The Appetite

February 1, 2013

Proverbs 13:2 says, “From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.”

I once told a young guy that until the taste of the world (mean, hateful stuff) became so disgusting to him, he would not change nor be drawn to the taste of what God has to offer.

We all know that most kids don’t start out liking broccoli and beets, or anything good for them.  French fries somehow become what they long for, what they desire, and what they point and grunt for, before they can even talk!  We are born with bad appetites…physically…and spiritually.  It doesn’t take long for a parent to figure out that their son/daughter just wants everything they see…and now!

However, as we introduce our children to a plateful of a variety of good things to eat, we hope that over time they develop a taste for what makes them healthy.  It’s no different spiritually.  Until we develop our tastebuds, so to speak, for the things that flow from His heart towards us, we will have this continued appetite for “violence” – using force to get what we want.

Lord, bear your fruit in me so that I want to taste more…and increase my appetite for You.

A Kind Word

January 31, 2013

Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up…good words…again from Proverbs.

Anxiety runs rampant on the streets in America.  All we have to do is watch the news, observe our youth in the streets, experience a devastating disease, or lose a loved one…and there you have it.  Anxiety becomes the concrete under our feet.  We’re either stuck in it, tired from standing on it, or afraid to fall on it. 

It’s really amazing how one, just one, kind word can break up that concrete foundation under our feet and make it soft and pliable once again.  One word of hope like “God is in control.” True.  Or how about a friend who wants to pray for your son/daughter?  What if you could experience healing and/or peace throughout a chronic illness, and feel loved even when your loved one is gone? 

What kind of foundation is under your feet?  If it’s one of anxiety, read the Word and believe the truth about every situation.  Then share the truth of His love with your friends. 

Cheers…

A Generous Person

January 30, 2013

Proverbs 11:25 says this, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

I’ve given to others in all sorts of moods.  I’ve given grudgingly, out of guilt, because I was afraid God would be mad at me if I didn’t give.  I’ve given, hoping secretly that God will give back to me, as I give.  And I’ve given out of a pure heart at times, simply being moved by compassion.

I’ve also seen some people who give and give, with no or little visible reward.  And I’ve seen some who give be taken advantage of, and just totally exhausted, as they pour out their time and efforts…for what seems to be so little in return.

So just what is a generous person and how can we give and end up refreshed…instead of depleted?

A generous person knows she has plenty to give (because she knows her Father owns it all) so therefore; as she gives, she’s not secretly thinking about what she’s losing…but rather about pleasing the One who gave it all to her.  And to end up refreshed instead of depleted requires wisdom.  When we give, we must let it go completely and not look for a return, not look to see that what we gave was used wisely, or any other such stipulation.  We simply listen, obey, and give. 

Then we prosper.  Then we are refreshed.  

Fortified City

January 29, 2013

There’s a phrase in Proverbs that says, “The wealth of the rich is their fortified city…”  I stopped right there as I read that and really thought on the meaning of those words.

Those who are rich in “stuff” like houses, land, boats, cars, stocks, etc. have a protection of sorts against going hungry, doing without, being destitute…as long as all of their “stuff” is paid for and remains intact and worth something.  However, we all know that stuff can decay, be destroyed, end up being repossessed, and just plain be a pain.  It’s quite a headache keeping up with all of our fortifications hoping that no one will come in and steal, kill or destroy.

Those who are rich in Jesus and his great love, have an eternal protection against going hungry, doing without, being destitute…as long as their trust remains in Him…the One who is totally worth it all!  We know that these riches that come from knowing Him (peace, joy, love, patience, eternal life…) cannot decay, can never be destroyed, cannot be taken away from us, and are just plain a gain!  It’s quite a joy knowing that all of our fortification in Him is secure…forever.

Where is your wealth?  Wherever it is…that’s where your hope lies.  But is it secure?

Wiser Still

January 28, 2013

From the time children learn to walk, they are letting go of your hand, pushing it away, and saying (without words) “Leave me alone.  I can walk now. Let me go.”  But of course, we can’t let them go.  We have to hold their hands, instruct them on safety, discipline them in obedience…so that one day they can go…and live a blessed adult life.

Proverbs says if we instruct the wise…they will be wiser still.  And if the righteous are teachable…they will add to their learning.

Throughout each stage in childhood, our children test us.  They don’t want to be told how to hold the bat correctly to hit the ball.  They just want to win the game.  However, wisdom is listening, observing, and receiving instruction on how to play so that we CAN win.  Even as adults sometimes, we think we’ve “arrived” in our walk with God, and we know all there is to know.  However, if we continue to be teachable we can always grow.

Every decade, I think I’m still learning wisdom and growing in righteousness.  At least I hope that’s the state of my heart at all ages.  It’s easy throughout the course of a day to pick up random thoughts, harbor a grudge, or slip and say something rude.  It’s prudent to sit at His feet in the evening and listen to His thoughts, let him heal the hurt, and forgive the hurt that was done. 

Lord, instruct me and teach me…always.

Hate Evil

January 27, 2013

Proverbs says, “To fear the Lord is to hate evil.”

Many have twisted this instruction and added “person” after the word “evil.”  God hates evil.  But he loves people.  God cannot tolerate sin because He’s holy.  But he absolutely loves the sinner because He wants ALL to experience His great love.

So how do we hate evil, yet love the evildoer?  Evildoers are just operating according to their nature.  We are all born into sin, and it’s our fleshly nature to do evil.  I’m not referring to mass murderers.  Evil can be as simple as just causing harm to another person through neglect, slander, or even disobedience. 

I think the easiest way to love the evildoer is to remember that if not for the grace and love of God, we too would be evildoers.  This makes it easy to love the person doing the evil.

How can we then effectively hate evil?  We can pray against it.  We can pray against hatred, malice, anger, etc.  And we can pray for God’s love to be evident through our lives and the lives of others who were once evildoers themselves…but have now been saved by Grace.

Stirred Up

January 26, 2013

A person who stirs up conflict in the community – ouch.

I’m sure this could mean a troublemaker in the neighborhood.  But I’m thinking of the community of believers – The Church – where someone stirs up conflict.  It could be just arguing over theology.  Maybe it’s just a disgruntled spirit that complains about everything.  Or perhaps it’s someone with a wound who wants to bring everyone else down with her. 

The problem with stirring up conflict in a community is that it disrupts “community.”  Community, by definition, is a unified body of individuals.  And the community of believers is a group of people unified in one faith and one love for God. 

Instead of stirring up conflict, let’s pray that we stir each other up to good works, more love and compassion and forgiveness towards others…as well as an unashamed adoration for Him.

A person who stirs up these things in the community – wow.

False Witness

January 25, 2013

A false witness - #6 in the list of things God surely hates.

I hate a false witness, too.  Especially if someone is talking bad about me!  A witness, even if it’s false, can damage a reputation for a lifetime.  I worked with a teacher who was falsely accused by a child.  The teacher was not guilty at all, but the false witness was on the news – and the teacher’s career in the classroom ended.

Perhaps that’s why God hates a false witness so much.  It taints the person in the eyes of others, so that they are seen in a bad light.  Jesus knew what it was like to be the topic of many conversations where people lied about him.  

The tongue is a part of the body hard to tame, which is probably why it’s listed twice in this list.  In fact, we can’t tame it.  It wants to wag about every story we hear with our ears, regardless if the story is true or not. But when we are secure in our relationship with Him, our tongue will only want to praise Him and encourage others.

Lord, give me eyes to see and ears to hear the good in others, so that what comes out of my mouth is true and uplifting…always.

Quick Feet

January 24, 2013

Feet quick to rush into evil – what’s that all about?

I think the word “quick” is key here.  Remember when you were a kid and there was a house on fire down the street?  If you didn’t stop and think about the danger, about your mom wondering where you went, or about the fact that you were told to never leave the yard without permission – you ran as fast as you could to see the big flames – and you paid for it later. 

Any time we hear gossip about a neighbor, or we are tempted to run towards any other sort of evil (anything profoundly immoral), and our feet just dart out the door towards this sort of thing, running towards it just for the sensation of the moment – this is dangerous!

Our feet need to be planted, and our head needs to be engaged, before we rush into anything at all – especially evil.

Lord, may my feet be quick, but only in obedience to your word.

Wicked Schemes

January 23, 2013

A heart that devises wicked schemes - #4 in the list of 7 things God hates.

This description surely is reserved for those psychopaths out there who premeditate murder and make elaborate plans of how to carry out their actions – like what we see in the movies – the thrillers that we so love to watch.  The master minds behind amazing schemes are fun to watch on the big screen, because they are not real.

In the early years of my marriage, there were a few times when I was hurt and thought on that hurt all day and ways that I could “get back” at my spouse for what he’d done.  I could not speak to him, give him dirty looks, even walk out and slam the door – that would show him.  It seems juvenile, now.  And it was.

Any time we take it upon ourselves to “devise” a “scheme” to get back at someone who has wronged us – even if it’s just an internal scheme of hatred and disdain – it’s “wicked.” One definition of that word is “nasty” or “naughty.”

Lord, guard my heart from staying hurt.  Teach me to lay all my burdens on you – for you carried them to the cross and there’s healing available there. 

3rd Thing

January 22, 2013

Hands that shed innocent blood – the 3^rd in a list of things God hates.

Of course, we go right to the senseless murder of children at the Sandy Hook Elementary School just a short while ago.  These kids had done no wrong to this guy who killed them – they were innocent and certainly unworthy of such a horrific crime.  The guns in the hands of a mentally deranged person shed innocent blood.

But let’s go deeper, here.  Do our hands, bearing no guns – but rather pointing fingers – shed innocent blood as well?  When we (myself included) point a finger at a fellow believer in accusation (whether true or not) and that pointing of the finger leads to slander and hatred – aren’t we killing another person in a different way?  Maybe they’re not so “innocent” but the phrase says “innocent blood” not “innocent person.”

What does that mean? All I can figure is that the blood (lifeline) of another person is not ours to spill.  If we are hurt at a person, or feel someone has done a great wrong, our fingers need only point upward in prayer for that person to be healed and restored – not damned by our rage.

Lord, keep my hands (and fingers) in your hands…safely secure and a place of healing.

Lying

January 21, 2013

A lying tongue – the second thing in the list that God abhors.

Again, I can’t help but think of the interview with Lance Armstrong, which was on television this week.  He admitted to blatantly and defiantly lying about the doping accusations made against him.  It seemed easy and he even believed what he was doing was “okay.”  He was motivated to win, at all costs.

I think about what motivates us to lie.  Any time our character or decisions we’ve made are attacked or questioned, we often come back with a lie – to defend ourselves.  And lying is so tricky and sneaky, it starts with lying to ourselves that what we’re lying to others about is okay – it’s understandable – because we’ve got to save face.

I’ve been guilty of a lying tongue.  Even when I was a small child, I lied to my dad for fear of his disapproval.  The only thing was – he knew I was lying – and I was then punished.  Not for the action I did, but for lying about it and saying I didn’t do it.

A lying tongue breeds mistrust in the one lied to – forever.  It’s hard to gain that trust back – ever.

Lord, help us to hate the lying tongue as much as you do – and to stand on the truth about who we are in You.

7 Things

January 20, 2013

I’ve always liked the book of Proverbs.  It’s like this plate full of all sorts of tastes, kicks, sweet and salty, and afterbites – you just want to sit and savor it for a long time – one bite at a time.

In the 6^th chapter, 7 things are listed that God hates: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet quick to rush into evil, a false witness, and a person who stirs up conflict in a community.

Do you see all of the body parts involved in that list?  Eyes, tongue, hands, heart, feet, tongue again and the whole person…

If ever there was a verse for reminding us of the importance of what we see with our eyes, what we say with our mouths and what we do with our hands and feet – this is it!  

Haughty eyes – we’ve all had them.  We look down on our neighbor or on someone who is disgusting to us.  Or we even use the eyes to look down on those we love.

Lord, help me to hate haughty eyes as  much as you do, and to train my eyes to see others as you see them.

Above All

January 19, 2013

There’s a verse in Proverbs 4 that says “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Wow, that’s a loaded verse.  How do we guard our hearts?  We must be careful how we love and where we place our hearts.  In another place, the Bible says where our treasure is – there our heart is also.  So it makes sense that we are guarded about the things we treasure.  If we treasure things that are not lasting, we’re going to be disappointed and our hearts will suffer.

The second half of the above verse says everything we do flows from our heart.  This is obvious, just from watching and listening to even celebrities – like Lance Armstrong.  Whatever our passion, our drive, even our hurts – these things drive us to do what we do.  So if our heart has suffered a wound, what we do comes out of that hurt.  If our heart experiences great satisfaction – what we do and say comes out of that contentment.

The verse starts with “Above all else…”  It would be a wise thing today to see just where our heart lies, to redirect it towards eternal things, and then watch guard over it – so that the things we do flow from a healthy heart – not a damaged one.