Alarm...

alarm..woke up this morning to our smoke detector going off. When that sounds, take heed...your house may be on fire. Relax...we didn't have a fire, just need new batteries. But we got up and checked the house. What alarms do I ignore? And what do I suffer that would be avoided if I'd just heed the warning?

In scripture, Jesus has issued a 'take heed...' many times. Luke 17:3 issues a 'take heed' about forgiveness. I am to recognize sin and confront it, but in Mark 4:24 He addresses how I measure and reminds me of His advice about the mote in my brother's eye and the beam in mine. (Matt.7:3) I could list dozens.

But even if we could hear all the ... See Morealarms, even if we respond to every threat, we can never defeat sin and death. We can not fix the problem of humanity. But we can live without feeling alarm. "The peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus."(Phil.4:7) Yes, I take that personally. My heart and mind feels no alarm.

(I'm hearing the old hymn 'Living By Faith' in my head....)

Cold....

cold...bitter cold, on such a difficult day for a friend. Many condolences offered."Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land."(Prov.31:23) Paul had a lot of relationships, many friends. It is hard to know how to be a friend in a time like this when you have no experience to draw o...n. I found this advice...

..."As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, so is he that sings songs to a heavy heart."(Prov.25:20) God help us listen if an ear is needed..hug, cry, or laugh in remembering. Help us to allow grief into our presence, that we not seek to draw it out, but neither run from it. And God keep us from EVER making light of it. May we be the garments You use to bring warmth and comfort to a grieving heart.

Sliding..

sliding...dread driving on ice to work...don't like that feeling of sliding.. But I managed to do it yesterday morning...in the sunshine. Yesterday, I said I'd speak life with my mouth.
'If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall.'(1Co.10:13) You guessed it. Backslide!!!

Using my tongue is like driving on ice..better slow it way down, think before every action, and be aware of everyone around you...but I CAN use my brakes on my words. I just don't always……I know I'm probably the only one with that problem.... :)

Fire...

fire..in weather like this, it is so comforting to hear it crackling from our Earth Stove. But it can be so destructive. My words are so often like that. I confess."The tongue is a small part of the body....consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark."(Jam.3:5) "The tongue has the power of life and dea...th"(Prov.18:21)Today, I will speak life with my mouth.

Cold...

cold..anybody complaining about it? Want to be hot? Nope...we complain about that too. We want to be somewhere in the middle. What about your spiritual heart? Is it cold or hot? If it's somewhere in the middle, I urge you to the consider this..our God is a consuming fire( Dt.4:24) and it's one or the other...all or nothing...hot or cold. No lukewarm. (Rev.3:16) Don't think to follow God somewhere in the middle.(Rev.3:16)

Sale...

Sales...this time of year everything is 'on sale'. Want a costly item? don't want to pay the price?...wait til it's on sale. What we need most is something we can't purchase...never could, never will be able to. It will never be on sale...in fact it's the most expensive thing to ever exist...And whether you know it or not...it is the only thing that will fill your need, bring you comfort, contentment, and total peace. It is right standing with God, paid for in full by the blood of Jesus Christ. (Rev.1:5) It is the greatest need you will ever have..and He offers to fill that need for us completely. It is the deal you can't afford to pass up....

Time...

What time is it? No....don't look at the clock...look within. Is eternity in your heart?(Ecc.3:11) Or do you measure your life by only this realm? Time and chance happenes to everybody.(Ecc.9:11) It isn't having time that matters...it is what we do with 'now', and if there is any eternal value gained as we pass thru it.