Beautiful roots....
Roots are where all beauty and strength come from. You just can’t be beautiful without being strong FIRST.
The most talented hairdresser can’t make beautiful hairstyles from malnourished abused hair.
Ps. 1 gives us a great word-picture of beauty and strength.
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked of stand in the way of sinners of sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”
A tree grows strong and beautiful when it is close to a source of water.
We are wise and ‘blessed’ when we plant ourselves near the source of life.
We want beauty and strength in our hair …
AND in our heart….
Strength manifested in a beautiful head of hair.......or strength manifested in a beautiful peace-filled, joyous, loving life.
The beauty grows out of that strong place.
Beautiful hair comes from a strong healthy scalp, well nourished.
It stays beautiful when we tend it and care for it properly. It doesn’t stay pretty if neglected or abused.
So it is with our lives. We stay strong when we are well nourished.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Roots.....
Roots…. I love roots. Roots help me pay my bills.
As a hairdresser, I see lots of roots. I make a living covering up that gray that peeks thru or the dark that demands to be seen. (Some girls are just really blonde on the inside and need a little help being blonde on top.)
You know, God made us perfect, without sin. What we were on the outside, matched what we were on the inside…. perfectly. We were intended to exist in that condition, but a bad choice was made and we all now suffer the imperfections.
Now, what we are on the inside is marred, (sin nature ) and what is manifested to the outside is imperfect. But praise God that He has a method of changing that and restoring us to what we were created to be.
Choosing to change our dark hair to blonde requires maintenance. (Changing the appearance of it does not change the natural of it…) And in the same way, while we are in this life, it is a daily, moment-by-moment process of maintenance. Maintenance…by maintaining of choosing, I mean the daily, sometimes moment-to-moment choices that we are faced with. (Joshua’s challenge in Joshua 24:15 ‘Choose you this day whom you will serve.. ’) The choices we make are vital.
One day, on THAT DAY, there will be no more ‘maintenance’…no more changes needed…no more choices between good and evil. No more temptations, no more mistakes, no more regret. “…in the twinkling of an eye…we will all be changed.”(1 Cor. 15:52)
Until then we must maintain…or call it persevere. “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”(James 1:4)
After THAT DAY there will be no maintenance. No contrasting root line…the growing out will stop. We will be made fully mature, lacking nothing. And we’ll be that way forever.
As a hairdresser, I see lots of roots. I make a living covering up that gray that peeks thru or the dark that demands to be seen. (Some girls are just really blonde on the inside and need a little help being blonde on top.)
You know, God made us perfect, without sin. What we were on the outside, matched what we were on the inside…. perfectly. We were intended to exist in that condition, but a bad choice was made and we all now suffer the imperfections.
Now, what we are on the inside is marred, (sin nature ) and what is manifested to the outside is imperfect. But praise God that He has a method of changing that and restoring us to what we were created to be.
Choosing to change our dark hair to blonde requires maintenance. (Changing the appearance of it does not change the natural of it…) And in the same way, while we are in this life, it is a daily, moment-by-moment process of maintenance. Maintenance…by maintaining of choosing, I mean the daily, sometimes moment-to-moment choices that we are faced with. (Joshua’s challenge in Joshua 24:15 ‘Choose you this day whom you will serve.. ’) The choices we make are vital.
One day, on THAT DAY, there will be no more ‘maintenance’…no more changes needed…no more choices between good and evil. No more temptations, no more mistakes, no more regret. “…in the twinkling of an eye…we will all be changed.”(1 Cor. 15:52)
Until then we must maintain…or call it persevere. “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”(James 1:4)
After THAT DAY there will be no maintenance. No contrasting root line…the growing out will stop. We will be made fully mature, lacking nothing. And we’ll be that way forever.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Hocus-pocus...
Hocus-pocus… Nonsense words or phrases used as a formula
Ever been abandoned? Abandon means to thrust off. Leave alone. To be unused.
I never thought about God abandoning anyone. But…. “You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob…” (Isa. 2:6)
I think of abandonment as an unjust thing. But is it ? Is there a time to just back off, leave someone alone to do as they choose, or even do as they insist….even in rebellion?
“God, You have walked out on Your family Jacob because their world is full of hokey religion, Philistine witchcraft, and pagan hocus-pocus.” (Isa. 2:6 The Message)
Again this morning I am convicted. God allows me choice. Even when I choose hokey religion and hocus-pocus.
“The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled. The Lord alone will be exalted in that day….” (Isa. 2:17)
So I ask myself this morning….where is the hocus-pocus in my life?
Is my religion hokey? Do I use phrases and formulas?
“Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Ps. 139:24)
Ever been abandoned? Abandon means to thrust off. Leave alone. To be unused.
I never thought about God abandoning anyone. But…. “You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob…” (Isa. 2:6)
I think of abandonment as an unjust thing. But is it ? Is there a time to just back off, leave someone alone to do as they choose, or even do as they insist….even in rebellion?
“God, You have walked out on Your family Jacob because their world is full of hokey religion, Philistine witchcraft, and pagan hocus-pocus.” (Isa. 2:6 The Message)
Again this morning I am convicted. God allows me choice. Even when I choose hokey religion and hocus-pocus.
“The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled. The Lord alone will be exalted in that day….” (Isa. 2:17)
So I ask myself this morning….where is the hocus-pocus in my life?
Is my religion hokey? Do I use phrases and formulas?
“Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Ps. 139:24)
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Idols...
Idols… ‘eliyl’ in Hebrew. It means good for nothing.
What do you highly regard that truthfully is worthless ?
In the culture of ages past, they had images of stone or wood. They put a lot of value in them, thought they had some amount of power.
In the culture of our day, we also have ‘things’ that we have made with our own hands, that we put a lot of value in, thinking they have some measure of might.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
That dollar sign offers no real security. Let us not believe the lie that it does. The houses and cars that it buys can’t offer us anything of real lasting value.
Let us not put our confidence in our ability to accumulate money. Let us not think for one second that our own efforts will make us secure.
And certainly, let us not compromise God’s standards in order to accumulate wealth.
“A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.” Pro. 21:6
What do you highly regard that truthfully is worthless ?
In the culture of ages past, they had images of stone or wood. They put a lot of value in them, thought they had some amount of power.
In the culture of our day, we also have ‘things’ that we have made with our own hands, that we put a lot of value in, thinking they have some measure of might.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
That dollar sign offers no real security. Let us not believe the lie that it does. The houses and cars that it buys can’t offer us anything of real lasting value.
Let us not put our confidence in our ability to accumulate money. Let us not think for one second that our own efforts will make us secure.
And certainly, let us not compromise God’s standards in order to accumulate wealth.
“A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.” Pro. 21:6
Friday, September 17, 2010
Reason...
Reason… To justify. Convince. To argue….and be right…
I confess. It is important for me to be right. I know…..I’m the only one. Right?
I can justify my need to be right.
I can argue until I convince you.
Or until you convince me that I’m really NOT right, but in fact, YOU are right.
But whichever it is, the key and the value in it, is the reasoning together. We are so much better off when we can do this reasoning/arguing with an honest heart searching for truth instead of just for the sake of being the winner.
Winning is empty, if the truth has been lost in the battle. We have a false victory.
And when anger comes in, the devil is usually the victor.
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord.” (Isa. 1:18)
God invites us to come to Him with issues, argue the thing out, reason together with Him…and find solutions. And when we come to Him with an honest attitude, not hiding, not masquerading or pretending…He will reveal truth. Even though it’s often not pretty and hard to accept, the truth is indeed the truth….whether we accept it and embrace it or not.
Job reasoned together with God. When all the disaster fell, Job went to God with all his questions, “I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God.” (Job 13:3)
His friends had all the answers, or so they thought. But Job went to God.
Job was right about a lot of things. But he also found out he wasn’t nearly as good nor nearly as smart as he thought he was.
“…surely I have spoken of things that I did not understand….my ears have heard of you but now my eyes have seen you….and I repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42: 3-6)
I want to always be willing and eager to reason together with God.
Not to have my status verified. But to seek truth…..from an honest seeking heart, never just so I can be right.
HE is always, always right.
I confess. It is important for me to be right. I know…..I’m the only one. Right?
I can justify my need to be right.
I can argue until I convince you.
Or until you convince me that I’m really NOT right, but in fact, YOU are right.
But whichever it is, the key and the value in it, is the reasoning together. We are so much better off when we can do this reasoning/arguing with an honest heart searching for truth instead of just for the sake of being the winner.
Winning is empty, if the truth has been lost in the battle. We have a false victory.
And when anger comes in, the devil is usually the victor.
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord.” (Isa. 1:18)
God invites us to come to Him with issues, argue the thing out, reason together with Him…and find solutions. And when we come to Him with an honest attitude, not hiding, not masquerading or pretending…He will reveal truth. Even though it’s often not pretty and hard to accept, the truth is indeed the truth….whether we accept it and embrace it or not.
Job reasoned together with God. When all the disaster fell, Job went to God with all his questions, “I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God.” (Job 13:3)
His friends had all the answers, or so they thought. But Job went to God.
Job was right about a lot of things. But he also found out he wasn’t nearly as good nor nearly as smart as he thought he was.
“…surely I have spoken of things that I did not understand….my ears have heard of you but now my eyes have seen you….and I repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42: 3-6)
I want to always be willing and eager to reason together with God.
Not to have my status verified. But to seek truth…..from an honest seeking heart, never just so I can be right.
HE is always, always right.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Bittersweet....
Bittersweet… I use a bittersweet chocolate in baking. It looks yummy, but by itself, it’s really pretty yucky. Bitter.
A square of that chocolate mixed with appropriate amounts of other ingredients will produce a perfectly delightful dessert. Sweet.
The dessert can’t taste as it does without that bitter ingredient.
Life is certainly like that.
The delightful is often gained by having some bitter experiences in the mix. But no matter how bitter, God is able to sweeten. “Though I …see trouble…many and bitter, You will restore…You will bring me up…You will increase..and comfort..” (Ps. 71:20)
It takes all the ingredients for my recipe. It takes that bitter chocolate…else the whole thing is a failure.
Life is certainly like that.
“Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered….” (Isaiah 38:17)
In every struggle, I want to expect the benefit.
I want to recognize every sweet thing that comes from the bitter.
I want to praise Him….before, during, and after.
A square of that chocolate mixed with appropriate amounts of other ingredients will produce a perfectly delightful dessert. Sweet.
The dessert can’t taste as it does without that bitter ingredient.
Life is certainly like that.
The delightful is often gained by having some bitter experiences in the mix. But no matter how bitter, God is able to sweeten. “Though I …see trouble…many and bitter, You will restore…You will bring me up…You will increase..and comfort..” (Ps. 71:20)
It takes all the ingredients for my recipe. It takes that bitter chocolate…else the whole thing is a failure.
Life is certainly like that.
“Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered….” (Isaiah 38:17)
In every struggle, I want to expect the benefit.
I want to recognize every sweet thing that comes from the bitter.
I want to praise Him….before, during, and after.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Do it.....
Do it… Nike says just ‘do it’. Ever had someone ask you how you ‘do it’? ….
Ever wonder how someone can get thru what they get thru? Ever wonder if they will?
Is it a matter of putting your ears back, your head down, and just pushing thru?
Perhaps sometimes it is. More often than not, it is a matter of calling on a Power greater than self.
As I was thinking and praying about the coming days and the obligations I have, I began wondering how I was going to ‘do it’. Then as I was interceding for someone who has a burden of sorrow I’ve never experienced, I wondered how she would ‘do it’.
I asked God to ‘show out’ thru her circumstances, to be so actively evident in her life, helping her to cope, enabling her to go on….it is an opportunity to show Your stuff Lord. Just ‘do it’ for her. And everyone will see that she has extra-ordinary, super-natural ways of dealing with this burden.
That’s when He whispered to me….I will ‘do it’ for you Connie. But only if you allow me. You can insist on ‘doing it’ yourself. But you can’t sit down and quit when you run out of your own resources….you have to stay on the field even then, and allow me to ‘do it’ even and especially when you can not.
I have been hearing the accuser. (Rev. 12:10) And I’m so relieved to identify that fact. Satan can no longer accuse me before God. I am washed in the Blood of The Lamb. But he still accuses me. He still lies. He still twists truth. He is a devil. His purposes will NOT be accomplished thru me….Lord, please make my eyes and heart to see his lies and activities.
What may be accomplished thru ‘me’ and ‘my’ obligations, will be accomplished thru the extra-ordinary, super-natural Power of the Holy Spirit of God.
It is not for my glory. No longer will I retreat because of that accusation from the enemy.
What is it that God wants to accomplish thru you that you draw back from? Are you retreating because of fear of failure, or fear of fame? Either one is a tactic of the enemy to hide the glory of God.
And to keep us in bondage.
God forbid.
Ever wonder how someone can get thru what they get thru? Ever wonder if they will?
Is it a matter of putting your ears back, your head down, and just pushing thru?
Perhaps sometimes it is. More often than not, it is a matter of calling on a Power greater than self.
As I was thinking and praying about the coming days and the obligations I have, I began wondering how I was going to ‘do it’. Then as I was interceding for someone who has a burden of sorrow I’ve never experienced, I wondered how she would ‘do it’.
I asked God to ‘show out’ thru her circumstances, to be so actively evident in her life, helping her to cope, enabling her to go on….it is an opportunity to show Your stuff Lord. Just ‘do it’ for her. And everyone will see that she has extra-ordinary, super-natural ways of dealing with this burden.
That’s when He whispered to me….I will ‘do it’ for you Connie. But only if you allow me. You can insist on ‘doing it’ yourself. But you can’t sit down and quit when you run out of your own resources….you have to stay on the field even then, and allow me to ‘do it’ even and especially when you can not.
I have been hearing the accuser. (Rev. 12:10) And I’m so relieved to identify that fact. Satan can no longer accuse me before God. I am washed in the Blood of The Lamb. But he still accuses me. He still lies. He still twists truth. He is a devil. His purposes will NOT be accomplished thru me….Lord, please make my eyes and heart to see his lies and activities.
What may be accomplished thru ‘me’ and ‘my’ obligations, will be accomplished thru the extra-ordinary, super-natural Power of the Holy Spirit of God.
It is not for my glory. No longer will I retreat because of that accusation from the enemy.
What is it that God wants to accomplish thru you that you draw back from? Are you retreating because of fear of failure, or fear of fame? Either one is a tactic of the enemy to hide the glory of God.
And to keep us in bondage.
God forbid.
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