HIM vs. YOU

Moms....pay attention to what you believe. There are many popular things you can see and read as a Christian woman that may or may not be in accordance with God’s word. The Bible never teaches that this world is about you. God loves you and cares about you. He wants you to love Him, obey Him, and serve Him.

There's a popular trend now, made even more popular by some recent publications, that YOU are in charge of your destiny. That only YOU can change your life.  Be careful! There's nothing scriptural about that belief!  Nothing in scripture says you are in charge, despite what might be shouted out in the world's view.

Your life and how you live your life should be for HIS GLORY, not for YOURS. It’s not for your happiness, contrary to what you may read apart from scripture. God wants you to be HOLY.  In becoming holy, you'll find true happiness....which is joy! Joy is something that can't fade with problems, trials, struggles in life.  Happiness comes and goes. Joe remains....or should.

Check what you read with God’s word. Don’t believe it because it’s popular and it’s trending on social media. Women often allow their feelings to dictate their beliefs, which can lead down untrue paths. Don’t be one of those women.

God loves you! He wants you to love you, but He also wants you to love HIM and rely on HIM, not yourself.  And self help done should be for His glory, not your own.

NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

Many years ago we heard someone say, "Coaches have to lie." We said to ourselves, "No...no they don't." We don't believe that and hopefully you don't, either. 

No one HAS to lie. Everyone has a choice whether to be honest or not, but sadly many make a habit of lying early in life, so it becomes an addiction that gets out of control just like any other addiction. The lying cycle is hard to stop, especially when it's been a habit for so long.

Many, hopefully most, coaches are honest people. We believe most are! But perhaps there are professions where lying is common. If someone does happen to be in a profession that causes them to be tempted to lie, or where they feel as if they have to lie, it's time to change professions, don't you think? 

Teach your children to be honest from an early age, but always show them the example of honesty in your life for them to emulate. If you lie on "small" (There's no such thing as small, little-white-lies. They're all big, equally wrong in God's eyes.) things, your children will see it and learn to do the same. 

Be honest, even when it's tough. Be kind, but be honest. It's a character trait that all should strive to have. Reputations are destroyed by lies. Be careful with your words.

“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”

Proverbs 12:22 

“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”

Proverbs 6:16-19

Adding and Taking Away

Yesterday there were several posts on Facebook about the bottled water recall from a plant in Pennsylvania.  The story was about several brands of bottled water from the Niagara company, listing many different brands of water; however, on some of the posts, there was a picture showing a lot of different brands of bottled waters.  In fact, the brands were more common in our area than the ones that were mentioned.  Of course, just as any food recall goes, people were alarmed, and rightfully so.  But, the problem was that many didn't read the brands or didn't read the whole story, or maybe even didn't read the story at all - just simply say the picture and shared. I've been guilty of doing the same thing in the past!

This "adding and taking away" from the story got me to thinking about the Bible.  It seems that there is a lot of "adding and taking away" going on in the world.  It was expected by God because He even warns of this problem in Revelation:

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. Revelation 22:18-19

Most people would never add or take away from scripture on purpose, yet many do add and take away in the same way that bottled water post was shared.  Things are said or assumed and it's taken at its word - from whomever says it or posts it - without checking it out in the Bible.  It's shared online.  It's repeated over and over until it is known as truth.  Rules are made that aren't scriptural.  Laws are made that shouldn't be made and bound upon people as truth.  But in reality, the truth is neglected because men and women take it upon themselves to go above or beyond what scripture says.  And because of that God's Word is left, waiting for someone to point out the truth.  And then in some cases, people know they are adding or taking away from the Bible, yet justify their actions.

It all comes down to this:  We will each give an account of ourselves to God one day.  

So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Romans 14:12 (specifically talking about judging others in regards to spiritual weakness and strength among brothers and sisters in Christ)

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.  If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:11-13

So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:9-10

Judgement Day will be a day that all of the adding and taking away will come to light.  We will each have to answer for what we do and don't do whether we are one of His children or not.  For the unforgiven sinner, there is no hope at that point, but for the Christian, we have hope - the hope to live with Him in eternity.  

So it matters how we live. It matters what we do.  It matters what we add and take away from God's Word.  We must search the scriptures diligently to make sure we are living and teaching and telling truth...the truth that is only found in His Word.  The Bible is the ONLY source of what is true and right.

How Gullible Are We?

This morning I read something that had been shared from Joel Osteen Ministries Facebook page. Joel misquotes Numbers 11:23 and puts Moses in stories from the Bible where he wasn't even present.  In the comments some point this mistake out, but others say "Amen" as if Joel was speaking truth.  And millions give money to this pop star "preacher".

There are many false teachers in the world.  You should NEVER, EVER take what any man - or woman has to say about God's Word.  Look yourself to see if what is said or written is true.  Of course, we can all make mistakes. I'm sure I do.  And when and if I do, please, please let me know. But there is a difference in making a mistake and in teaching non-truth.  And many who preach/teach non-truth don't really care. Many are about the money.  Some are just blind to the truth.

Years ago one of our family members was talking to a popular denominational preacher. He said that he believed his "denomination" didn't preach as much truth as the non-denominational congregation in town.  Yet that man continued to preach and "save" people with what he didn't believe to be the whole truth.  That is scary, folks.  Scary and sad.  He will give an answer for that some day.  I will give an answer for me. You will give an answer for you.  

Truth matters.  And along those lines, here is Alan Smith's "Thought for the Day" on this very subject.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           HOW GULLIBLE ARE WE?

     A freshman at Eagle Rock Junior High won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair, April 26, 1997.   He was attempting to show how conditioned we have become to the alarmists practicing junk science and spreading fear of everything in our  environment.   In his project he urged people to sign a petition demanding strict control or total elimination of the chemical "dihydrogen monoxide."  And for plenty of good reasons, since:

         1.  it can cause excessive sweating and vomiting

         2.  it is a major component in acid rain

         3.  it can cause severe burns in its gaseous state

         4.  accidental inhalation can kill you

         5.  it contributes to erosion

         6.  it decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes

         7.  it has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients

     He asked 50 people if they supported a ban of the chemical dihydrogen monoxide.  Forty-three said yes, six were undecided, and only one knew that the chemical was...

     WATER!!!

     The title of his prize winning project was, "How Gullible Are We?"  The conclusion is obvious.

     Religion is another area where people have a tendency to be gullible.  Extreme examples can be found in David Koresh's followers and the Heaven's Gate cult.   But it can happen any time we believe someone without checking out God's Word to see if what is being taught is the truth.  Faith does not mean blindly accepting whatever anyone (even a preacher) says.

     The apostle John warned, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (I John 4:1)

     Use God's Word to discern between what is true and what is false.  And if you feel like living dangerously today, pour yourself a big tall glass of dihydrogen monoxide!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Helen Street Church of Christ

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Let's Stop the "Fluff"

I saw this "tweet" on Twitter yesterday that was really good.

"We cannot expect our children to mature spiritually if we feed them fluff. 

Discounting their ability to grow is actually insulting to them.”

There's too much "fluff" going on, spiritually, and my husband and I are taking steps to make sure our family isn't participating in it!  We are activity making sure we are studying, teaching, learning, and going straight to the ONLY source of what is true and right to get the truth - God's Word - the Bible.

In the religious world, there's much adieu about fluff.  Worship has, at times and in some places, become more about experiences and feelings and how "I" feel than it is about the God and Jesus we are worshipping.  It's become more entertaining and less reverent.  The church may be more about programs and attendance and funds than it is about seeking and saving the lost.

It's easy to fall into the "fluffy" way.  But that way isn't the way the Lord wants us to go. He wants our lives, our dying to self, our daily walk in His Word, in His steps, and by His example. He wants our faith, our love, our dedication, our obedience, our commitment, our worship, our families, our marriages, our relationships with others.  He wants EVERYTHING to be ALL about HIM. He wants more than just an acknowledgement that He is there.  He wants to be IN us.  After all, that's what His children signed up for the moment they became His.

So, let's stop the fluff.  Let's stand for truth. Let's speak truth and teach truth.  All else is just fluff - tickling ears.  

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.  2 Timothy 4:2-4

Hide it in Your Heart

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:16

Sunday our preacher challenged us to get into God's Word even more, by memorizing scriptures.  He talked about the "Armor of God" and the sword, which is the Word.....God's Word.....that will give us what we need to fight in the battle against Satan.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11

As the end of 2012 comes, and the new year begins soon, many people will make resolutions.  These resolutions often have to do with the Bible:  Reading it through in a year, reading it every day, or maybe as Ken's challenge suggested, memorize more scriptures throughout the year.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:105

As Christians, we need God's Word in our lives.  We need to be able to use it to fight against Satan and the evil in the world.  But we can't use it if we don't know it.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

Psalm 119:9

Followers of God will want to know what His Word has to say.  We will be eager to read it and to learn it.  Or we should be.....

Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

Psalm 119:37

You and I can't rely on someone else to read God's Word for us.  We can go to Bible class.  We can listen to sermon after sermon.  We can even teach children about the Bible.  But unless we're actually reading it and studying it for ourselves, we will never grow and mature as God wants us to.  We will never become more like Jesus without reading about how Jesus lived.  We can know about Him, but we won't come to know Him personally.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

God's Word - the Bible - is truth.  It is the ONLY source of what is really truth and what is really right. It has all of the answers we need about any subject.  We don't need any other self-help books.  The Bible is all we really need.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

James 1:22

People in other countries must risk their lives to read their Bible.  They have to sneak around and hide to get together to study God's Word.  Yet we in America have it right in our homes and neglect it.  Why?  Because we in American have too much stuff.  We're too busy.  We want to be  entertained.  How sad.  So often we don't realize the treasure we have in God's Word!

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17

His Word is all we need.  Do you believe that?

Not me!

Me: Who spilled the water and left it on the counter?

Child #1: Not meeee!

Child #2: NOT me!  Nooooottttt meeeee!!!

Me thinking: "Nobody" did it.

Me:  Who left their dirty clothes out in the bathroom?

Child #3: Not me! NNNoooooottttt MEEEEE!

Child #4:  NOT MEEEE!

Me thinking....again:  Nobody did it.  Again.

Me:  Who ____________________?

Child #1: Not me.

Child #3: NOT ME!

Me thinking....yet again:  Not anybody.  Nobody. Nobody always does it, don't they?

If you're a parent, or deal with children at all, most likely you have had a conversation like the ones I've written above.  I often say to my children after one of those types of conversations, "I didn't ask who didn't do it.  I asked who DID do it!".  I want the answer and the truth.  Sometimes the one who did do it stays silent, but usually the guilty party confesses to the issue.  Now that they're older, thankfully, those conversations don't come very often.

This funny little word plaque in the picture was at a hotel where we stayed on a high school girls softball trip in Oklahoma City.  I snapped this picture right before something terrible.....and funny happened.....so it made it extra interesting.

Some of the girls were sitting under a wall fountain in the hotel lobby.  When one of them was helping another one get up, a shoulder accidentally bumped the wall fountain and it fell off of the wall, crashing into two of the girls, spilling the water and rocks, and essentially breaking the whole thing.

We were in shock.  Could. NOT. MOVE.  Another mom and I were unsure of what to even do.  We just looked at each other, then rushed to help the girls, then went to tell the hotel personnel.  Of course we all felt terrible, but the girls were especially embarrassed and a few of them were actually in pain.  We laughed, but not because we thought it was funny that something broke....just the fact that what had happened really did happen.  The girls most likely would have liked to say that word quote:  WHATEVER IT IS, I DIDN'T DO IT!  (*The fountain was repairable!  Yippee!)

It's human nature to want to shy away from situations that will show us as guilty.  We don't want to deliberately mess up or fail.  We don't want to be wrong.  If someone is in trouble, and momma or daddy is coming to find out, we certainly want to be the one that didn't do it, don't we?  So "nobody" gets the blame.

When Stephen spoke to the Sanhedrin as recorded in Acts 6 - 7, he told them the whole gospel of Jesus - beginning with Abraham and right to that present time - when they had rejected Jesus and murdered him.

The people were furious!  They demanded that Stephen be stoned for his words.  It was if they were screaming out to him and to God, "Whatever it is....We didn't do it!!!" But they did do it.  And then they murdered again.  Stephen was stoned.  What a sad day.

My husband often uses the quote, "If you mess up, 'fess up!"  In other words, admit it when you do wrong.  Don't be afraid to take the blame for something done wrong.  Yes, it's difficult to admit it at times, but it's a lot worse to try and cover it up.  Lying about it only makes things worse.

So, whatever it is......if you did it, say it or if you did do it.....Admit it.  And if you didn't......blame your sister :). (Not really, of course!)

A truthful witness gives honest testimony,

    but a false witness tells lies.

Proverbs 12:17

Too Good To Be True

We've been looking for our daughter a car for several months.  Yesterday I searched through Craigslist and found a model we were interested in, for a super-great price.  I emailed my husband and he immediately wrote the seller.  Later, when he hadn't heard from the seller, he had me email....just in case he hadn't copied the address right.

Late last night, we were so excited!  We both received identical emails from the seller.  The too-good-to-be-true price WAS right and she was selling the car because she was being deployed.  It sounded believable.  We wrote the lady back and told her we wanted the car.

My husband was a little wary, but I just knew it was true.  Why would someone lie about a car like that, anyway?  Just to be sure, he wanted to check on some things.  We googled the lady's name....searched on Facebook, etc.  Nothing strange.  After looking a while, I happened to remember that the person I emailed wasn't the same address who emailed us back.  I typed in that name in the search and all kinds of things came up, linking this person to car/boat SCAMS!  What a let down!  And to think that this person does this all of the time and that so many actually end up giving him/her money!

I'm not sure what we're going to do when we get the reply email.  I would like to show up with law enforcement, but something tells me we'll never meet this person in person.  I think he/she will request the money to be wired or some of the information suggested that the person uses payment through eBay.  Either way, it's fraud!  So sad that someone would do this kind of thing....and continue it over and over and over.  So many have already lost money to this kind of thing.  Be careful, people!

The moral of the story is this:  If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!  Probably.  There might be times when it really is a terrific deal.  In fact, I know there are times when it is!

Think about this:  God planned for His Son, Jesus Christ, to be born.  He planned for Him to live for 33 years, teaching many people along the way about salvation.  The Jesus died on the cross to serve as the atoning sacrifice - once and for all - for our sins!  For the sins of people from that day on - until the end of the world!  TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!  This is the ultimate "too good to be true" deal, isn't it???!!!  But, it's not!  It's not just a sounds-good-deal!  It is TRUE!  It is REAL!  There are no hidden messages, gimmicks, or lies.  It's just as good as it appears to be!

Thank you, God, for this "deal".....for this plan of salvation you have given to us and to all people.  The ironic thing is that this good deal is even available to those who try to swindle others.  They need the message just as much as anyone.  So, yes, I pray that this person gets caught so that no one else loses money, but also, I pray that this person finds about about God and Jesus and turns from the world of deceit and lies.  Salvation is for everyone.  It's the best "TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE" deal of all time!

This is good, and pleases God our Savior,  who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,  who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.

1 Timothy 2:3-6

Unbelievable!

Typically my husband is the one who tells the kids a "wild, seemingly unbelievable" story, but occasionally I can get one by, too.  Thanksgiving Eve Day (a big celebration evening for my husband's side of the family) of 2009, my children were helping me make snack foods.  It just happened to be the middle two boys with me in the kitchen at the time, but one of them was making Hawaiian Roll Sandwiches.

As he worked, Jacob asked me, "How do they get the holes in Swiss cheese?" 

Working on something with my back to the boys I answered, "A mouse eats it and makes the holes." 

Thinking there was no way either of them would believe me, I laughed inside at that possibility. 

But, then Jacob asked, "Well, how do they get the holes all the same size?" 

Now I'm thinking, "Ummmmm, Jacob.....I just told you that a MOUSE made those holes in the cheese and all you ask is how they got them all the same size????" 

But, I quickly thought of a "way".  "They use trained mice," I answered. 

To my surprise, neither of the boys said a word.  They just kept on working! 

I just about busted out in laughter, but instead went and typed a status for my Facebook page poking fun at my gullible boys!! (Isn't that what all good mammas do??? Hee Hee!!)

Well, many months passed and the boys were, again, working on snacks foods for some occasion.  I reminded them of the conversation about the Swiss cheese and they both remembered.  So, I came clean.  I said, "Mice don't make the holes in Swiss cheese."  I figured surely they had really realized that the whole thing was a joke, but I quickly learned they didn't.

Jacob seemed a little puzzled and asked a very thought-provoking question, "Well, then how does it get those holes????"

I had to answer:  "I don't really know."  I was now shocked that he seemed a little disappointed that my far-fetched tale wasn't true!!

So, I did some research and guess what I found?  Swiss cheese is made from Hole-y Cows!!!  (That's a joke, but I made it up myself - just right now - sitting here at my computer!! My husband will be really proud of me for that one!! Oh, no! He's rubbing off on me :).  Laffy Taffy will probably want to hire me, don't you think??

Well, I actually looked up the real way Swiss cheese is made and here's what I know:  I don't know if I want to read too much about how cheese is made.  It might seem as gross as having a mouse eat holes in it. 

Just eat it and enjoy it.....but don't think about it....okay? Trust me on this.....

My devotional thought for the day is this:

Some religious ideas out there in the world seem unbelievable, yet people believe them.  Some ideas out there seem ridiculous, yet people believe them.  God's Word is the only source of what is true and right.  It is written by men, yet inspired by God. 

His Word is BELIEVABLE!  His Word will transform.  His Word is unchanging.
Study it.  Learn from it.  Live by it.

...until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4:13-16

"Don't Believe Everything You Think"

I came across this quote the other day. It's kind of interesting, isn't it?  What do you think about the quote? You think it's true?  False?

Let's look at ways this quote is true:

Many people believe that in order to have happiness we have to have looks, money, nicer cars, bigger homes, more "stuff".  If we believe this same way, are we believing something that is true?  Nope. True happiness can't be bought.  Things might make us happy for a while, but not for long.

Here's another one:  Suppose I think I am worthless, that I can never do anything right, or that I have to be perfect in order for someone to love me.  Is it true?  No.  Again, not true.  No one is worthless.  Each one of us is worthy.  We're all "somebody" to someone.  We are very special to God because He made us.  He loves us.  I don't have to be perfect - in fact I can't be perfect on my own, but when God looks at a Christian through the blood of Jesus, He sees a perfectly saved child.

Now let's look at it another way.  Maybe I believe that ,"I'm basically a good person.  I try to help others.  I'm a law-abiding citizen.  I'm honest.  I love my family.  But Christianity?  I don't have time for that.  I don't like that religious talk.  God will never punish a "good" person or condemn such a person to hell.  I at least know that He's known to be loving.  What kind of loving God would do that?"  Are these statements true?  Some of them.  This person may very well be "good" in all of those ways, but does God save anyone because of their goodness?  No.  He doesn't. I can never be good enough to be saved.  I can never be good enough to go to Heaven.  God prepared the way of salvation and the only way is through His Son, Jesus Christ.  It's because of what He has done, not because of what we have done.

So, what do you believe?  What do you think?  Can you believe everything you think?  Maybe yes.  Maybe no.  How can we know?  By searching for the truth in everything.  The truth is found in God's Word...the Bible.  Each of the scenarios I gave in this post....all of the untruths.....all of them in the "true" form can be found in the Word.  Every one of them!  The Bible is the only source of what is true and right. 

Only believe what you think if what you think is truth.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true.....think about such things. 

Philippians 4:8

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

John 8:31-32

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6

Kool-Aid

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Today I was thinking about Kool-Aid.  Sounds strange, I know, but there was a reason I was thinking about it the sugared beverage.  The 4-H Club Christmas party was to be at our house after school. and I was considering buying Kool-Aid to serve to the kids.

As I drove to Altus, contemplating whether to buy and serve Kool-Aid or not, I realized that my usual Kool-Aid/lemonade maker (daughter, Lauren) wouldn't be home after school to mix it up for me.  She would still be at ball practice.  Sure, I could make it myself, but I never seem to get it right.  I'm not ever sure how much I need and don't really like it anyway.  Lauren enjoys making sure it is "just right"...not too watered down and not too concentrated.  (I realized, too, that there are directions on the container, but not all pitchers are created equal.  I comes down to a taste test for me, so I've passed the task on to Lauren.  She likes her role as chief Kool-Aid maker :).

I decided against the Kool-Aid, but continued thinking about how "Kool-Aid" is like the truth.  The truth, meaning God's Word...the Bible.  Just like Kool-Aid, the truth can be watered down.  The Bible can be diluted to the point that God is not recognized as the ultimate judge of a person's soul and the One who will say "enter in" or "depart I never knew you",  to where people believe that as long as he/she is a basically "good" person, everything is okay and that their "goodness" will get them in to heaven.  The watered down truth may not realize that hell is just as real as heaven because a "loving God" can't be a God who will judge the hearts of people.

On the other hand, the Bible can be made too concentrated at times.  This happens when the scriptures are taken out of context and made to fit one's own personal agenda.  My husband, Joe, used this illustration in a devotional thought last Wednesday night.  He doesn't like raisins.  In fact, he pointed out that no one should eat them.  He went so far as to say said that eating them is a sin.  Hmmmmm......

Look at Numbers 6:3.  It says "they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins."  So see???  My husband was right!  Or was he????  No, of course, he was just teasing in that eating raisins was sinful - despite his feelings about eating them himself. He was simply making a point that sometimes scriptures can be taken out of context.  This verse is part of the Nazarite vow - a special commitment an Israelite could choose to make.  

How do you view the scriptures?  How do you take what the inspired Word of God says?  Do you water it down and make it less than what it is?  Do you concentrate it to fit to your own personal thoughts?

The Bible has scriptures that deal with any type of watering down or concentrating the truth: Deuteronomy 4:2; Deuteronomy 12:32; Proverbs 30:5-6; Galatians 1:6-12.  These verses should be something we all need to remember as we read and study the Bible. And consider this verse in Revelation 22:18-19 from NASV.  John writes what God himself inspired him to write,

“I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book (Note:  meaning the book of Revelation), if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.”  

With all of these verses being inspired by God and all pertaining to the truth not being tampered with, it seems that changing God's Word by watering it down or concentrating and distorting it is wrong, doesn't it?

Kool-Aid is only good when it's just right.  It's not good watered down or too concentrated.  God's Word is only useful when read, studied and taught as the whole truth and inspired word of God that it is.

If the Boot Fits...

Back in mid-September when our family was going to be in Oklahoma City for the State Fair, my husband dropped his boots by a western store for them to be polished and shined. The next day he asked me to stop by and pick them up. I told the "shiner" man my husband's name and he gave me the boots. They were in a boot bag.

Now fast forward to this past Friday, October 23. My husband was getting ready to go somewhere and got out his boots for the first time since getting them polished and shined in mid-September. When he put on the boots, he immediately knew they weren't his. The shoe-shiner had given him back the wrong pair! And, most likely who ever is the owner of these boots, now has my husband's boots.

The shoe shine man was contacted and asked if he knew anything about the boots. But, unfortunately, he hasn't had anyone come back and say they, too, had the wrong pair. My husband's boots were nicer than the ones he now has, and although the color of the boots is similar, the ones he now has are darker and the sole is much thicker.

I was out of town when I first heard this story and I have to admit - rather than have sympathy for my husband's plight, I laughed. I am sorry that he has apparently lost his good pair of boots, but the whole story is really funny to me (and to him, too - though not quite as funny as it is to me!).

There are several lessons to be learned from the lost boots story:

#1: Never assume.
I picked up the boots and assumed they were the right ones. Of course, even if I had seen them out of the bag, I wouldn't have known they were wrong by looking at them. They are similar. However, after getting them, my husband assumed they were the right ones and didn't check to see, until many weeks later.

Making spiritual application it's wise to never assume anything, either. We should never assume that what we are being told or what we read is correct. Take for instance my blog posts - don't just read them and think, "That's really good." or "That's not right." Check it out in God's Word. Read the Bible for yourself to see what it says and to check if what you are being taught is what God's Word says. People are human. They can make mistakes. But, people can also deceive. If you EVER read something I've written and think it is wrong - please tell me! I want to be accountable to you, my readers.

Never assume. Check it out!

"Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."" John 8:30-33

#2. Don't delay.
My husband really should have checked out his shoe bag sooner. He knows that now. Delaying has now made it impossible (most likely) to fix the problem.

Spiritually speaking, we should never delay, either. Those who have heard about God and Jesus should not delay, but decide to become a Christian as soon as they realize the need.

We should also not delay in confessing sin - to God and to those we have wronged. Seeking forgiveness from God and others is imperative to the Christian. Unforgiven sin seperates us from God and we should act quickly to remedy the situation as soon as we realize the sin is there. We should ask for forgiveness and be willing to give forgiveness to others quickly - without delay.

"As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

#3: Get it in writing.
One thing about the shoe-shining man that I noticed is that he didn't have a receipt or anything written down. I wonder if there have been mix-ups before? I'm thinking there probably has been because there is no system of record-keeping.

We can't see God's Book of Life, but we can be confident that our name is written there if we live according to God's Will and do what it says in His Word. (Again, not assuming we are hearing or reading what is true - but reading to in God's Word for ourselves.) Getting it in writing is not something we will actually see in our life right now, but knowing that it is there provides us with the peace, comfort and hope we as Christians want to have.

"He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels." Revelation 3:5

"Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life." Revelation 21:27

The Chronicles of Biscuit - They "Learned" Me All I Know!

Note: First of all, if you don't have your volume on, I invite you to turn it on. I added music and you might enjoy listening to it! I'm always excited when I actually figure out how to add something on the blog or do something "techy"...it's SO unlike me :). I also post a monthly fun poll. This month's poll will end on Tuesday, so be sure to vote if you haven't already.

Note #2: If you subscribe to my blog by email, you, of course, won't hear the music, so stop by and listen some time....and take time to vote, too!

And now to The Chronicles of Biscuit...
Last week my daughter, Lauren, had her first junior high softball game of the season. We drove up at the softball field. Biscuit asked, "How am I going to know what the score is when there is no scoreboard?". I said, "We will just have to ask someone what the score is." Biscuit reasoned, "Well, then I'll just have to ask Zachary and Jacob (his older brothers). They "learned" me all I know about sports. They "learned" me how to keep score, and they "learned" me how to play basketball."

Well, there you go! I wondered who had "learned" him everything in his ripe old age of six years. It was so funny! I know I should have corrected his English, but it's just so much fun to listen to little ones sometimes, that you don't want to correct it right then. I'll correct it the next time....maybe. :)

Here's a question for you today: Who "learned" you all you know? Of course, I mean "taught"! In my junior high girls class Sunday morning, we talked about how the entertainment world will try to tell us to believe a certain way and try to shape the way we think. They target specific age groups to send a specific message. However, these messages are not usually centered on God or His Word. Not many of these messages tell about His Son, Jesus, do they?

In John 14:5-6, Jesus' disciple, Thomas, questioned him, "Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." In fact, in the New International Version, Jesus says, "I tell you the truth" 78 times!

It is my prayer that God's Word, the Bible, is your source for learning. It will tell you everything you need to know about becoming a child of God and living as one of His children. It is the only source of truth.

"Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true." Psalm 119:142

Have a great week!