Open My Ears, Lord

As a parent, I know sometimes my children "hear" me, but they don't actually listen to what I'm saying.  My husband and I used to tease each of them when they were little, that we were going to get them an appointment with their doctor to get their hearing checked.  They would just laugh and admit they really weren't listening to us like they should.  No doctor's appointment was needed.


We can hear all kinds of things around us - both good and bad, but we must choose to listen to what is good and needful and choose not listen to what is not good. We also must be willing to hear the truth....to open our ears to the message about Jesus.  


The Bible talks a lot about ears and hearing.  Hearing is one of the first ways we will know about God and about Jesus.  We may hear it from others or maybe we read about it in the Bible ourselves.  But, when we hear....what do we hear?  What do we want to hear?  Do we want to hear the truth?  Do we want to hear only about what makes us feel good? Do we believe everything we hear?


In 2nd Timothy, Paul gave Timothy this charge about preaching the truth.  He told Timothy that there would come a day that people would not want to hear sound doctrine, but would want to hear what they wanted to hear.  They would turn from truth to myths.

"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 men 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. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry." 

2 Timothy 4:2-5

To believe the Bible, believe in God, and believe that Jesus really is the Son of God and that he came to bring salvation to all, we must first hear that word.  We must hear it from those who proclaim that message and learn about it from His Word.  That good news is spread all over the world for everyone to hear....if we'll all just open our ears.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Romans 10:14-15

Hearing the truth is essential to becoming a faithful Christian.  In fact, faith comes from hearing that message...and the only true message comes straight from the Word of God.  Anything else we hear or read, we should check it out in the Bible to make sure what we're hearing is truth.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. 

Romans 10:17

Maybe we should all pray this prayer:

Open our ears, Lord.  Help us to not just hear, but to also listen. Let us hear Your message and the good news of Jesus always.  Help us to always listen to Your Word and obey your commands.  Help us to open our ears to truth and to stay away from anything untrue.

In Jesus' name,

Amen

Does It Really Matter?

Sometimes I get the feeling that people don't really care.  Maybe it's just me, but it seems that in the world, Christianity is professed, but not always lived out.  I'm not trying to be judgemental at all.  Some things are just obvious.  Trey Morgan wrote about this recently in his blog post BE BOLD TODAY.  Sometimes we, as Christians don't live out our lives boldly.  It's like we want to hide our Christianity or we only want it when it's convenient to do so.  But Jesus wants us to follow Him whole-heartedly....to pick up our cross (our burden) and follow Him daily.  He's coming back, just as the Bible tells us.  He wants us to be ready!

Does it really matter how we live?  Let's see what the Bible has to say. Consider this passage from 2 Peter 3:10-14 (the heading of this chapter says, "The Day of the Lord", meaning when Christ returns.)

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.


So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

Notice where I've enlarged the text and the question it asks:  What kid of people ought you to be?  Apparently it does matter how we live.  Of course, Jesus' free gift of salvation is not earned by our "goodness".  We could never be good enough to earn salvation.  But, because Christ gave His life for us and God has asked us to live a certain way in this passage, as well as many, many others, it seems that it really does matter how we live.

So what did this passage say about how we should live?  It said that we should live holy and godly lives.  What does that mean?  God is holy.  Holy means set apart.  So living a holy and godly lives is being set apart.  Set apart from what?  Since God hates sin and there is so much sin in the world and all around us.  It would make sense that we should be set apart from sin. 

The Bible actually lists sins throughout the Bible....too many to list here, but sin literally means to "miss the mark".  I don't know about you, but I probably miss the mark in some way at least once every day.  Thankfully, we serve a loving and merciful Heavenly Father, who is willing to forgive us when we miss that mark.

Does it really matter? Apparently, to God, it does.

New Things - Like Makeup and Such

I'm the type of person that just sticks to the same old thing in a lot of ways.  Same favorite colors of clothing, same furniture arrangement in our home, same makeup brands and colors.  Mostly the reason I "stick to the same old thing" is because I don't like change in those areas, but in the makeup area, I'm too cheap frugal to change.  I don't want to buy something and then not like it.  I don't like to waste the products if they don't work out, so I don't waste money on trying new products. I just stay with the same thing all of the time.

A few weeks ago, due to certain circumstances, I had to try something new.  I had to try different makeup.  And you know what?  I liked it!  It was fun and it worked (well at least I thought it looked good!)  Who knew that new and different makeup might actually be better??? Probably all of you!

Here's what happened:  I went to the QMCC ladies retreat and at the end of the retreat, I packed up my stuff in the vehicle.  During breakfast a friend brought me my makeup bag, saying I had left it in the cabin. I joked that if I had left it it at QMCC, I would have had to wear three teenage girls' makeup the next day.  I said that because after the retreat I was going to stop by my house, unload the retreat decorations and clothes, and head to Arlington, Texas, with my husband, daughter, and two of her friends for an overnight trip (you can read about that trip here).  We both laughed about that possibility of borrowing makeup from teenagers.  Little did I know that would be exactly what would be happening the next day!

I got back home and my sons and husband all helped me unload.  My makeup bag and Bible were in one of the decoration buckets that my son, Zachary, took in. I grabbed my Bible, but failed to notice that my makeup bag was in there, as well.  Into the house it went, and in the opposite direction I went.  I didn't notice that my makeup bag was missing until the next day.

Early Sunday morning we woke up early to get ready for worship and Bible class.  My husband and I were in one hotel room and the three teenage girls were in an adjoining room.  I asked my husband if he had seen my makeup bag.  He hadn't.  He even went down to the car and checked.  It was no where!  I knocked on the girls' door and told them my problem...asking if I could borrow theirs.  My daughter has a much darker complexion than I do, so I borrowed some of her stuff and some from one of her lighter-complected friends.

I was so surprised that I liked a lot of my daughter's makeup!  In fact, some of the things I liked even better than my own.  I couldn't believe it, really!  So, the next time I went to the store, guess what I did?  I bought new makeup.  Aren't you proud of me?????  I got out of that makeup rut and tried something new! (You can clap for me....it's okay :).  Who knows?  I might even decide to rearrange furniture some day. (doubtful)

New things.  Sometimes it's hard to try new things.  But unlike my wanting to try new makeup because I didn't want to waste money, many new things we could try don't cost a thing.  Now they may make us feel uncomfortable.  They may make us nervous.  But we mustn't let fear keep us from trying something new....especially from trying something new as it relates to our service to God.

At that ladies retreat I mentioned, we needed someone to lead the singing.  The "usual" song leader was busy that weekend and wasn't going to be able to attend.  I sent a message to a friend that I knew was coming and asked her if she would lead the songs.  She said yes.  I don't think she realized just how many songs she would be leading over the course of the over-night event!  She later said that, even though at first she wasn't sure about it, trying something new was good for her.  She did an excellent job!

Another friend at the retreat gave a devotional thought.  She, too, wasn't sure about doing it when I asked her, but she said yes anyway.  She decided to try something new, just because I had asked her (which is another lesson for us:  It never hurts to ask!).  She also did an excellent job.

Both of these women tried something new.  They both discovered a new talent.  They both found new talents that can be used in their service to God.  Isn't that great??!

So, will you try something new? Maybe you can just start out small....like me.....and try some new makeup!  Or maybe you can try something really worthwhile, such as branching out and finding a new talent like my friends did. 

Try something new.  Find a new way to serve God.  Tell someone about Jesus.

You can do it!  Then, write and tell me and I'll clap for you (and pray a prayer of thanks for you), 'mkay?

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Isn't Your Bag Heavy Enough?

I received this via email from Inspiration Daily .  It's such a great thought I wanted to share it with you today, along with this scripture that goes well with the message.

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:13

Isn't Your Bag Heavy Enough?

One of my teachers had each one of us bring a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes. For every person we'd refuse to forgive in our life experience, we were told to choose a potato, write on it the name and date, and put it in the plastic bag. Some of our bags, as you can imagine, were quite heavy.

We were then told to carry this bag with us everywhere for one week, putting it beside our bed at night, on the car seat when driving, next to our desk at work.

The hassle of lugging this around with us made it clear what a weight we were carrying spiritually. We were constantly reminded how we had to pay attention to it all the time. We could not forget the bag and kept putting our bag in embarrassing places. Naturally, the condition of the potatoes deteriorated to a nasty slime.

This was a great metaphor for the price we pay for keeping our pain and heavy negativity! Too often we think of forgiveness as a gift to the other person and it clearly is for ourselves as much as anyone!

So the next time you decide you can't forgive someone, ask yourself... isn't your bag heavy enough?

- Author Unknown

Tsunami Mommy

"Tsunami Mommy"

That's my new nickname, bestowed upon me by my loving husband.  He means it as a strict warning to our four children that mom is on a cleaning/straightening rampage and that they'd better have everything neat and orderly.  I kind of think he means it in a negative sense (It's just a vibe I'm getting...), but I totally take it as a positive nickname - one that I have earned. 

It has taken several years, many messes, four children, and many messes and episodes with those four children for many years....to acquire this special nickname.  So I am honored to have earned it.    I am grateful for my newly-earned nickname.  I think it makes me a legend, don't you??? ;)

My mother-in-law was known as "Hurricane Sharon".  She got her nickname from being a mother to six and houseparent at Tipton Home to 17....YES  S-E-V-E-N-T-E-E-N!  22 TOTAL PEOPLE IN HER HOUSEHOLD FOR 12 YEARS!  She earned her nickname, too, in more ways than I will ever earn mine.  I've heard it told that she would empty out dresser drawers and have a pile waiting for a child to come and straighten it up - in a neat and orderly fashion.  She's still the most organized person I know.

My house isn't that orderly, though I kind of wish that it was. (Maybe I should invite "Hurricane Sharon" over for a  cleaning visit while???? Ummmmm. No.  I'd be embarrassed!) My drawers aren't straight.  Some of them are, but very few.  My philosophy is more "out of site - out of mind", but by that I don't mean "stuff everything under the bed" or "stuff everything in a garbage bag" or having "12 water bottles stuffed in crevices by the bed/under the bed" (as this photo illustrates).  No.  I'm more into things being put up in the right place; however, that place, in and of itself, may be messy. (Does that make sense??)  I can only go so far.  I don't have the time to organize everything perfectly.....and honestly, if I had the time, I wouldn't do it. It's just not that important to me.  I like to do to many other things to be totally organized.

Photo:  Source - Mom....June 2010

Prosecutor - Tsunami Mommy

Defendant: Jacob, age 12

Crime:  12 water bottles by/under his bed

Luckily for my kiddos, a few weeks out of October are fairly free on my calendar during the daytime while they're at school, so "Tsunami Mommy" is out in full force and finding lots of piles for them to take care of when they get home from school. I know they will thank me when they're older.  I'm certain of it.  But for now, I'd better get back to earning my new nickname.  I wouldn't want it to be taken away.

I'll be back for another more devotional-type post tomorrow.  See ya then :).

This post is linked to Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers. Join us for Gratituesday, why don't cha?