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 38 Archives
Year 5; Day 261 Loving the Enemy Pt. 3
When you read Scripture, it is easy to skim over, skip over, and even ignore some verses. But when you write about a verse, well, it is not so easy. Putting thoughts down on paper (or tablet) forces you to slow down, think, reflect, and self-assess. It is like you are reading it for the first time and not the umpteenth. "...Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:27,28) Jesus then goes on to give several reasons why we are to act this way. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them." (verse 32) It is easy to love the lovable. Anyone can do that. But to love the unlovable...not so easy. In fact, it can be downright impossible to love some people...unless you can see them through God's eyes. Jesus goes on to say that it is not to our credit to do good to those who do good to us or to only lend to those we expect will pay us back. We are to love and do good and lend to our enemies (who could be someone in your own family or a co-worker or a neighbour) without expecting anything in return...anything. Why? "Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (verses 35,36) God has set the standard of behavior for his children. "...because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked." God loved (loves) us even when we were (are) His enemies. And He demonstrated that love by sending His Son to bridge the gap between God and humanity. Today is Monday. The bar has been set high. But He has promised to give help..........thankfully!
When you read Scripture, it is easy to skim over, skip over, and even ignore some verses. But when you write about a verse, well, it is not so easy. Putting thoughts down on paper (or tablet) forces you to slow down, think, reflect, and self-assess. It is like you are reading it for the first time and not the umpteenth. "...Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:27,28) Jesus then goes on to give several reasons why we are to act this way. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them." (verse 32) It is easy to love the lovable. Anyone can do that. But to love the unlovable...not so easy. In fact, it can be downright impossible to love some people...unless you can see them through God's eyes. Jesus goes on to say that it is not to our credit to do good to those who do good to us or to only lend to those we expect will pay us back. We are to love and do good and lend to our enemies (who could be someone in your own family or a co-worker or a neighbour) without expecting anything in return...anything. Why? "Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (verses 35,36) God has set the standard of behavior for his children. "...because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked." God loved (loves) us even when we were (are) His enemies. And He demonstrated that love by sending His Son to bridge the gap between God and humanity. Today is Monday. The bar has been set high. But He has promised to give help..........thankfully!
Year 5; Day 262 Nothing is Impossible
Sometimes you think things are so out of the realm of possibility that you don't even pray about it. In fact, it doesn't even come to your mind to pray about it. It doesn't even get to the airy-fairy, daydream, fantasy, what if category because, well, it never entered your head to do so. And then it happens. You get a phone call...an unsuspecting phone call. And son says, "Hey, Mom. We're coming to Newfoundland...all of us...all seven of us." And I feel stupified...stunned...shocked...in the most marvelous, delighted, joyous way. To see them in smaller groups...that I have prayed and wished and imagined. To see them as a whole family, here, all at once, at the same time...not possible. Never going to happen. Too expensive. Too complicated. It is easier for us to go to them. And then the impossible is no longer that. A desire, a prayer, a hope you didn't even know you could have unfolds, blooms, becomes possible. Since that call, husband and I periodically have bursts of conversation about doing this with them, or that, and then each of us are quiet...trying to imagine the scene. We are still in a haze of wonderful disbelief that it is actually going to happen. I see and sense God's hand in this. Behind the scenes He has been aligning and directing circumstances and situations and timing. Some I can see already. Some will be revealed as time goes by. And some divine interventions I will probably never know. But this I do know. "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory..." (Ephesians 3:20,21) Today is Tuesday. I trust the Lord to read my heart because I still can't really find the words to express my joy and gratitude. The Lord knows the desires of our heart...even better than we do! Be encouraged!
Sometimes you think things are so out of the realm of possibility that you don't even pray about it. In fact, it doesn't even come to your mind to pray about it. It doesn't even get to the airy-fairy, daydream, fantasy, what if category because, well, it never entered your head to do so. And then it happens. You get a phone call...an unsuspecting phone call. And son says, "Hey, Mom. We're coming to Newfoundland...all of us...all seven of us." And I feel stupified...stunned...shocked...in the most marvelous, delighted, joyous way. To see them in smaller groups...that I have prayed and wished and imagined. To see them as a whole family, here, all at once, at the same time...not possible. Never going to happen. Too expensive. Too complicated. It is easier for us to go to them. And then the impossible is no longer that. A desire, a prayer, a hope you didn't even know you could have unfolds, blooms, becomes possible. Since that call, husband and I periodically have bursts of conversation about doing this with them, or that, and then each of us are quiet...trying to imagine the scene. We are still in a haze of wonderful disbelief that it is actually going to happen. I see and sense God's hand in this. Behind the scenes He has been aligning and directing circumstances and situations and timing. Some I can see already. Some will be revealed as time goes by. And some divine interventions I will probably never know. But this I do know. "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory..." (Ephesians 3:20,21) Today is Tuesday. I trust the Lord to read my heart because I still can't really find the words to express my joy and gratitude. The Lord knows the desires of our heart...even better than we do! Be encouraged!
Year 5; Day 263 Unlimiting God
Before I know it, year 5 will be completed for writing posts. Amazing when you consider I thought this would be a little, one year assignment. I thought sharing for 365 days would be an encouragement to myself and hopefully to others. We tend to share the ups but not so much the downs. Yet we all have the downs...being a Christ-follower doesn't eliminate that. What being a Christ-follower does is give us the assurance that no down is for nothing, they are all for our good, and Christ will go with us through it all. One of the delights (and there have been many) of this journey has been getting to know God better. He is not just a Grandpa in the sky or a frowning judge waiting for me to fail. At times I have been overwhelmed by His love for humanity and for me. The plan of salvation was His idea, bridging the gap was His idea, loving and giving were His ideas. "For God so loved the world that he gave..." (John 3:16). What has filled my heart these last few days is how He can answer a prayer you didn't even pray. A prayer you didn't know you could pray. A prayer you thought was impossible. So you not only didn't pray it, you didn't think it or believe it possible. I limited God. I didn't even bother to ask if sometime, someway, son and family could come to Newfoundland all together. Why ask the impossible? And yes, I know, "For nothing is impossible with God," (Luke 1:37) but..... But what? God can only do what I ask? God can only do what I think is possible? How many times do we limit God to our mentality? He gave me what I couldn't have imagined...a desire of the heart I didn't even acknowledge or consider. I am humbled and grateful. Today is Wednesday. How much more could be waiting for us as we learn to unlimit God?
Before I know it, year 5 will be completed for writing posts. Amazing when you consider I thought this would be a little, one year assignment. I thought sharing for 365 days would be an encouragement to myself and hopefully to others. We tend to share the ups but not so much the downs. Yet we all have the downs...being a Christ-follower doesn't eliminate that. What being a Christ-follower does is give us the assurance that no down is for nothing, they are all for our good, and Christ will go with us through it all. One of the delights (and there have been many) of this journey has been getting to know God better. He is not just a Grandpa in the sky or a frowning judge waiting for me to fail. At times I have been overwhelmed by His love for humanity and for me. The plan of salvation was His idea, bridging the gap was His idea, loving and giving were His ideas. "For God so loved the world that he gave..." (John 3:16). What has filled my heart these last few days is how He can answer a prayer you didn't even pray. A prayer you didn't know you could pray. A prayer you thought was impossible. So you not only didn't pray it, you didn't think it or believe it possible. I limited God. I didn't even bother to ask if sometime, someway, son and family could come to Newfoundland all together. Why ask the impossible? And yes, I know, "For nothing is impossible with God," (Luke 1:37) but..... But what? God can only do what I ask? God can only do what I think is possible? How many times do we limit God to our mentality? He gave me what I couldn't have imagined...a desire of the heart I didn't even acknowledge or consider. I am humbled and grateful. Today is Wednesday. How much more could be waiting for us as we learn to unlimit God?
Year 5; Day 264 Hearing...Doing
I hear lots of things. But if it doesn't create a response, a reaction, an action, does it really matter if I heard it or not? Who doesn't know about the value of exercise and the wisdom of eating fruits and vegetables? I certainly do. Mostly the knowledge makes me feel guilty...or regretful...or slightly doomed. But I'll take a recliner, a good book, and a bag of Bits and Bites any day over sneakers, a brisk (?) walk, and a plate of raw veggies. Jesus has some strong words about hearing and doing. First, He asks a question. "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46) Jesus calls our bluff. If we are going to claim a relationship...call Him by name...call Him important...yet refuse to do, act, obey...to heed His words...then Jesus likens us to foolish construction workers. "But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who builds a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." (verse 49) Not much grey area there. No wiggle room. No loopholes. If you hear and don't do, your destruction will be total...complete. Not a broken window or a couple of loose boards. Not a few missing shingles or a squeaky door. Complete destruction. Jesus never glosses over, does He? He is not concerned about making everyone (anyone) feel good. He is concerned about our souls. About our life here which has eternal consequences. If He truly is our Lord, we will do as He says. Today is Thursday. Ignore at your own peril. That's what He says.
I hear lots of things. But if it doesn't create a response, a reaction, an action, does it really matter if I heard it or not? Who doesn't know about the value of exercise and the wisdom of eating fruits and vegetables? I certainly do. Mostly the knowledge makes me feel guilty...or regretful...or slightly doomed. But I'll take a recliner, a good book, and a bag of Bits and Bites any day over sneakers, a brisk (?) walk, and a plate of raw veggies. Jesus has some strong words about hearing and doing. First, He asks a question. "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46) Jesus calls our bluff. If we are going to claim a relationship...call Him by name...call Him important...yet refuse to do, act, obey...to heed His words...then Jesus likens us to foolish construction workers. "But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who builds a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." (verse 49) Not much grey area there. No wiggle room. No loopholes. If you hear and don't do, your destruction will be total...complete. Not a broken window or a couple of loose boards. Not a few missing shingles or a squeaky door. Complete destruction. Jesus never glosses over, does He? He is not concerned about making everyone (anyone) feel good. He is concerned about our souls. About our life here which has eternal consequences. If He truly is our Lord, we will do as He says. Today is Thursday. Ignore at your own peril. That's what He says.
Year 5; Day 265 The Most Important Thing
One of the verses in yesterday's post reminded me of Mrs. T. There is a summer place just below our house. It has not been lived in for years and years. When we first moved into our house, Mrs. T. would come from the mainland and spend her summers there. She was a widow (I am guessing early to mid eighties) with a car she couldn't drive. Someone would drive her down and then drive her back in the fall. She "let" me drive her around while she was here. One time while on our way for groceries, she asked me if I thought she could get her driver's license. While I tried to think of a diplomatic answer and keep a straight face (she was oblivious to the fact that she had put her green lensed sunglasses on upsidedown), she went on to say, "I know how to drive except for the steering." She did not seem to realize the heart of driving was the steering. While knowing and doing everything else was important, none of it could take the place of steering. Jesus said, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" In other words, "How can you call yourself a Christian...a follower of Christ...and not obey my words?" Going to church, saying the Lord's prayer, giving an offering, and even reading the Bible do not take the place of obeying His words...anymore than starting the car, working the blinker, and knowing the gas pedal from the brake take the place of steering. Just as we can't really call ourselves a driver without the ability to steer, we can't truly call ourselves a follower without obedience. Those are His words---not mine. Today is Friday. Are we trying to call Him "Lord" without obeying His words?
One of the verses in yesterday's post reminded me of Mrs. T. There is a summer place just below our house. It has not been lived in for years and years. When we first moved into our house, Mrs. T. would come from the mainland and spend her summers there. She was a widow (I am guessing early to mid eighties) with a car she couldn't drive. Someone would drive her down and then drive her back in the fall. She "let" me drive her around while she was here. One time while on our way for groceries, she asked me if I thought she could get her driver's license. While I tried to think of a diplomatic answer and keep a straight face (she was oblivious to the fact that she had put her green lensed sunglasses on upsidedown), she went on to say, "I know how to drive except for the steering." She did not seem to realize the heart of driving was the steering. While knowing and doing everything else was important, none of it could take the place of steering. Jesus said, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" In other words, "How can you call yourself a Christian...a follower of Christ...and not obey my words?" Going to church, saying the Lord's prayer, giving an offering, and even reading the Bible do not take the place of obeying His words...anymore than starting the car, working the blinker, and knowing the gas pedal from the brake take the place of steering. Just as we can't really call ourselves a driver without the ability to steer, we can't truly call ourselves a follower without obedience. Those are His words---not mine. Today is Friday. Are we trying to call Him "Lord" without obeying His words?
Year 5; Day 266 Nothing/All
I continue to be reminded of how easily we confine God. Of how we may give Him some superhero traits but even superheroes have limitations. The announcement of our son and family coming to Newfoundland is our own personal miracle. Husband and I are still amazed. And why is that? I guess because what I thought was truly an impossibility became possible with one phone call...with just a few words spoken. And yet, I have asked for other things that were seemingly impossible. It's like we can't generalize this concept of God. "For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37) "...but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26) Nothing is impossible. All things are possible. Nothing. All. I don't know how you can use bigger words than nothing and all. But somehow we still manage to narrow their definition. The disciples had already seen Jesus do some amazing miracles. Drive out demons, fill empty nets with fish, heal leprosy, heal a paralytic, and raise a young man from the dead for starters. Yet when caught in a storm with Jesus asleep in the boat, they panicked. When he stood and rebuked the wind and waves into a calm obedience, the disciples reacted, "...In fear and amazement," and wondered, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him." (Luke 8:25) Why were the disciples so fearfully amazed? Did they think healing leprosy or raising the dead was easier than calming a storm? Or was their definition of impossible limited to only what they had seen thus far? Since our good news call, a couple of situations have arisen that seem impossible...well, they are impossible...to me. But I find faith and hope stirring in my soul even as I remember and experience the "nothing is impossible" and "all things are possible." Today is Saturday. We serve a God who truly can stand behind the words "nothing" and "all"!
I continue to be reminded of how easily we confine God. Of how we may give Him some superhero traits but even superheroes have limitations. The announcement of our son and family coming to Newfoundland is our own personal miracle. Husband and I are still amazed. And why is that? I guess because what I thought was truly an impossibility became possible with one phone call...with just a few words spoken. And yet, I have asked for other things that were seemingly impossible. It's like we can't generalize this concept of God. "For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37) "...but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26) Nothing is impossible. All things are possible. Nothing. All. I don't know how you can use bigger words than nothing and all. But somehow we still manage to narrow their definition. The disciples had already seen Jesus do some amazing miracles. Drive out demons, fill empty nets with fish, heal leprosy, heal a paralytic, and raise a young man from the dead for starters. Yet when caught in a storm with Jesus asleep in the boat, they panicked. When he stood and rebuked the wind and waves into a calm obedience, the disciples reacted, "...In fear and amazement," and wondered, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him." (Luke 8:25) Why were the disciples so fearfully amazed? Did they think healing leprosy or raising the dead was easier than calming a storm? Or was their definition of impossible limited to only what they had seen thus far? Since our good news call, a couple of situations have arisen that seem impossible...well, they are impossible...to me. But I find faith and hope stirring in my soul even as I remember and experience the "nothing is impossible" and "all things are possible." Today is Saturday. We serve a God who truly can stand behind the words "nothing" and "all"!
Year 5; Day 267 Getting Ready
Last night I read a short devotional by Graham Cooke. He said, "Even if you can't fathom an answer to a particular problem, you can certainly prepare the proverbial soil for a solution." I had to stop and think about that for a bit. How do I prepare the soil of my heart and mind and life when I can't imagine a solution or answer? I could till the soil. Make sure it is soft and loose. No hard parts. Make sure it is receptive by having good attitudes and a willing spirit. I could pick out the rocks...deal with any hinderances that would interfere with growth. Remove obstacles and debris. Get rid of what doesn't belong...things like bitterness, anger and unforgiveness. I could take the time to enrich the soil. I could do this by reading and applying the Word of God, prayer, worship, and fellowshipping with other believers. I could add into the soil of my heart a mixture of trust, obedience, faith and perseverance. Also hope and expectation. Then, when God drops a solution into the soil...into that situation...that circumstance...I'll be ready. Ready to accept and grow. Ready to implement and do. Ready to harvest and share. "Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop..." (Luke 8:8) Today is Sunday. There is no down time in the life of a believer. There is always something to be doing.
Last night I read a short devotional by Graham Cooke. He said, "Even if you can't fathom an answer to a particular problem, you can certainly prepare the proverbial soil for a solution." I had to stop and think about that for a bit. How do I prepare the soil of my heart and mind and life when I can't imagine a solution or answer? I could till the soil. Make sure it is soft and loose. No hard parts. Make sure it is receptive by having good attitudes and a willing spirit. I could pick out the rocks...deal with any hinderances that would interfere with growth. Remove obstacles and debris. Get rid of what doesn't belong...things like bitterness, anger and unforgiveness. I could take the time to enrich the soil. I could do this by reading and applying the Word of God, prayer, worship, and fellowshipping with other believers. I could add into the soil of my heart a mixture of trust, obedience, faith and perseverance. Also hope and expectation. Then, when God drops a solution into the soil...into that situation...that circumstance...I'll be ready. Ready to accept and grow. Ready to implement and do. Ready to harvest and share. "Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop..." (Luke 8:8) Today is Sunday. There is no down time in the life of a believer. There is always something to be doing.