Taking a Look Back

Ten years ago this week Les and I traveled to Hawaii to start a new adventure.  He joined Decision Research Corporation on January 21, 2013.  I re-read some of the posts from that time and it's interesting to see what we got right and what was not at all what we expected!  I'm going to re-share some of those posts here and add my thoughts from 10 years later (those thoughts will be in purple.)

The first post I want to talk about was posted in December 2012, "The Curse and the Scarlett Thread."  The focus of this post was worry and let me tell you, I was so wrapped up in worry at the time!  I didn't blog about everything that was going on in our life at the time, but I was a mess.  My dad was in the hospital at the time, our house had been broken into, and Les had been unemployed for about two months.  

 

The things that were plaguing my mind were REAL, not imagined, but I still needed to take all my thoughts captive.  It would be some time before the answers to my "what if?" questions would arrive, but I was able to change my worrying to praying with faith.

 

This lesson has been invaluable to me for the past ten years.  Sis. White asked me to speak at Ladies Prayer on March 10, 2020 and I chose this topic.  Little did I know how much fear and worry would be taking hold of our world in the weeks ahead.

Les started a new series in our adult Sunday school class last week - The Scarlet Thread.  This is the line through the Bible, from start to finish that teaches us that the life is in the blood.  Blood has always been necessary for redemption and eternal life. Yesterday's lesson was excellent as always.  Les taught about Adam and Eve and the curse that came upon the world because of their disobedience.

Most aspects of the curse were familiar to me.  I'm so thankful that Jesus bruised Satan's head.  Les pointed out something in verse 16 that I had never heard before:

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

The first use of the word "sorrow" is not the same as the second usage.  The second word "sorrow" in the Hebrew is as we would expect - "pain," but the first "sorrow" is actually "worrisomeness."

Worrisomeness in the Hebrew means:  worry, pain, anger, displease, grieve, hurt, be sorry, vex. Webster's dictionary doesn't contain the word "worrisomeness" but is does give the definition for worrisome: causing distress or worry, inclined to worry or fret. 

Les didn't spend much time on this, but I've been chewing on it since his lesson.  Any ladies reading this today know the feeling of worrisomeness?  Are there days when you just feel overwhelmed with it all and sit fretting about things over which you have no control?  Then you tell your sweet husband all about it and his response is, "What's the big deal?"  Men just don't worry as much.  I know they feel stress, but that is not part of the curse that was put upon man, we ladies got that privilege!

Eve had never experienced worry before the fall.  The Bible doesn't tell us how long they were in the garden before Adam and Eve partook of the fruit.  It may have been weeks, months, or even years.   She lived in a perfect world with nothing to worry about it.  Until the fall, then the curse.

Does that mean we ladies should just resign ourselves to worry?  Should we spend our days as Chicken Little:  "There's no way to avoid it, I'm cursed with worry, the sky is falling, the sky is falling!!"  I don't believe so.  I believe we will be attacked with worry, but we must take those thoughts captive.

Jesus said in Matthew chapter 6:

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Repeatedly Jesus says "take no thought."  One commentator said this:

It is the repeated command of the Lord Jesus to his disciples, that they should not divide and pull in pieces their own minds with care about the world. The thought here forbidden is, 1. A disquieting, tormenting thought, which hurries the mind hither and thither, and hangs it in suspense; which disturbs our joy in God, and is a damp upon our hope in him; which breaks the sleep, and hinders our enjoyment of ourselves, of our friends, and of what God has given us. 2. A distrustful, unbelieving thought. God has promised to provide for those that are his all things needful for life.

I needed this so much!  We've had a lot of stress in our life lately and I have watched Les confidently going on, believing that God is going to take care of us.  I believe that, until worry takes hold.  I wasted precious time on Saturday taking thought instead of trusting.  (This was the understatement of the day!)

The answer to overcoming our thoughts is the blood.  The scarlet thread that was started in the garden when God slew the first sacrifice to clothe Adam and Eve with skins, is still the answer today.  The blood of Jesus does more than save us, Isaiah 53 tells us:

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Our grief, our sorrow, our worry, our future, He carried it all.  Because He did, we can take no thought and know that our heavenly Father knows exactly what we need.  Several weeks ago, Les taught about God's purpose.  He said, "Since aspects of God are identical past, present and future… God’s future plans are as if they had already been fulfilled."  I have to wonder, what am I worried about?  God has it all in His very capable hands!

Ready, Set, Go

Set a timer for ten minutes. Open a new post. Start the timer, and start writing. When the timer goes off, publish.

 

I have to qualify this post by saying I started working on it on Saturday!  I'm pretty sure most on-line "journalists" use this method of hitting "publish" without re-checking their story 99% of the time!  There are many reasons NOT to publish something without thinking it through.  In my opinion, here are a few:

1.  Haste Makes Waste

This is a phrase I have heard all my life.  I did a little research and found the first record of the phrase haste makes waste comes from the 1500s. It may originate from part of a longer proverb: “Haste makes waste, and waste makes want, and want makes strife between the goodman and his wife.”  Rushing things leads to mistakes or poor results.  The result of working too fast might be that you end up having to throw out what you’ve done and start over. 

 

2.  Grammar Matters

I can't tell you how many times I've been confused reading an article.  I am not an English teacher, I struggle with correct grammar myself, so publishing without proofreading is going to produce a messy post.  I am not thinking of anyone in particular as I write this post.  Please don't be offended if you struggle with correct grammar! 

3.  Overlooking Mistakes

It's easy to overlook a mistake on something I've just written.  Sometimes I'll type "this" when I meant "these."  Even when I proofread, it's easy to miss a mistake because I know what the sentence is suppose to say. 

Poor Joey ;)  Breaking his heart and correcting his spelling!

4.  Passing the Philippians 4:8 Test

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”   I want what I write to pass the test for truth, honesty, justice, purity, loveliness.  I want it to be a good report filled with virtue and praise.  I want to carefully think about what I write before I hit "publish."  I Googled "fake news" and there were almost 900 million results!  Fake news does not pass this test.

 

5.  Charity Counts

Just because I think something, it doesn't mean I need to say it or post it.  My Bible reading this morning included 1 Corinthians chapter 13.  If my writing doesn't reflect a spirit of charity, what I've written will be ignored or ridiculed. As I have said many times, what we publish on the internet, stays on the internet.  More important that correct grammar is a kind attitude.

Repost: Suppose Ye?

My Bible reading this morning included John chapter 9, the story of a man born blind.  As I was reading it, I remembered blogging about it.  When I looked for the post, I found that I had re-posted the original about two years ago. 

My Bible reading yesterday included Luke chapter 13.  As I began this post, I decided to check my blog for anything similar and found a post from March 24, 2010 with this same title, I'm re-posting it with a few additions.

1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Suppose ye? Isn't that what we do so many times? We see someone going through a trial and suppose that it has been brought on because of some sin or other fault in their life. Job's friends were great supposers. Job called them "miserable comforters" as they spent many chapters accusing Job of sin, urging him to repent.

I wonder how often we SUPPOSE when we do not KNOW. Life is full of so many ups and downs. We don't live in the Garden of Eden, we live in a world full of sin. Bad things happen to good people. But with just a nod of the head or a lift of our eyebrow, we suppose, and place blame or pass judgment.

July 20, 2010 I posted "This is Good." Everything in my life hasn't been good, but God always works it for my good.  In that post I wrote about Les asking, "Do you ever question God about what you've been through with Rod and your Mom?" I thought about it, it's a hard question. I definitely miss Mom and Rod, many times I'll think "I wish Rod could see or hear this..." or "I wish I could talk to Mom about that..." but questioning God doesn't do me any good. I choose to trust and say "This is Good" even when it doesn't feel like it or I don't understand. Somehow, I have to trust that God has worked it for my good.

Our words during a trial can make all the difference. They can cause someone to give up completely or keep pressing on. Words spoken without knowledge can lead to irreparable damage. I've said it here many times but if you don't know what to say, the best words in the world are, "I'm praying for you."

The disciples questioned Jesus in John chapter 9:

1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

What if we turned it around and thought, "Wow, they're going through a trial. God must want to manifest Himself in them." How would that change our prayers and words? How would it change our attitude when the trial is our own? When a trial hits, we could examine ourselves, and if we don't have sins that need repenting of, we can say, "Lord, I'm waiting for Your glory to be made manifest." What a difference that would make!

Let's do less supposing and more encouraging!

Fear Not, Little Flock

Sister White asked me to speak at ladies prayer on Tuesday night.  I spoke about the battle of our minds, most specifically the battle with worry.  I've written about my own battle with worry here.  The key verses that I used about overcoming worry are Matthew 6:25-34.  Those verses do not contain the words "fear not," but Luke's account in chapter 12 does:

Luke 12:22-32,  "And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

The Thayer Definition of the word thought is:
1) to be anxious
1a) to be troubled with cares
2) to care for, look out for (a thing)
2a) to seek to promote one’s interests
2b) caring or providing for

The Thayer Definition of the word fear is:
1) to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away)
1a) to put to flight, to flee
1b) to fear, be afraid
1b1) to be struck with fear, to be seized with alarm
1b1a) of those startled by strange sights or occurrences
1b1b) of those struck with amazement
1b2) to fear, be afraid of one
1b3) to fear (i.e. hesitate) to do something (for fear of harm)
1c) to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience

While the two words are not completely interchangeable, they are very similar.  They both happen in our minds.

The Biblical Illustrator by Joseph S. Exell, M.A. says this:
Reasons for banishing vexatious care
1. It is needless; “your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things”; and will certainly provide for you; and what need you take care, and God too? Cast your care upon Him.
2. It is fruitless; “which of you, by taking care, can add one cubit to his stature?” We may sooner, by our carping care, add a furlong to our grief, than a cubit to our comfort. All our care, without God’s help, will neither feed us when we are hungry, nor nourish us when we are fed.
3. It is heathenish; “after all these things do the Gentiles seek.”  The ends and objects of a Christian’s thoughts ought to be higher and more sublime than that of heathens.
4. Lastly, it is brutish, nay, worse than brutish. The birds of the air, the beasts of the field, the ravens of the valley, all are fed and sustained by God, without any care of their own, much more His children. Has God a breakfast ready for every little bird that comes chirping out of its nest, and for every beast of the field that comes leaping out of its den, and will He not much more provide for you? Surely, that God that feeds the ravens when they cry will not starve His children when they pray.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible says this:
It is the repeated command of the Lord Jesus to his disciples, that they should not divide and pull in pieces their own minds with care about the world. The thought here forbidden is,
1. A disquieting, tormenting thought,
which hurries the mind hither and thither, and hangs it in suspense;
which disturbs our joy in God, and is a damp upon our hope in him;
which breaks the sleep,
and hinders our enjoyment of ourselves, of our friends, and of what God has given us.
2. A distrustful, unbelieving thought. God has promised to provide for those that are his all things needful for life.

Fear and worry go hand in hand, making our minds miserable.   Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  The peace of God is the antidote to fear and worry.  How do we get that peace?  By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.  Whatever you are fearing today, make it known to Him.

Suppose Ye?

My Bible reading yesterday included Luke chapter 13.  As I began this post, I decided to check my blog for anything similar and found a post from March 24, 2010 with this same title, I'm re-posting it with a few additions.

1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Suppose ye? Isn't that what we do so many times? We see someone going through a trial and suppose that it has been brought on because of some sin or other fault in their life. Job's friends were great supposers. Job called them "miserable comforters" as they spent many chapters accusing Job of sin, urging him to repent.

I wonder how often we SUPPOSE when we do not KNOW. Life is full of so many ups and downs. We don't live in the Garden of Eden, we live in a world full of sin. Bad things happen to good people. But with just a nod of the head or a lift of our eyebrow, we suppose, and place blame or pass judgment.

July 20, 2010 I posted "This is Good." Everything in my life hasn't been good, but God always works it for my good.  In that post I wrote about Les asking, "Do you ever question God about what you've been through with Rod and your Mom?" I thought about it, it's a hard question. I definitely miss Mom and Rod, many times I'll think "I wish Rod could see or hear this..." or "I wish I could talk to Mom about that..." but questioning God doesn't do me any good. I choose to trust and say "This is Good" even when it doesn't feel like it or I don't understand. Somehow, I have to trust that God has worked it for my good.

Our words during a trial can make all the difference. They can cause someone to give up completely or keep pressing on. Words spoken without knowledge can lead to irreparable damage. I've said it here many times but if you don't know what to say, the best words in the world are, "I'm praying for you."

The disciples questioned Jesus in John chapter 9:

1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

What if we turned it around and thought, "Wow, they're going through a trial. God must want to manifest Himself in them." How would that change our prayers and words? How would it change our attitude when the trial is our own? When a trial hits, we could examine ourselves, and if we don't have sins that need repenting of, we can say, "Lord, I'm waiting for Your glory to be made manifest." What a difference that would make!

Let's do less supposing and more encouraging!

The Alabaster Box

My Bible reading today included the verses in Matthew chapter 26 that talk about the woman with the alabaster box.  When I studied Women in the Bible in 2015 I was surprised to learn that there were two women who anointed Jesus with oil from an alabaster box.  I posted my original thoughts here.

I've spent quite a bit of time thinking about and studying this subject since then.  Last year I taught a lesson to the ladies at New Life Pentecostal in Honolulu about this.  I wanted to share those thoughts here today.

These accounts are recorded in Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 7 and John 12.  The story in Luke is quite different from the accounts found in Matthew, Mark, and John. Only in Luke chapter 7 is the woman called a sinner. Her sins, according to Jesus, were many. There are interesting differences and similarities to these stories:

In both cases, Jesus is in the home of one named Simon. In Luke he is called a Pharisee. In Matthew and Mark, he is called "Simon the leper." Simon was a common name - there was Simon Peter, Simon the Cyrenian who carried Jesus' cross, and Judas Iscariot was the son of Simon - so it wouldn't be strange that Jesus visited the homes of two men with that same name.

In Matthew, Mark and John this takes place in Bethany, the city of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. In Luke they are in Nain, which was approximately 60 miles from Bethany.

There are other similarities in the stories as well. In both cases there were those who criticized. “Why was this waste made?” In Luke it was said “This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. “

The beauty in both cases is what Jesus did. Jesus accepted the sacrifice! The sacrifice from the heart of a worshiper. Jesus never rebuked the woman who was a sinner but told the parable of the two debtors, concluding with "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.“ He said “Thy sins are forgiven.” He never spoke to the woman in the other accounts but said to those who criticized, “I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.”

Only in John is the woman called Mary. I believe the woman in Matthew, Mark and John was Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.  Jesus had been in their home, she sat at His feet and He raised her brother from the dead. The woman in Luke was only known as a woman of the city who was a sinner. This may have been her very first encounter with the Master.

I think this makes the example of the alabaster ointment even more powerful. We all have an alabaster box. It’s our worship, our time, our talent, our finances. We’ve seen a brand new soul walk into a service and be deeply touched as they are in the presence of the Lord for the very first time. And we've watched “seasoned” saints worship beside them.

Just like what happened to those women, there will be those who will criticize and say, “What a waste! Why are you wasting so much time at the church?” Or there will be others who will look at your past and tell you that you aren’t worthy to touch Him.

No matter where we are in our spiritual journey, we always have an alabaster box to pour at His feet. And Jesus will always respond. He will grant forgiveness and healing. He won’t turn away from our worship.  May we have a fresh touch of the wonder of being in His presence. May we kneel at His feet again and pour out our thanks and praise from a thankful heart.

The Thought Test

My Bible reading today included Philippians chapter 4.  I consider verse 8 the "Thought Test."

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Another way to look at it is to turn it around:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are untrue, whatsoever things are dishonest, whatsoever things are unjust, whatsoever things are impure, whatsoever things are ugly, whatsoever things are of bad report; if there is no virtue, and if there is no praise, QUIT THINKING ABOUT THESE THINGS!!

Do your thoughts pass the test today?

Lately...

I just haven't been motivated to blog!  So here are some snapshots of late.

I have now finished 75% of my Bible reading plan for the year!  God's Word is so rich.

Having fun with Hillary and my iPad after church one night:

This quote caught my attention the other day...

Two baby boys joined the NLP Ohana in Honolulu:

I rode my mountain bike:

And saw a beautiful sunrise while out running:

Two more babies!  These are daughters of one of Les' co-workers.  On the right is Les' boss, Karen Yamamoto, we really like her.

Think About It!

I saw both of these quotes the other day and had to share:

I could say a lot about each of them, but since it's "Foodie" week, I'll let you chew on it yourself.

The Ultimate Battle

I enjoyed the holidays, but I sure did miss mid-week Bible Study!  We had a special New Years service on Saturday night, but hadn't had our Tuesday night service in a few weeks.  Pastor McGriffin started a new series about The Ultimate Battle - The Battle of the Mind.

Philippians 2:3-8 "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

To win the battle of the mind we need to develop and maintain the mind of Christ.  We are bombarded daily - it's a territorial battle that is never ending.  Developing the mind of Christ will allow us to have a daily God consciousness.  God won't force you down the right path.  He will nudge you, and when you're thinking is like His you will follow His path.

Whoever controls the mind, controls the body.  The fiery darts (Ephesians 6:16) are not targeted at your feet, they are targeted at your mind.  Satan is a master at making himself sound good.  No truth comes out of Satan's mouth.

How can you tell the difference between truth and a lie?  Know what the Book says!  Be a student of the Word. If all you get is what comes from the pulpit, you will not win the battle of the mind.  You have to get into the Word for yourself.

The mind of Christ will never deviate from His Word.  If your thought process does not line up to the Word, that means your thoughts are being controlled by the enemy.  When your thoughts are controlled by Satan, you will be led in the wrong direction, away from God.  God will always take you to a higher place.  The devil never leads you up - he always brings you down.  Any path away from God is a path downward.

You have to be on guard. Guard your mind.  Put up signs, build a fence around your mind, don't let the devil influence your thinking.  2 Peter 1:13 says, "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind."

God does not intend for you to be happy and victorious only at church.  It's easy to shout and smile when everyone else is.  God wants you to be full of peace, full of love, full of joy - all the time!  God wants us to enjoy our salvation, to rejoice in the Lord always!

Too many Christians who don't have a clue how to enjoy Jesus.  Many live with a "dos and don'ts" mentality, always looking for a list of what to do and not do.  There are clear principles in God's Word, when they are in your heart you will have true joy.   Jesus in Matthew 11:30 said "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." When you live for God hard, it is easy.  When you live for God easy, it is hard.

When the battle of the mind is on, and you're losing, you must go back to what you use to be.  When you're losing the battle your spiritual perceptiveness is not what is use to be.  When you give up the battle of the mind it is called backsliding.

When you are walking with Christ daily and you start slipping, you will know it.  When the old man is resurrected you need to re-gird your mind. When the children of Israel were told to gird themselves, that meant they secured their clothing so they would be ready to escape or move quickly.  Clothes left ungirded hindered movement and were dangerous.

If your mind is scattered, not under control, you cannot move swiftly in the Spirit.  To gird up is to take control of your mind.  You can gird up your mind.  You have to learn to control your thought life.  The enemy is committed to telling you things that tear down your mind.  He wants to sow seeds of doubt.  He tried it with Jesus, he will try it with you.

The way to gird your mind is to understand what causes it to be un-girded.

1. Pleasure Seeking.  Only living from one experience to the next.  You will never find enough fun.
2. Worldly Entertainment.
3. Aimless and Frivolous Reading.
4. Bad Associations - A person who has lost their fear of judgment and God will do everything in their power to make sin look good.  They have no conviction.  Find someone who is spiritually edifying to associate with.
5. Neglected Bibles - the Bible is God's thoughts on paper.  When you read God's Word, you are going to think about what God wants you to think about.  When the Word of God loses its appeal, you are putting yourself in a position for the enemy to play with your mind.
6. Neglected Prayer Life.  If you're not a praying person, you shouldn't be making any major decisions.  A neglected prayer life is an open door to the mind.
7. Careless Church Attendance - coming to church puts you in a better position to win the battle of the mind.

How to gird your mind:

1. Have a High and Determined Purpose in Life.  Know where you're going and concentrate on that goal.
2. Quick Decisions to do the Right Thing - lingering in decisions is a sign of an un-girded mind.
3. Love for the Truth - we will sleep better when we go to sleep with God's thoughts.
4. Have a Prayer Life - we cannot do it on our own.  Through God's Spirit we can pull down thoughts (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) and gird up the loins of our minds.

I do have the ability - through Christ - to win the battle for the mind!

The Curse and The Scarlet Thread

Les started a new series in our adult Sunday school class last week - The Scarlet Thread.  This is the line through the Bible, from start to finish that teaches us that the life is in the blood.  Blood has always been necessary for redemption and eternal life. Yesterday's lesson was excellent as always.  Les taught about Adam and Eve and the curse that came upon the world because of their disobedience.

Most aspects of the curse were familiar to me.  I'm so thankful that Jesus bruised Satan's head.  Les pointed out something in verse 16 that I had never heard before:

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

The first use of the word "sorrow" is not the same as the second usage.  The second word "sorrow" in the Hebrew is as we would expect - "pain," but the first "sorrow" is actually "worrisomeness."

Worrisomeness in the Hebrew means:  worry, pain, anger, displease, grieve, hurt, be sorry, vex. Webster's dictionary doesn't contain the word "worrisomeness" but is does give the definition for worrisome: causing distress or worry, inclined to worry or fret. 

Les didn't spend much time on this, but I've been chewing on it since his lesson.  Any ladies reading this today know the feeling of worrisomeness?  Are there days when you just feel overwhelmed with it all and sit fretting about things over which you have no control?  Then you tell your sweet husband all about it and his response is, "What's the big deal?"  Men just don't worry as much.  I know they feel stress, but that is not part of the curse that was put upon man, we ladies got that privilege!

Eve had never experienced worry before the fall.  The Bible doesn't tell us how long they were in the garden before Adam and Eve partook of the fruit.  It may have been weeks, months, or even years.   She lived in a perfect world with nothing to worry about it.  Until the fall, then the curse.

Does that mean we ladies should just resign ourselves to worry?  Should we spend our days as Chicken Little:  "There's no way to avoid it, I'm cursed with worry, the sky is falling, the sky is falling!!"  I don't believe so.  I believe we will be attacked with worry, but we must take those thoughts captive.

Jesus said in Matthew chapter 6:

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Repeatedly Jesus says "take no thought."  One commentator said this:

It is the repeated command of the Lord Jesus to his disciples, that they should not divide and pull in pieces their own minds with care about the world. The thought here forbidden is, 1. A disquieting, tormenting thought, which hurries the mind hither and thither, and hangs it in suspense; which disturbs our joy in God, and is a damp upon our hope in him; which breaks the sleep, and hinders our enjoyment of ourselves, of our friends, and of what God has given us. 2. A distrustful, unbelieving thought. God has promised to provide for those that are his all things needful for life.

I needed this so much!  We've had a lot of stress in our life lately and I have watched Les confidently going on, believing that God is going to take care of us.  I believe that, until worry takes hold.  I wasted precious time on Saturday taking thought instead of trusting. 

The answer to overcoming our thoughts is the blood.  The scarlet thread that was started in the garden when God slew the first sacrifice to clothe Adam and Eve with skins, is still the answer today.  The blood of Jesus does more than save us, Isaiah 53 tells us:

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Our grief, our sorrow, our worry, our future, He carried it all.  Because He did, we can take no thought and know that our heavenly Father knows exactly what we need.  Several weeks ago, Les taught about God's purpose.  He said, "Since aspects of God are identical past, present and future… God’s future plans are as if they had already been fulfilled."  I have to wonder, what am I worried about?  God has it all in His very capable hands!

Cheerfully Refuse

Here's a thought for today:

Cheerfully refuse to be embittered 

by the stupidities of daily life.

Or, as Mom put it:

What happens around us is largely outside our control, but how we choose to react to it is inside our control.  We can throw our hands up in defeat or we can choose to trust God for His solution.
~Mom's Bible

Thinking Time

I received this quote from Runner's World:

My favorite part of running is the thinking time. I'm a game designer, and whenever I have a hard design challenge or I'm trying to solve a problem, I run.
~Jane McGonigal, game designer and best-selling author 

I can relate to this so much.  Not that I'm a game designer or best-selling author, but running is my thinking time.  I don't run with an iPod or any other gadget (except my Garmin that tells me how far and fast/slow I've gone).  It's just me and my thoughts.  They bounce around like a pinball sometimes but I'm okay with that.

I've also started something new while running.  Once a week I have "hills" as my training run.  That means running the hilliest route I can find.  There are plenty of hills in my neighborhood so that's not the problem.  It's me getting up the hills without taking a walking break that can be tough.  About 6 weeks ago, I started up a hill with a 15% grade...

I had hit my lap button on my Garmin and the time was 2:38.  I immediately thought of Acts 2:38 and started quoting it.  Then I quoted Acts 2:39 and Philippians 4:11 and John 1:1 and Genesis 1:1 and.... on and on the verses rolled through my brain until I topped the hill. Some I could only think of parts of so I looked them up when I go home.

So now my thinking time has a new aspect.  My favorite verse on a really tough hill?  "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."  Philippians 4:13.  It's often "I... can...  do..."

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."  The Word of God fits this description to a T!  Feel free to think about it anytime.

What is Old Age?

In spite of illness, in spite even of the archenemy sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways. 
~Edith Wharton

I'd have a few thoughts about old age floating around in my head  lately.  It all started when we got an invitation to a Christmas party.  It was the "Oldies Party ~ Over 40."  Over 40?  Les and I both laughed at being called old while in our 40s!

Old age is 15 years older than I am. 
~Oliver Wendell Holmes 

I certainly don't feel old.  I find so much enjoyment in my life!  No, I don't do the things I did when I was in my 20s, but I've found that I enjoy getting up with the chickens, hopping on my bike and seeing how fast I can ride.

I'd like to stay healthy enough so that I'll be one of those old ladies who is still out there running. 
~Jennifer Dall

But then I read an ad in the magazine from the League of American Bicyclists.  It was for Senior Cycling - 50+.  Oooo... that's only a little over two years away for me!  I was okay with the "Senior" label, until I read "Old Folks on Spokes."  There was that "old" label again!

It is a mistake to regard age as a downhill grade toward dissolution. The reverse is true. As one grows older, one climbs with surprising strides.
~George Sand

It's interesting that we seem to label folks either young or old.  I started wondering, why do we avoid the middle age label?

The long, dull, monotonous years of middle-aged prosperity or middle-aged adversity are excellent campaigning weather for the devil.
~ C. S. Lewis

I remember when I turned 38.  I thought "I am now middle aged."  That's all there was to it.  I didn't consider myself old, but I also knew my teenage years were far behind me!

At middle age the soul should be opening up like a rose, not closing up like a cabbage
~John Andrew Holmes

A decade later, I don't feel any older.  In fact, I feel younger.  That has a lot to do with how I've taken care of myself.  I am definitely healthier ~ I eat better (most of the time) and exercise regularly.  I also know I can't please everyone.  If God is pleased with me, then I know I've done the best I can in whatever life has thrown my way.  Learning that lesson has made life a lot less stressful.

Patience makes a women beautiful in middle age 
~Elliot Paul 

If I live 90 years, then I am definitely in my middle years.  I'll let you in on a little secret ~ the idea of turning 50 in 2014 sounds fun to me! (I am not planning a party ~ especially not an "Over the Hill" type.)  As long as I continue taking care of my health, both spiritual and physical, I think 50 will be a great age.  When can I start wearing a red hat with my purple??

The only time you really live fully is from thirty to sixty. The young are slaves to dreams; the old servants of regrets. Only the middle-aged have all their five senses in the keeping of their wits.
~ Theodore Roosevelt

What do you think?  If you're no longer under 30, what do you think of the middle aged label?  What do you want to be called?  Have you reached an age that you consider yourself old?

Book Review - Demon: A Memoir

I read a fascinating book while we were traveling to Florida. Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee is an incredible, thought provoking read. Here is the book description:

One night changes everything.
Recently divorced and mired in a meaningless existence, Clay drifts from his drab apartment to his equally lusterless job as an editor for a small Boston press until the night Lucian finds him and everything changes with the simple words: I'm going to tell you my story and you are going to write it down and publish it.

What begins as a mystery soon spirals into chaotic obsession as Clay struggles to piece together Lucian's dark tale of love, ambition, and grace only to discover that the demon's story has become his own.

And then only one thing matters: learning how the story ends.

Lucian is a fallen angel ~ he poses as many types of people throughout the book as he tells his story to Clay. This book really made me think about the fallen angels. How they view the world ~ they've seen it since the beginning. How they feel about humans. How they feel about God and His love toward us.

Here is an excerpt about the birth of Christ, described by Lucian as "the time of that horrible, eerie night"

"The babe. I had heard it." She lowered her head to clutch at a soft tuft of white hair. “Had I blood, it would have frozen in my veins, for I recognized the voice in that human cry. And the knowledge of it rushed upon me all at once: Elohim, Creator Almighty, had sent that part of himself, the very part that had provided the light of that first and re-created Eden, the part that had spoken the words for the forming of the cosmos before my inception and for my own creation, had planted himself in the womb of an insignificant girl. He had arrived now in person.”

I had never considered the demons recognizing Who Jesus was at His birth. But it makes perfect sense. They knew His voice. They saw the angels. "He had arrived now in person." They knew exactly Who He was.

What really made me think was how often Lucian pointed out the mercy God has poured out on mankind. The angels sinned once and they have never been forgiven. Never. What if I never had a chance after my first sin? Wouldn't I hate those who got repeated chances as well? Demon gave me a lot to think about and be thankful for.

Quick, Powerful, and Sharp

Today's Verse of the Day is Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."


Some other translations put it this way:

New International Version: For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

New Living Translation: For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Common English Bible: Because God’s word is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates to the point that it separates the soul from the spirit and the joints from the marrow. It’s able to judge the heart’s thoughts and intentions.

Amplified Bible: For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the [a]breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.


The Word is powerful! It can be in personal study or during a church service, but the Word has pierced me many times. Often it is just a single verse - it happens quickly when I open my heart as I open my Bible.

Jeremiah 10:23 says, "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." But Psalms 119:133 says, "Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me." I won't feel the piercing and dividing when my Bible remains closed. The thoughts, attitudes, desires, and intentions of my heart will lead me astray as long as my Bible remains closed. No matter how many times I've read it, the Bible is still alive and able to work in my life as long as I'll keep it open.

Other books were given for our information.
The Bible was given for our transformation.
~ Mom's Bible

Trusting in God or Riches

Eight years ago today, Les and I watched as a Santa Ana wind driven wildfire made its way toward our property line. You can read the entire story here. Les had been in a bike accident the day before and was moving slowly. We received an evacuation warning that said if an evacuation notice came we would have ten minutes to leave our home. That notice never came, but I did pack a few things just in case. I still remember the peace I felt as the fire raged ~ nothing that mattered was inside our house. Les and I were safe.


The process of deciding what to pack in case our house burned down wasn't as difficult as you might imagine. I packed very little. Don't get me wrong ~ I enjoy nice things. I have a closet full of clothes and shoes. We have a lovely home. We have also lived on unemployment checks that didn't come close to the income we were use to. None of those things change who I am... unless I let them.

The Bible has a lot to say about riches. Not all of it is negative. Riches themselves are not the problem ~ it's how we treat them:

Proverbs 11:28
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
Proverbs 23:5
Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Ecclesiastes 5:19
Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
Jeremiah 9:23
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
Luke 8:14
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 6:17
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

It is not wrong to enjoy the blessings that God sends. It's wrong to think that we brought the riches upon ourselves.

Eight years later, I still catch myself thinking about fires at this time of year. We've only received one inch of rain this month and a mild Santa Ana condition is in the forecast this week. I pray we don't face evacuations again, but if we do I'll trust God to keep us. Remembering that He is our provider and protector.

Running in the Morning

Today's quote of the day from Runner's World:

Running in the morning has me appreciate all the choices that come later in the day. The choices I make after running seem healthier, wiser and kinder.
Deena Kastor

Since I am a morning runner, this quote fit me to a T!

My morning run is also my "quiet time" with God. I'm amazed at how often thoughts come to me, situations that need prayer, things I need to work on personally, all while I'm out running in the morning. There are no phones to answer, no dishes to washes, no computer to be distracted by... just me and God. And since I'm often too out of breath to speak, it's His turn.

The choices I make after time with God are definitely wiser and kinder.

Whatcha Thinking 'Bout?

Yesterday's verse of the day is one of my favorites! Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,
think on these things.

Now let's turn it around...

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are false,
whatsoever things are a lie,
whatsoever things are unjust,
whatsoever things are impure,
whatsoever things are ugly,
whatsoever things are of bad report;
if there is no virtue, and if there is no praise,
DON'T think on these things.

So I'll ask again... whatcha thinking 'bout??

Suppose Ye?

I've read a couple thought provoking posts this week about judging and minding our own business. I'd been chewing on those thoughts when I read the following scriptures in my daily Bible reading in Luke chapter 13:

1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Suppose ye? Isn't that what we do so many times? We see someone going through a trial and suppose that it has been brought on because of some sin or other fault in their life. Job's friends were great supposers. Job called them "miserable comforters" as they spent many chapters accusing Job of sin, urging him to repent.

I wonder how often we SUPPOSE when we do not KNOW. Life is full of so many ups and downs. We don't live in the Garden of Eden, we live in a world full of sin. Bad things happen to good people. But with just a nod of the head or a lift of our eyebrow, we suppose, and place blame or pass judgment.

Our words during a trial can make all the difference. They can cause someone to give up completely or keep pressing on. Words spoken without knowledge can lead to irreparable damage. I've said it here many times but if you don't know what to say, the best words in the world are, "I'm praying for you."

The disciples questioned Jesus in John chapter 9:

1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

What if we turned it around and thought, "Wow, they're going through a trial. God must want to manifest Himself in them." How would that change our prayers and words? How would it change our attitude when the trial is our own? When a trial hits, we could examine ourselves, and if we don't have sins that need repenting of, we can say, "Lord, I'm waiting for Your glory to be made manifest." What a difference that would make!

Let's do less supposing and more encouraging!