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 Three Archives
Year 5, Day 15 With Thanksgiving
I didn't go to bed with a clear thought for today's post. As I worked on my "Breaking Free" lessons by Beth Moore this past week, we looked at four kings during the time of Isaiah. Some were more committed to God than others. Some served and some rebelled. All had issues at one time or another. Pride, arrogance, unbelief, idolatry, prayerlessness, only a partial commitment. Issues that could easily be relevant for today. Most of them had issues with pride in one form or another. Their position and power went to their head. They didn't always feel the need to ask God for direction or listen to His prophet. They credited themselves with their successes and turned their thoughts away from God. They lost their perspective on who they were and who God was. Sometime in the night the thought came to me about the importance of genuine thanksgiving and its role in keeping a correct perspective. It is easy to forget that our very breath comes from Him. He has given us a habitat with systems and organizations. He, not we, has given us all we need to live and move and carry on. He is our Creator. He is our Sustainer. He not only made everything but He keeps it going. The plant and animal kingdoms, as well as humans can reproduce. Much of nature is multi-purposed. Trees provide habitat, shelter, wood, medicine, and filter sunlight and the air. Marvelous. God is our Provider. He has made provision for all our needs...mental, emotional, social, physical, and spiritual. He has given us imagination and creativity and music. He has given us the family unit. He has given us a Saviour...His beloved Son. God has given us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide daily. We have His word. None of this is our doing. Giving thanks not only puts things in perspective, it puts us in perspective. We are the creation and not the Creator. We need sustaining and provision. We need a Saviour. And what does the Creator, Sustainer, Provider, Saviour say to us? "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.". (Philippians 4:6) In everything...with thanksgiving. Today is Sunday. True thanksgiving gives us proper perspective.
I didn't go to bed with a clear thought for today's post. As I worked on my "Breaking Free" lessons by Beth Moore this past week, we looked at four kings during the time of Isaiah. Some were more committed to God than others. Some served and some rebelled. All had issues at one time or another. Pride, arrogance, unbelief, idolatry, prayerlessness, only a partial commitment. Issues that could easily be relevant for today. Most of them had issues with pride in one form or another. Their position and power went to their head. They didn't always feel the need to ask God for direction or listen to His prophet. They credited themselves with their successes and turned their thoughts away from God. They lost their perspective on who they were and who God was. Sometime in the night the thought came to me about the importance of genuine thanksgiving and its role in keeping a correct perspective. It is easy to forget that our very breath comes from Him. He has given us a habitat with systems and organizations. He, not we, has given us all we need to live and move and carry on. He is our Creator. He is our Sustainer. He not only made everything but He keeps it going. The plant and animal kingdoms, as well as humans can reproduce. Much of nature is multi-purposed. Trees provide habitat, shelter, wood, medicine, and filter sunlight and the air. Marvelous. God is our Provider. He has made provision for all our needs...mental, emotional, social, physical, and spiritual. He has given us imagination and creativity and music. He has given us the family unit. He has given us a Saviour...His beloved Son. God has given us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide daily. We have His word. None of this is our doing. Giving thanks not only puts things in perspective, it puts us in perspective. We are the creation and not the Creator. We need sustaining and provision. We need a Saviour. And what does the Creator, Sustainer, Provider, Saviour say to us? "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.". (Philippians 4:6) In everything...with thanksgiving. Today is Sunday. True thanksgiving gives us proper perspective.
Year 5; Day 16 Verse for 2017
I didn't really have a verse for 2017...something to represent a goal or a guiding direction. It's not like I haven't been reading my Bible because I have. It is just that nothing stood out to represent 2017...until yesterday morning in church. It was the pastor's key verse for his message plus the next one. "Be very careful, then, how you live----not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."(Ephesians 5:15,16) As soon as he read verse 15, I knew that was it and verse 16 finished the sentence. Even without spiritual overtones, this is good advice. Be careful how you live. It seems more and more people are dealing with their problems through violence. Whether it is road rage, entitlement, a disgruntled former employee, racism, terrorism, domestic disagreements, or a perceived offense, an act of violence is becoming more and more a solution of choice. How much more, as followers of Christ, do we need to be salt and light. More than ever, we need to be careful how we live so we can demonstrate a changed life, a submitted will, a clean heart. Most of us would not say, "Look at me. Do as I do. Follow my example." We don't want the responsibility. Yet when we choose to follow Christ, there is nothing secret or private about it. And the responsibility comes with the choice to be a Christ-follower. We are not a "silent partner" in God's work. "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us..." (2 Corinthians 5:20) When we accept Christ into our hearts and lives, we become "new creations". We become representatives of Christ and the difference He can make. People see that...or they are suppose to. There should be a noticeable difference between a secular life being lived and a Christ-like life being lived. There should be a difference in thought, in attitude, in words spoken, and in deeds done. There should be a difference...but is there? If we went somewhere for a day where no one knew us and had everyday interactions with a variety of people in various situations, would they be able to pick us out of a line-up as Christ's ambassadors? Would our words and deeds and attitudes set us apart...for the good...for His good? Today is Monday. "Be careful, then, how you live..."
I didn't really have a verse for 2017...something to represent a goal or a guiding direction. It's not like I haven't been reading my Bible because I have. It is just that nothing stood out to represent 2017...until yesterday morning in church. It was the pastor's key verse for his message plus the next one. "Be very careful, then, how you live----not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."(Ephesians 5:15,16) As soon as he read verse 15, I knew that was it and verse 16 finished the sentence. Even without spiritual overtones, this is good advice. Be careful how you live. It seems more and more people are dealing with their problems through violence. Whether it is road rage, entitlement, a disgruntled former employee, racism, terrorism, domestic disagreements, or a perceived offense, an act of violence is becoming more and more a solution of choice. How much more, as followers of Christ, do we need to be salt and light. More than ever, we need to be careful how we live so we can demonstrate a changed life, a submitted will, a clean heart. Most of us would not say, "Look at me. Do as I do. Follow my example." We don't want the responsibility. Yet when we choose to follow Christ, there is nothing secret or private about it. And the responsibility comes with the choice to be a Christ-follower. We are not a "silent partner" in God's work. "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us..." (2 Corinthians 5:20) When we accept Christ into our hearts and lives, we become "new creations". We become representatives of Christ and the difference He can make. People see that...or they are suppose to. There should be a noticeable difference between a secular life being lived and a Christ-like life being lived. There should be a difference in thought, in attitude, in words spoken, and in deeds done. There should be a difference...but is there? If we went somewhere for a day where no one knew us and had everyday interactions with a variety of people in various situations, would they be able to pick us out of a line-up as Christ's ambassadors? Would our words and deeds and attitudes set us apart...for the good...for His good? Today is Monday. "Be careful, then, how you live..."
Year 5; Day 17 ...Not as Unwise...
"Be very careful, then, how you live----not as unwise but as wise," (Ephesians 5:15) That is my guiding verse for 2017. Don't be unwise. That is easy to say. Sometimes being unwise is not deliberate. We don't know the future. We could make a decision based on a lot of thought and something unforseen happens. Life is full of the unexpected, the unplanned, the unknown. Sometimes we might even be unwise knowingly----or pretty knowingly. Who hasn't caved in to begging child at least once during parenthood? Or maybe we buy something that is "slightly" too small because we know we are going to lose the 7 pounds...for sure. Perhaps we get involved in something or with someone despite several red flags because we just want to. There is a first choice that sets the stage for everything else. There is the mother choice of all unwiseness. "The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." (Psalm 14:1) Nothing is more unwise then that because that decision affects every aspect of a person's life...how you think, speak, act, values, perspective, attitudes, eternity. When we deny God, we deny His plan and purpose for each and every thing in existence...including every human being...including every one of us. As long as we deny God, we deny our opportunity to live wisely. There is an antidote to being unwise. When we accept Christ into our hearts and lives, the Holy Spirit helps us to understand and apply God's Word and His promises. James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." What a marvelous promise! God is the source of all wisdom and it comes from Him and only Him. He promises to give generously when we ask. Today is Tuesday. "...live----not as unwise..."
"Be very careful, then, how you live----not as unwise but as wise," (Ephesians 5:15) That is my guiding verse for 2017. Don't be unwise. That is easy to say. Sometimes being unwise is not deliberate. We don't know the future. We could make a decision based on a lot of thought and something unforseen happens. Life is full of the unexpected, the unplanned, the unknown. Sometimes we might even be unwise knowingly----or pretty knowingly. Who hasn't caved in to begging child at least once during parenthood? Or maybe we buy something that is "slightly" too small because we know we are going to lose the 7 pounds...for sure. Perhaps we get involved in something or with someone despite several red flags because we just want to. There is a first choice that sets the stage for everything else. There is the mother choice of all unwiseness. "The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." (Psalm 14:1) Nothing is more unwise then that because that decision affects every aspect of a person's life...how you think, speak, act, values, perspective, attitudes, eternity. When we deny God, we deny His plan and purpose for each and every thing in existence...including every human being...including every one of us. As long as we deny God, we deny our opportunity to live wisely. There is an antidote to being unwise. When we accept Christ into our hearts and lives, the Holy Spirit helps us to understand and apply God's Word and His promises. James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." What a marvelous promise! God is the source of all wisdom and it comes from Him and only Him. He promises to give generously when we ask. Today is Tuesday. "...live----not as unwise..."
Year 5; Day 18 Live...As Wise
"Be very careful, then, how you live----not as unwise but as wise," (Ephesians 5:15) Some people seem to be naturally more wise. When I was a teacher, I had one colleague who always impressed me with her wisdom. She was almost always calm. She had a way of getting to the heart of the problem and offering solutions efficiently. But most of us need help. God has given us a promise that He will give wisdom generously when asked in faith. So what does wisdom look like? Last Sunday two of our pastors spoke on wisdom but from different Scriptures. Sunday night's message used James 3:18; "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." My first thought on wisdom would have been making smart decisions. God says it is much more. His wisdom is first of all "pure". I looked up the Greek meaning of pure: properly clean to the core, pure inside and out, not mixed with guilt or anything condemnable. With Godly wisdom there is not even a hint of contamination...no hidden agenda, no ulterior motive, no innuendo. Godly wisdom is not fueled by ambition or envy or self-service. It is pure to the core. Godly wisdom is peace-loving. It strives to solve, resolve, and unite. It does not strive to divide or incite. Godly wisdom is considerate and submissive. It is not rude or aggressive. It listens and shows respect. Godly wisdom is full of mercy. Mercy speaks to not being given what you deserve in the form of punishment or consequences. Humanly speaking being full of mercy is not easy. It means looking beyond the surface, seeing potential, giving a second chance. And that Godly wisdom of mercy yields good fruit...not any old fruit...good fruit...good results because mercy is more interested in resolution than payback. Godly wisdom is impartial and sincere. It doesn't play favourites. It doesn't look for advantage at the expense of someone. It is genuine. The wisdom of this world has not proven very successful. Maybe we need to check our source. Today is Wednesday. Live...as wise.
"Be very careful, then, how you live----not as unwise but as wise," (Ephesians 5:15) Some people seem to be naturally more wise. When I was a teacher, I had one colleague who always impressed me with her wisdom. She was almost always calm. She had a way of getting to the heart of the problem and offering solutions efficiently. But most of us need help. God has given us a promise that He will give wisdom generously when asked in faith. So what does wisdom look like? Last Sunday two of our pastors spoke on wisdom but from different Scriptures. Sunday night's message used James 3:18; "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." My first thought on wisdom would have been making smart decisions. God says it is much more. His wisdom is first of all "pure". I looked up the Greek meaning of pure: properly clean to the core, pure inside and out, not mixed with guilt or anything condemnable. With Godly wisdom there is not even a hint of contamination...no hidden agenda, no ulterior motive, no innuendo. Godly wisdom is not fueled by ambition or envy or self-service. It is pure to the core. Godly wisdom is peace-loving. It strives to solve, resolve, and unite. It does not strive to divide or incite. Godly wisdom is considerate and submissive. It is not rude or aggressive. It listens and shows respect. Godly wisdom is full of mercy. Mercy speaks to not being given what you deserve in the form of punishment or consequences. Humanly speaking being full of mercy is not easy. It means looking beyond the surface, seeing potential, giving a second chance. And that Godly wisdom of mercy yields good fruit...not any old fruit...good fruit...good results because mercy is more interested in resolution than payback. Godly wisdom is impartial and sincere. It doesn't play favourites. It doesn't look for advantage at the expense of someone. It is genuine. The wisdom of this world has not proven very successful. Maybe we need to check our source. Today is Wednesday. Live...as wise.
Year 5; Day 19 First of all Pure
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure;..." (James 3:17) I keep going back to the word "pure" and its definition of being clean or pure to the core, pure inside and out, not mixed with guilt. Wisdom from God is perfect, trustworthy, suitable for the situation. So how come there aren't wiser people walking around...especially ones who call themselves Christians...followers of Christ? It would stand to reason that God's wisdom, in order to stay pure, must be dispensed into a pure vessel or receiver...otherwise it becomes contaminated from its container. How many times did the kings of Israel receive sound words of advice and wisdom and direction from God's prophets only to ignore it because their hearts were unclean...disobedient, selfish, evil, proud, arrogant, greedy, self-centered? Are we any different today? We have God's Word accessible to most of us. We have the redemptive work of Christ that bridges the gap between Holy God and sinful humanity. We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide and direct. God, in His wisdom, has written a personal life plan for each of us. Yet we chose to ignore, devalue, and turn our backs on the only One who actually knows what He is talking about. Even as Christ-followers, we may struggle with commitment, wholeheartedness, and cultural influences. His wisdom to us filters through our motives, our attitudes, our ambitions. Are they submitted to God? Is there a willingness on our part to obey, to keep a clean heart, to put God first, to trust? So often I find myself limiting God to human dimensions. If I can't think of a solution, He won't be able to either. If I can't find an answer, there isn't one. Wrong. His word says I can ask for wisdom and He will give generously. My part is to make sure I have a clean heart and mind to receive it properly. Today is Thursday. I am so thankful God is not limited to human wisdom.
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure;..." (James 3:17) I keep going back to the word "pure" and its definition of being clean or pure to the core, pure inside and out, not mixed with guilt. Wisdom from God is perfect, trustworthy, suitable for the situation. So how come there aren't wiser people walking around...especially ones who call themselves Christians...followers of Christ? It would stand to reason that God's wisdom, in order to stay pure, must be dispensed into a pure vessel or receiver...otherwise it becomes contaminated from its container. How many times did the kings of Israel receive sound words of advice and wisdom and direction from God's prophets only to ignore it because their hearts were unclean...disobedient, selfish, evil, proud, arrogant, greedy, self-centered? Are we any different today? We have God's Word accessible to most of us. We have the redemptive work of Christ that bridges the gap between Holy God and sinful humanity. We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide and direct. God, in His wisdom, has written a personal life plan for each of us. Yet we chose to ignore, devalue, and turn our backs on the only One who actually knows what He is talking about. Even as Christ-followers, we may struggle with commitment, wholeheartedness, and cultural influences. His wisdom to us filters through our motives, our attitudes, our ambitions. Are they submitted to God? Is there a willingness on our part to obey, to keep a clean heart, to put God first, to trust? So often I find myself limiting God to human dimensions. If I can't think of a solution, He won't be able to either. If I can't find an answer, there isn't one. Wrong. His word says I can ask for wisdom and He will give generously. My part is to make sure I have a clean heart and mind to receive it properly. Today is Thursday. I am so thankful God is not limited to human wisdom.
Year 5; Day 20 Full of Mercy and Good Fruit
I think the Lord is making sure I get the right start to 2017. What I do with the instruction is up to me...heed it, disregard it, obey, apply, ignore...those are my choices. But I can't say that He has rushed me through His Word. I heard two messages last week on wisdom and have been thinking on two key verses all week. He really wants me to get it! "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is...full of mercy and good fruit..." (James 3:17) Wisdom in the Greek means "insight, skill, intelligence". So "Wisdom, insight, skill, intelligence from heaven is full of mercy and good fruit." Mercy means: compassion, pity, kindness or good will toward the miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to relieve them. It kind of implies that one has the means or power to help another who doesn't. When I was in university I had some kind of language course that I didn't find easy. The instructor told us there would only be one of two questions on the final exam. We had to make sure we thoroughly knew the answers to those two questions. Sure enough, one of the two given questions was our final exam. I wrote my heart out. After I turned in my exam book and went back to my dorm I realized I had written (in great detail) the answer to the other question...not the one asked! And there was nothing I could do. She had the power to fail me in the course or show mercy. She took pity on me and gave me a C- with the statement "You answered the other question" written across the exam cover. But in her wisdom tempered with mercy, she allowed that if I knew the other question so well, I probably knew the exam one also. Our heavenly Father is full of mercy towards us...otherwise He would have tossed the whole works of us ages ago. But God's wisdom is full of mercy and full of good fruit. The context of fruit in that verse means "benefit, crops, harvest, produce, profit". Godly wisdom is full of benefits...it is helpful, productive, it produces a crop, there is a harvest. His wisdom is for profit...not for loss or destruction. So why aren't we on our knees (literally or figuratively) asking for His wisdom every single day? Pride? Arrogance? Foolishness? Carelessness? Neglect? Today is Friday. He has given us a wonderful gift of accessing His wisdom. We only have to ask with a sincere heart of faith.
I think the Lord is making sure I get the right start to 2017. What I do with the instruction is up to me...heed it, disregard it, obey, apply, ignore...those are my choices. But I can't say that He has rushed me through His Word. I heard two messages last week on wisdom and have been thinking on two key verses all week. He really wants me to get it! "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is...full of mercy and good fruit..." (James 3:17) Wisdom in the Greek means "insight, skill, intelligence". So "Wisdom, insight, skill, intelligence from heaven is full of mercy and good fruit." Mercy means: compassion, pity, kindness or good will toward the miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to relieve them. It kind of implies that one has the means or power to help another who doesn't. When I was in university I had some kind of language course that I didn't find easy. The instructor told us there would only be one of two questions on the final exam. We had to make sure we thoroughly knew the answers to those two questions. Sure enough, one of the two given questions was our final exam. I wrote my heart out. After I turned in my exam book and went back to my dorm I realized I had written (in great detail) the answer to the other question...not the one asked! And there was nothing I could do. She had the power to fail me in the course or show mercy. She took pity on me and gave me a C- with the statement "You answered the other question" written across the exam cover. But in her wisdom tempered with mercy, she allowed that if I knew the other question so well, I probably knew the exam one also. Our heavenly Father is full of mercy towards us...otherwise He would have tossed the whole works of us ages ago. But God's wisdom is full of mercy and full of good fruit. The context of fruit in that verse means "benefit, crops, harvest, produce, profit". Godly wisdom is full of benefits...it is helpful, productive, it produces a crop, there is a harvest. His wisdom is for profit...not for loss or destruction. So why aren't we on our knees (literally or figuratively) asking for His wisdom every single day? Pride? Arrogance? Foolishness? Carelessness? Neglect? Today is Friday. He has given us a wonderful gift of accessing His wisdom. We only have to ask with a sincere heart of faith.
Year 5; Day 21 Opportunity
Husband and I went to St. John's yesterday. The weather people had been predicting a storm but it wasn't to start until late afternoon, early evening so we figured we would have time to go in, do some things, see daughter, and get out before any snow started...which we did. While in town, we were stopped at a red light at a major intersection with a median . There was a man up ahead with a sign attached to his body slowly walking past each waiting car. He looked scruffy, poorly dressed, cold. I assumed the sign said he was out of work or hungry or something. I wondered whether he was really hungry. Maybe it was a scam. Maybe he wanted money for drugs or alcohol. Maybe he was too lazy to work and was looking for handouts. How do you really know? As he walked by the first couple of cars, he never stopped. Then he approached a car window and was handed a half a sandwich in a zip lock bag. Someone's lunch? I don't know. I do know he had a big smile on his face as he opened the plastic bag and took it out to eat immediately. Someone had an opportunity to do good and they did. They didn't question the guy to see if he was legitimately out of work. They didn't ask him when he last ate or how much money was in his pockets. He wore a sign that said he had a need and someone reached out. They were presented with an opportunity and they responded. I saw Galatians 6:10 enacted right in front of me: "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." The light changed and the cars were moving before he got to us. I am not sure what I would have done had he gotten to our car. Looked the other way? Pretended not to see? Ignored him? Given him some change...a $5 bill? The look on that man's face when he got that triangle of a sandwich touched my heart. Today is Saturday. How many opportunities do we miss?
Husband and I went to St. John's yesterday. The weather people had been predicting a storm but it wasn't to start until late afternoon, early evening so we figured we would have time to go in, do some things, see daughter, and get out before any snow started...which we did. While in town, we were stopped at a red light at a major intersection with a median . There was a man up ahead with a sign attached to his body slowly walking past each waiting car. He looked scruffy, poorly dressed, cold. I assumed the sign said he was out of work or hungry or something. I wondered whether he was really hungry. Maybe it was a scam. Maybe he wanted money for drugs or alcohol. Maybe he was too lazy to work and was looking for handouts. How do you really know? As he walked by the first couple of cars, he never stopped. Then he approached a car window and was handed a half a sandwich in a zip lock bag. Someone's lunch? I don't know. I do know he had a big smile on his face as he opened the plastic bag and took it out to eat immediately. Someone had an opportunity to do good and they did. They didn't question the guy to see if he was legitimately out of work. They didn't ask him when he last ate or how much money was in his pockets. He wore a sign that said he had a need and someone reached out. They were presented with an opportunity and they responded. I saw Galatians 6:10 enacted right in front of me: "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." The light changed and the cars were moving before he got to us. I am not sure what I would have done had he gotten to our car. Looked the other way? Pretended not to see? Ignored him? Given him some change...a $5 bill? The look on that man's face when he got that triangle of a sandwich touched my heart. Today is Saturday. How many opportunities do we miss?