Elizabeth: Living For God's Purpose

^" There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.  But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years."  Luke 1:5-7

There are a few things which jump out at me in this section of scripture.  Elizabeth and Zacharias are described as 'righteous before God,' 'walking in all the commandments and ordinances. . . . .blameless.'

How many of us could say we are these things?  Can you say you are righteous before God? What does that mean?  Do you walk in all things in godly ways? We do not live under the commandments and ordinances of the Old Testament, but how do "I" do in walking in the ways set in the new covenant?  Am I peaceful, loving, kind, truthful, joyful, faithful? (This is a partial list of those things He would have us be, of course.) 

Here was a woman who was all that and more. And so, God chose her for a special task, which required years of preparation, depriving her of children, that His mighty hand might be clearly seen.  Years of tears and wondering in which she learned patience, peace and assurance, realizing God knows best.  His plans were more important than her own.  Contentment and faithfulness were her constant companions.  

What faith we see displayed in her life.  And even when she did conceive and bear a son, she was still willing to give that one child to the service of the God who granted her fondest desire.  

May we, too, aspire to such divine devotion to the One Who made us and knows us.  Let us be faithful in our service and love; to God, to our Christian family, and then to the world!

 

 Have you been born again, through hearing the word, believing, repenting, making the good confession, and dying in the waters of baptism to live the new life God raises us to?  I pray you have.  If not, take time to search God's word today.

She Has Done What She Could

Mark 14:7-9 (New King James Version)

7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. 9 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

This scripture is perhaps familiar to you.  But, as sometimes happens, it really jumped out at me Sunday when I read it again.  Jesus says some amazing things here, that I think are worth looking at.  You may recall that the woman (and not a 'nice girl' either) brought the costly perfume to Jesus at the supper table and begins by pouring over his (still) dirty feet, crying over them with her tears and then drying them with her hair.  What a sight that must have been.  I wonder how we hostesses would handle this ackward situation today?

I want to focus on this one phrase today, "She has done what she could."  Simple sentence.  Simple thought.  But, oh, what deep implications!  First question on my mind:  Have I done what I could? I need to 'be the best me I can be, for everyone else is taken.'  Don't worry about what everyone else is doing.  What resources, talents, gifts do I have?  Am I using those to the glory of the kingdom?  I can reach people no one else can, because of my unique place in life right now, right where I am.  Which brings up another thing:  Don't put off what can be done now.  Don't wait for tomorrow, for retirement, for better finances, for less stress, etc. . . Today is a gift and we are not promised tomorrow.  Take the gift and give back to God what you can.  Let him have the glory for magnifying that gift with his power.

This woman was chastised by the disciples for 'wasting' her gift. Instead, they thought she should have sold it and given them to the money. I see a few flies in the ointment here, don't you? Perhaps they wanted to control the money or maybe they just thought they had a better idea.  But Jesus defends her decision.  

Don't let what others say discourage you.  Don't wait for a better opportunity.  There is never a better time than today.  There is never someone better suited to the task than you.  Take what is given and use it to the best of your abilities.  God will bless that and He will receive the glory.

Let it be said of us as we journey towards our heavenly home, "She has done what she could."

(The beautiful quilt above was made by the aunt of a friend in Kansas City out of her grandmother's handkerchiefs.  Thank you, Stan and Debbie, for your kind hospitality.  We slept well under that quilt.)

Thankful for Thorns

Trouble and anguish have overtaken me,
Yet Your commandments are my delights.
Psalm 119:143

Okay, let us cut to the chase. . . why should I delight in God's commands when I'm troubled and in anguish!?  Because putting omy focus upward instead of inward is where God wants my spiritual eyes.  He knows how small and weak I am. 

I have to admit to struggling at times, falling into the trap of complaining.  But then I get a gentle reminder from Him that He is still faithful.  His commands are there to guide me in the eternal way. That brings me great delight!

Yesterday someone tweeted this: My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorns. I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but not once for my thorns (G.Matheson).

So, today, I'm thanking God for the thorns that poke and prick, for they are the reminders that He faithfully walks with me on that path. . . He walked it Himself long ago.  

Comfort and Delight in God's Word

In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul. ~ Psalm 94:19

Take time, if you will, to read this entire Psalm.  It is only 23 verses.  When we watch the news we see the world hurting the innocent and helpless. . . man's inhumanity to man.  But sadly, we can look closer to home.   Even in our lives, we have had or will have times of testing and trial at the hands of the world.  We wonder if God is watching, caring. Will He save?

What comforts does God give us?  Let me list a few from this psalm:  

• He is our Avenger, verse 1; 
• He is our Judge, verse 2; 
• He hears, sees, instructs, corrects, and knows our thoughts, verses 9,10 and 11. 
• We are blessed by His instruction, verse 12;  
• We have rest, verse 13; 
• He will not cast us off (away), verse 14; 
• the upright in heart will receive a proper judgement, verse 15;
• The Lord is my help, verse 17;
• He gives us mercy, verse 18;
• The Lord is our defense, our stronge refuge, vs. 22;
• He will cut off the wicked, vs. 23.

A more thorough study will reveal more, but these give us ample fuel to light the fires of delight within us.  Fan the flames today.  Find delight in God's word and find the comfort you desire from the One who made you!

I promised to write more and here I am, 5 weeks later!  My sis has a saying, "I start out slow and then I taper off. . . " Yes, I have had trips and Bible classes and then a visit from/with my Marine and his family. . . .so sad to watch them leave after such a short visit.  And California seems so far away!  But I promised not to make excuses this year.  :)

One thing we share with our children that will make the time here on earth worth it is our relationship in Christ.  I wrote last time that God is about relationships.

The first and most important one is our's to Him.  He made it  possible through the blood of His Son Jesus for us to return to Him.  

How do we do that?   I would suggest that we begin by reading the words of our Maker.  If we want the best performance out of our cars, we read the owner's manual.  When we want healthy babies we read books on pregnancy, child-birth and raising children.  So when we want a healthy relationship with God, we need to go to the original words He has given us.  Let's commit to spending time getting to know our Creator.  Then and only then will we know what we are to do to restore the relationship He designed us to have with Him.  

 Deuteronomy 4:29 "But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul." NKJV Biblegateway.com

If we want to find someone, we search where we know they spend time. . . :)

Restoring Relationships ~ Reconciliation

Today's thankful:

“No matter how you have been hurt, no matter how lost you may feel, God wants to comfort you and restore you.” ~Jody McFadden

Ezekiel 34:16 - “I will look for those that are lost, I will bring back those that wander off, bandage those that are hurt, and heal those that are sick.” GNB

Psalm 147:3 - "He heals the brokenhearted ands binds up 
their wounds." 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2 Corinthians 5:19 "In other words, God was using Christ to restore his relationship with humanity. He didn’t hold people’s faults against them, and he has given us this message of restored relationships to tell others." (GW)

I'm not sure what the GW translation is, but this says it plainly, we have this message from God to share the wonderful news with the world! Don't keep this great story to yourself! (Me)

The above was shared this morning on my Facebook page and I wanted to expand briefly here.  For over a year I've been posting a thankful thought on my wall, and today, the first statement above by my brother in Christ struck me as being very much overlooked.  We tend to think that we have 'gone too far,' or are 'beyond God's reach' in our broken lives and relationships.

God says in the passage in Ezekiel that he looks for those who are lost. . . I love the old picture of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, out on the rocky hillside, rescuing the wayward sheep.  That's me.  Carelessly striding along, plunging over the edge and caught in the middle of a situation of my own making.  Then he comes, calling, searching and finds me.  He reaches down and takes me gently in his arms and carries me back to the rest of the flock.

Not only a restored relationship with the Shepherd, but fellowship with the rest of the sheep.

More on this later.

Choosing Our Path

Wow!  It has been months since I last blogged. . . not that there haven't been many ideas rattling around in my head. . . .but October has come and gone and then November . . . December and January is now quickly fading.

It was recently brought to my attention, that all things are not under my control.  It is time to let go of those things and people that are going in other directions.  I have a path to my heavenly home that needs tending. . .and a sweet young daughter I want to guide along that path.  Opportunities are frequent right now to share godly wisdom and spiritual knowledge. We find ourselves laughing and even crying over some common joy or earthly hurt.  It's a great time to hear what is on her mind.  She is one of those rare kids who seem to 'get' things that people years older than she don't seem to understand.  I feel privileged to be her mom.  It's a special honor.

Let me add: I was *not* one of those rare kids, but rather a late bloomer.  But I do not remember a time I did not want to live for God or walk in His ways.  Yes, there were times I took side roads and even got off the path into the weeds and brambles. . . .those were difficult times, times I want to forget.  Thankfully, God in His great plan provided a way to pay  for those side-trips.  Yes, I'm saying I chose to sin, but He provided the path through Jesus' blood for me to find redemption and salvation.  It was a terrible price, however,  and it grieves me when I think about it.

But how grateful I am that He catches me when I stumble and fall, that He does not remember the sins of my youth (or the sometimes foolishness of my old age.)  I am thankful to have heard a great sermon Sunday morning on the grace of God.  When taken in context with what we need to do, it encompasses those who are safe in Jesus.  Grace does not act alone, but God grants us mercy and grace when He offers us salvation.  But there are things we must do, not to earn salvation, but to accept it, not on basis of our works, but in giving our faith obedient legs.

So, tie on your walking shoes! Let's explore the path of righteousness together, as we focus on heaven's road.