I am not sure that verse would have stopped me. But it did last night. Because the man was making the mistake of humanizing God. He figured God had a price. That he could make a deal. That God had a bottom line. Sometimes I watch American or Canadian Pickers on TV. The two shows have the same premise, just different pickers and territories. The men go to various places and try to make deals to buy other people's stuff and then resell it for a profit. Often there are negotiations as to price. Questions like, "What do you want for the item? Will you take this? How about we do this?" get tossed back and forth until there is an agreement. There is an assumption that if the right price is named, a deal can be had. The man in Jesus day had the same attitude. "Just tell me, Jesus. What good thing...I know it has to be good...what exactly is it, that will get me eternal life?" Like so many things in life, the man thought eternal life had a price and he could pay for it. See, he was rich and money was no obstacle. Except it was an obstacle. His money was the obstacle. Eternal life can't be bought or earned or negotiated. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith---and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God---not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9) Christ knew that the man's money would be a hinderance to him. He would always see it as an ace in his back pocket, a negotiating tool, his security. But God isn't like us. He is so above our thinking and our ways. And so God made eternal life a gift. To emphasize that, Christ told the man to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and come follow Him and he would have eternal treasures in heaven. The only "good thing" the man could do was to give up what he deemed good and learn from Christ. "When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." (Matthew 19:22) The man thought the price too high. He didn't get his deal. God's gift of eternal life is offered to all and the price is the same for everyone. "...Then come follow me." (verse 21) Today is Tuesday. God doesn't need any "good thing". He just wants us.
"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" (Matthew 19:16) Before doing our Beth Moore Bible study, "Breaking Free," I am not sure that verse would have stopped me. But it did last night. Because the man was making the mistake of humanizing God. He figured God had a price. That he could make a deal. That God had a bottom line. Sometimes I watch American or Canadian Pickers on TV. The two shows have the same premise, just different pickers and territories. The men go to various places and try to make deals to buy other people's stuff and then resell it for a profit. Often there are negotiations as to price. Questions like, "What do you want for the item? Will you take this? How about we do this?" get tossed back and forth until there is an agreement. There is an assumption that if the right price is named, a deal can be had. The man in Jesus day had the same attitude. "Just tell me, Jesus. What good thing...I know it has to be good...what exactly is it, that will get me eternal life?" Like so many things in life, the man thought eternal life had a price and he could pay for it. See, he was rich and money was no obstacle. Except it was an obstacle. His money was the obstacle. Eternal life can't be bought or earned or negotiated. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith---and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God---not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9) Christ knew that the man's money would be a hinderance to him. He would always see it as an ace in his back pocket, a negotiating tool, his security. But God isn't like us. He is so above our thinking and our ways. And so God made eternal life a gift. To emphasize that, Christ told the man to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and come follow Him and he would have eternal treasures in heaven. The only "good thing" the man could do was to give up what he deemed good and learn from Christ. "When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." (Matthew 19:22) The man thought the price too high. He didn't get his deal. God's gift of eternal life is offered to all and the price is the same for everyone. "...Then come follow me." (verse 21) Today is Tuesday. God doesn't need any "good thing". He just wants us.
Year 5; Day 88 God IS Love
I have heard that statement all my life...God is love. But somehow in yesterday's Bible study, Beth Moore used the simplest of illustrations and it was as if I had never really understood that statement until now. She said that she was a woman. No matter what anyone said or did to her, no matter what body parts failed or were removed, she was and would always be a woman. God is love. No matter what you say to Him, say about Him, or do to Him, He is still love. Just as a woman is who and what Beth is, love is who and what God is. And not only is God love but He is the source of love. The disciple John says, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God...Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:7,8) It is so easy to think that we love first and that we are the source of love...that it just wells up from within because whoever is the object is so loveable...so deserving. But God is the source of love. Not us. It originates from Him. As Beth suggested, what we should be saying to God is , "I love you, too," in response to His loving us first. Paul says in Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God not only says He loves us, He demonstrated it by making a way for us to come back into relationship with Him...before we even asked or wanted to. What we really do when we love is we love back because God always loves us first. And how much and how well we love is linked to how much and how well we open ours hearts to God's love. How well I love is not based on how loving a person I am but on how well I know God and allow His love to flow in and through and out of me. Today is Wednesday. I have some pondering to do.
I have heard that statement all my life...God is love. But somehow in yesterday's Bible study, Beth Moore used the simplest of illustrations and it was as if I had never really understood that statement until now. She said that she was a woman. No matter what anyone said or did to her, no matter what body parts failed or were removed, she was and would always be a woman. God is love. No matter what you say to Him, say about Him, or do to Him, He is still love. Just as a woman is who and what Beth is, love is who and what God is. And not only is God love but He is the source of love. The disciple John says, "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God...Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:7,8) It is so easy to think that we love first and that we are the source of love...that it just wells up from within because whoever is the object is so loveable...so deserving. But God is the source of love. Not us. It originates from Him. As Beth suggested, what we should be saying to God is , "I love you, too," in response to His loving us first. Paul says in Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God not only says He loves us, He demonstrated it by making a way for us to come back into relationship with Him...before we even asked or wanted to. What we really do when we love is we love back because God always loves us first. And how much and how well we love is linked to how much and how well we open ours hearts to God's love. How well I love is not based on how loving a person I am but on how well I know God and allow His love to flow in and through and out of me. Today is Wednesday. I have some pondering to do.
Year 5; Day 89 Auto-correct Not Needed
Last visit to the US, brother and I were travelling somewhere. A town came up called Colon. Brother asked that voice on his phone how far it was to Colon. The voice (Siri) couldn't answer the question because she/it kept interpreting the name of the town Colon as the colon punctuation mark. No matter how many times the question was asked or rephrased, Siri kept responding with a : (colon) instead of Colon. We laughed and never did find out the answer nor did Siri ever understand what we were asking. Imagine if God were like that with our prayers. It doesn't even enter my head that He won't get exactly what I am trying to say. In fact, there have been times when my thoughts have been so confused or frustrated or mixed up about a situation, that I didn't know how to put it in words...or at least the right words. And sometimes I haven't known details---just that there was an issue. I never worry that God won't get it right because, unlike Siri, He looks beyond the words. "Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord." (Psalm 139:4) Before I even speak a word, He already knows what I am going to say. And not just the gist of it. He knows my complete thought and the words to express it. There is no confusion, misinterpretation, or wrong auto-correcting. His "ears are attentive" to my prayers however they come out. I find that so comforting and reassuring. God gets me. He gets me when I am eloquent and well-spoken and He gets me when I am tongue-tied and inarticulate. "I love the Lord for he heard my voice...he turned his ear to me..." (Psalm 116:1,2) We can rest in the confidence that the Lord not only hears but also understands all our prayers. Today is Thursday. God can hear our hearts even before the words get spoken.
Last visit to the US, brother and I were travelling somewhere. A town came up called Colon. Brother asked that voice on his phone how far it was to Colon. The voice (Siri) couldn't answer the question because she/it kept interpreting the name of the town Colon as the colon punctuation mark. No matter how many times the question was asked or rephrased, Siri kept responding with a : (colon) instead of Colon. We laughed and never did find out the answer nor did Siri ever understand what we were asking. Imagine if God were like that with our prayers. It doesn't even enter my head that He won't get exactly what I am trying to say. In fact, there have been times when my thoughts have been so confused or frustrated or mixed up about a situation, that I didn't know how to put it in words...or at least the right words. And sometimes I haven't known details---just that there was an issue. I never worry that God won't get it right because, unlike Siri, He looks beyond the words. "Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord." (Psalm 139:4) Before I even speak a word, He already knows what I am going to say. And not just the gist of it. He knows my complete thought and the words to express it. There is no confusion, misinterpretation, or wrong auto-correcting. His "ears are attentive" to my prayers however they come out. I find that so comforting and reassuring. God gets me. He gets me when I am eloquent and well-spoken and He gets me when I am tongue-tied and inarticulate. "I love the Lord for he heard my voice...he turned his ear to me..." (Psalm 116:1,2) We can rest in the confidence that the Lord not only hears but also understands all our prayers. Today is Thursday. God can hear our hearts even before the words get spoken.
Year 5; Day 90 A Planting of the Lord
Throughout this Beth Moore Bible study called "Breaking Free", we have used Isaiah 61:1-4 as a theme passage. This is our last week of study and it has been quite an adventure. As we have learned how to recognize and to break free from the bondages that keep us from being all that God would have us to be, our theme verse for this week is a picture of what we are called to be. "They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor." (Isaiah 61:3) A planting of the Lord. I like that. We have some fields around us as well as a nearby grove of trees. One year we noticed a small seedling of a fir tree in the yard. We didn't plant it. But somehow a seed got blown or carried there and managed to take root. It hasn't grown as well as some others that were deliberately planted because of its location. It is unprotected and closer to the salt water. Plus it has never received any care or attention from us. Christ has come to set the captive free and help us grow into mighty oaks. Not random plantings blown by the wind, trying to root into less than suitable places, with poor soil and left on its own to try and grow. As we looked up various verses that carried the imagery of a well planted tree, Isaiah 60:21 says; "...They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor." The work of His hands. We are not left unattended by God. We have been tenderly planted and He works to shape and mold us to be the best we can be...a display of His splendor. I am not even sure what that means (I haven't finished this week's homework yet). What has lodged in my heart is the hands-on involvement of the Lord in our lives. He doesn't just stick us in the ground and step back to see what happens. But we do have a choice as to whether we will co-operate or not. And in choosing to co-operate, we are free to become the mighty oaks God intended for us to be. Today is Friday. The work of His hands...a planting of the Lord...I feel loved.
Throughout this Beth Moore Bible study called "Breaking Free", we have used Isaiah 61:1-4 as a theme passage. This is our last week of study and it has been quite an adventure. As we have learned how to recognize and to break free from the bondages that keep us from being all that God would have us to be, our theme verse for this week is a picture of what we are called to be. "They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor." (Isaiah 61:3) A planting of the Lord. I like that. We have some fields around us as well as a nearby grove of trees. One year we noticed a small seedling of a fir tree in the yard. We didn't plant it. But somehow a seed got blown or carried there and managed to take root. It hasn't grown as well as some others that were deliberately planted because of its location. It is unprotected and closer to the salt water. Plus it has never received any care or attention from us. Christ has come to set the captive free and help us grow into mighty oaks. Not random plantings blown by the wind, trying to root into less than suitable places, with poor soil and left on its own to try and grow. As we looked up various verses that carried the imagery of a well planted tree, Isaiah 60:21 says; "...They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor." The work of His hands. We are not left unattended by God. We have been tenderly planted and He works to shape and mold us to be the best we can be...a display of His splendor. I am not even sure what that means (I haven't finished this week's homework yet). What has lodged in my heart is the hands-on involvement of the Lord in our lives. He doesn't just stick us in the ground and step back to see what happens. But we do have a choice as to whether we will co-operate or not. And in choosing to co-operate, we are free to become the mighty oaks God intended for us to be. Today is Friday. The work of His hands...a planting of the Lord...I feel loved.
Year 5; Day 91 To Know God and Believe Him
In our Beth Moore "Breaking Free" Bible study we have looked at five benefits that are ours as believers. In this last week of homework we are reviewing them and looking at practical application of each. The first one on the road to freedom is to know God and believe Him. It sounds almost too basic. Kind of a, "Well, duh!?" concept. But knowing about is not the same as knowing personally and saying you believe is a lot easier than living what you believe. When it comes to God, knowing and believing are very much entwined. As my knowledge that God is love deepened, so did my faith and belief that even in the difficult, not understood times and situations, He is working for my best interest. Whether I understand or not, He does. Whether I see the benefits or not, there is always a purpose. Even in conviction and correction, God's motivation is to always grow my relationship with Him. I have found myself able to pray more often, "Lord, I don't get it, but You do, and that is good enough for me." I find myself trusting Him more (as in less stressed and more relaxed) and not trying to figure out every possible scenario, outcome, and possibility. I find myself reading His Word more slowly and carefully and trying to apply its truths more diligently to my everyday life. His unfailing love. That is hard to grasp because as humans it is mostly a concept and not a reality. But He loves unfailingly and I am included. Not in a general sense but in an individual, personal, completely known sense. He gets me. My insecurities, the way my mind works, my motivations, my heart. I don't have to pretend or put on a front, or act a part. He loves me first and I get to love Him back. The more I get to know God and His character, the more I believe. And the more I believe, the more it affects my thinking and living. "You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me." (Isaiah 43:10) Today is Saturday. What I have learned just makes me hungry to know more.
In our Beth Moore "Breaking Free" Bible study we have looked at five benefits that are ours as believers. In this last week of homework we are reviewing them and looking at practical application of each. The first one on the road to freedom is to know God and believe Him. It sounds almost too basic. Kind of a, "Well, duh!?" concept. But knowing about is not the same as knowing personally and saying you believe is a lot easier than living what you believe. When it comes to God, knowing and believing are very much entwined. As my knowledge that God is love deepened, so did my faith and belief that even in the difficult, not understood times and situations, He is working for my best interest. Whether I understand or not, He does. Whether I see the benefits or not, there is always a purpose. Even in conviction and correction, God's motivation is to always grow my relationship with Him. I have found myself able to pray more often, "Lord, I don't get it, but You do, and that is good enough for me." I find myself trusting Him more (as in less stressed and more relaxed) and not trying to figure out every possible scenario, outcome, and possibility. I find myself reading His Word more slowly and carefully and trying to apply its truths more diligently to my everyday life. His unfailing love. That is hard to grasp because as humans it is mostly a concept and not a reality. But He loves unfailingly and I am included. Not in a general sense but in an individual, personal, completely known sense. He gets me. My insecurities, the way my mind works, my motivations, my heart. I don't have to pretend or put on a front, or act a part. He loves me first and I get to love Him back. The more I get to know God and His character, the more I believe. And the more I believe, the more it affects my thinking and living. "You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me." (Isaiah 43:10) Today is Saturday. What I have learned just makes me hungry to know more.