The corner stone of America

 The Bible lesson I am studying included the following statements as quoted from Beth Moore in "James Mercy Triumphs."

"Yet before a single stone was thrown to the ground, a cornerstone was set in place.  Upon it rolled one living stone on another so that, by the time the sanctuary, built by human hands, was destroyed, another constructed by God's hands, was under way.  but, this time, no forbidding wall would wrap around it.  The gospel would reverberate to the corners of the earth and, at its quake, rocks of every sort would roll uphill to find their home upon the Chief Cornerstone."

You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.  The whole building being put together by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord.  you also are being built together for God's dwelling in the Spirit.
                                                                                                               Ephesians 2:19-22

"Look really closely with your mind's eye, Sister, and gaze further and further up that heap until you make it to the stack where the 21st century sits in place.  See us? You and Me?

      "There we are, two living stones."                                      quoted from                          Beth Moore

When the temple was destroyed in 70 AD there was not one stone left upon another.  And in 1 Peter 2:4-10 Peter tells us of the spiritual house that will be built with Jesus Christ as the corner stone and the lively stones (a royal priesthood) being placed one on another that will offer acceptable sacrifices to God by Jesus Christ.  The Jews being oppressed revolted against Roman rule and were driven to the mountains just as Christ had said they would.

As I studied the account  it occurred to me about today's situation in America.  Our founding fathers put down the corner stone of our country based on the principal of religious freedom and belief in the one and only God and His Son Jesus Christ. In keeping with our heritage since 1776 and the analogy being those stones upon which our Country was built; what is our Christian duty today? 

The thoughts that came to my mind were to love God, keep his commandments, love our neighbors as ourselves and spread the gospel. 

 Micah 6:8 He hath shown thee, O man, what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Mark 12:29-31  And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: ³⁰ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. ³¹ And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

2 Corinthians 4:3,4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: ⁴ In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

As I researched for these scriptures this one brought to mind “the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.”  Although we are helpless to cause one to believe, we are responsible to show and tell them the gospel account in God’s Word.

Are we to speak evil of our leaders or anyone for that matter?  What does God’s word tell us about this?

Titus chapter 3 have more precious jewels in the passages than being told to speak evil of no man.

Titus 3:1-8 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, ² To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. ³ For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. ⁴ But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, ⁵ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; ⁶ Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; ⁷ That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. ⁸ This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Do we as Christians want to speak evil of our leaders?  Do they not show their evil ways?  Are we not taught to pray for them? How may we best glorify Christ in this matter?  What is our responsibility to those in authority over us?

Matthew 5:43,44  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Titus 2:1-3 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; ² For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. ³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Personally I have great conviction that we are to follow the teachings of our Lord and although we cannot attain perfection, it is my goal that I might glorify our Savior in all that I say and do.  And to me this would be building on that cornerstone of religious freedom which our fore fathers fought and died for.

This last verse speaks to my heart so loudly that it is as if a bell were ringing in my ears; . “he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind.”

            Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the

Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set as liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.     

We as Christians are to do what we are taught in the Word of God and if we do this then it could be that those around us will catch our vision and want what we have.  As we remember that it is God that sets up Kings and removes them, we can believe in His power and trust in Him to enable us to let others know America does have HOPE.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Please carefully read , “If my people”, it does not ask the ones who do not know the Savior to do anything.  It asks those of us that are washed in the blood, redeemed, and have eternal life to pray, seek His face and turn from OUR wicked ways and then He will hear from heaven and forgive our sin and heal our land.  America there is hope and I want to be a part of it as I pray, repent of my sin and ask God to heal our land

I want to be one of those little stones rolling uphill to find my home, don't you?

Lord let me be a blessing to the sick as well as to those in need for a fresh word from you today!

January 20, 2012  The lesson given by Beth Moore concerning Sickness, Faith, and Prayer

I believe perhaps the reason I have so much trouble sharing something I have learned in Bible study is because there is so much information overload and I cannot prioritize it in my head and speak it out my mouth even though it has been stored in my heart.  It seems to come out in unfinished thoughts or mixed up sentences.

Another reason would be that I want to share it at a time when others are going through some critical times in their lives that I only watch as if through the lens of a camera.  I am not in the situation but only taking photos of the situation which later will once again come into my presence and remind me of that particular time and how I addressed the situation myself and what I may have learned from that experience.  I ask myself will this prepare me to face my trials?

Our lesson began in prayer this morning.  I had prayed already for those on the prayer list that I had compiled, however this was about how we pray personally all the time.  I am the weak link in prayer.  I pray inconsistently while my goal is to pray continuously.  There are too many times when I wake up in the middle of the night and remember or at least think I went to sleep and did not pray.  It astonishes me to realize when my loved ones have something come into their lives that is a real trial that I had put them somewhere deep in the recesses of my mind and had not prayed for them as I should.  Guilt is the devils tool, correction and the resolve to ask forgiveness and walk a new path is the work of the Holy Spirit.  So conviction came and forgiveness was asked and now I resolve to do better in my prayer life.

“Could you use the reminder right about now that prayer is never a waste of time?  If so,why?”  My quick answer was I cannot conceive of talking to my Father as a waste of time.  I am the waste, but my time is His to give or take.  As the words have grown cold on the page and the lesson finished and I go back and reread it in order to write down my thoughts, it seems almost self righteous.  It was not my thought to be self righteous but it appears that way.  If I believe talking to my Father is not a waste of time then why am I not spending more time talking to Him?  If we watch ourselves closely we will see that evil pride jump up in the tiniest of places.  Lord, please forgive me if I was prideful?  It was totally unintentional on my part.  I am so glad that you are the judge of the heart and know it and that your Holy Spirit is there to correct and reprove if my heart is listening closely I will hear it.

The next quote made me think that perhaps it would be an encouragement to those of my friends that I am in prayer for daily and for those that are care givers for their loved ones that might happen to read my thoughts.

“Sometimes God answers prayer by alleviating the suffering.  Other times He eases the suffering.  Still other times He shows His sufficiency in the suffering. Still other times He shows his sufficiency in the suffering, but makes no mistake.  He never abandons us in our suffering.  Prayer can prime the well of our souls to a bath of His beautiful presence.  It is often the most determining factor in whether, in our anguish, we sink or swim.  Let’s open our hearts wide to the next call of prayer.”

This is what calls me back over and over to Bible Study with Beth Moore as well as other studies.  God plants so much in their hearts and they can share it and it will amaze me and then my Father will amaze me more with what their insights bring out in my spirit.  At that point I am so filled with His Spirit that I in turn will rush to the computer and fling it out there for some other soul to read in hope that it will be just the word they needed that day from the Lord, just as it was for me.  How can we serve such a marvelous, magnificent, Savior and not praise His name?  Especially, when He does it over and over again each morning when we are in His Word.  And how can we not press on and watch hopefully for the next study put out there that He will use as a tool to show us this great victory?  I thank you Lord right now for those you have used in my life to teach me your Word, like Beth Moore has done.

She touches on James 5:15 concerning when we pray in faith God will not only heal our bodies but if sin caused it will forgive that sin.  Now here is a thought that amazes me about myself.  I am so guilty of being critical, negative and sometimes (I hate this) judgmental that I wonder at myself.   For those that I am praying diligently for right now the thought of sin causing their illness has not entered my mind.  So In this writing please never even think of me throwing out that thought.  God’s Word and His Holy Spirit might cause the thought to enter your mind and heart, but it did not come from my inquiry at all.  As matter of fact what crossed my mind was James was known as Camel knees reported in her lesson.  I immediately thought that would never be claimed of me because it is so painful when I try to get on my knees that I could not concentrate to pray.  Following that thought came to me, Lord had I gotten on my knees and prayed for healing and believed you then would you have forgiven my sin and healed my knees that I could be in prayer on my knees with you?  Was sin the reason for pain in my knees?  As I sit here in minor pain from arthritis all over my joints especially my back and legs, I ask myself is their sin causing this?  I have been asking God to convict me of sin that I do not recognize in my life that I might ask forgiveness and be a pleasure to Him, rather than a shame, therefore I think I will see if this one fits that bill.

The next thought she brought out was why does God not heal today as He did in the days of the early church?  He does.  And if he does then what verse would give us insight to that fact going back to that era.  2 Timothy 4:20 states Erastus abode at Corinth but Trophimus have I left sick at Miletum.  A fun thought right here.  Have you ever thought if we think their names were so out of this world what they would have thought about ours?

Back to the thought of all sickness being healed, came the thoughts to me that there would always be sick and poor among us.  And James definitely gave the warning that we were to not neglect the poor.  We have been instructed as a church to take care of the widows, orphans and tend to the sick and not neglect the poor.  And pray for the sick in faith.  If we are looking for things to do it would appear that we have a lifetime of service right there.

So many times we ask why aren’t the prayers for the sick answered in results of healing rather than dying.  Were our prayers unanswered?  And what a verse she gave to set your feet on solid ground and make you really think.  Hebrews 5:7-8 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save heard in that he feared;  though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.  As I read this I added verse 8.  Beth had only use verse 7.

If Jesus the Son of God prayed for deliverance from the suffering he had to go through where in the world do we even have the right to ask, Why me?  Why them, they have been so faithful, they have done so much good, why Lord?  

Last thought was about they called the elders to pray over and anoint with oil the sick person.  Elders translated old ones.  Why did they call the old ones?  My thoughts were I am old and I pray and I remember that it was appointed unto man once to die…. I ask myself why should I not suffer pain?  Were we promised life on earth without pain, suffering, loss, sickness, and death?  No these things are our rewards when we get to heaven to never have these things again.  

The reason I believe us old ones can more easily take these truths in stride are because we have looked down into the casket and saw our child lay there, we have watched our friends slowly pass away as they suffered and left behind that sweet testimony for Christ that either way they won.  We have experienced real life and real sorrow and pain and we have watched as our Lord was faithful and true and carried us through it all.  I believe that is the reason the prayers of a righteous man availed much, not because he was old but because he had matured in faith through whatever means God brought into his life.  

I will never forget in the study of Daniel the thoughts that He would carry us through the fire, help us endure the fire or deliver us from the fire.  Now I can never remember the exact quote but buddy roe I remember the facts of the quote.  My Father will be with me in, through or deliver me from and he will do the same for every born again Christian that lives on this earth and I believe that is a promise.

Romans 8:28, completes my thoughts in that all things work together for good.  God loves you, and He loves me and in him all things are complete.  I am not sick unto death, but there are so many of those I love that are traveling that road, that either my God will deliver them through their trial or from it or will take them home to be with him forever.  No matter what that result may be, we can rest assured that it will be alright and that we will win either way.  

As a human I don’t ever want to let go and for me it is about the most difficult thing in life. There was a little plaque sitting on Robin’s piano that stated, “Lord teach me to hold things loosely, because it hurts so bad when you have to pry my fingers off.”  We had gone back to her home after she died and there were the words my Father gave to me that day and even today it is as vivid to me as it was that day.  And she was my baby.  There was no time to pray, she was taken suddenly.  And today I say to you Jesus is the Victor and I praise His Holy name through it all.

How many times have we made the statement there is nothing I can do.

How many times have we made the statement there is nothing I can do.  All I can do is pray?  

“Listen carefully to James and other inspired writers of Scripture; there is rarely nothing you can do.  Being still and knowing he is God is a long shot from nothing.  Trusting in a God you cannot see is a long shot from nothing.  Counting it all joy is a long shot from nothing.  Submitting is a long shot from nothing.  Confessing sin is a long shot from nothing.  Resting in Christ is a long shot from nothing, and hear this one really loudly praying is a long shot from nothing.” Copied Beth Moore, James Mercy Triumphs

 “If we’re willing, God is our song when we are happy, our escape when we are tempted, our hope when we’re despairing, our joy in tribulation, our strength in weakness, and our immortality in dying.  Ultimately, He Himself is our health.

Copied Beth Moore “James Mercy Triumphs.”

There are so many out there that have illness or else are tending to someone who is ill. This might somehow be an encouragement.  It was to me.  This particular lesson was based on James 5:13-16.

I have not experienced death or dying, however, I have sat at the bedside of several that were.  My heart was broken and I experienced the helplessness that comes with the territory.  I had the hope and joy and strength of knowing my loved one would close their eyes here and open their eyes to see the Lord.  Even though it was the hardest thing I ever endured to say goodbye I knew I would see them again.  It is difficult enough to with stand the pain of loss but to know in your heart that you would never see them again would truly be finality in the worst form.

I cannot remember ever a time in my life when the hurt or loss was greater than in the loss of my daughter.  For me the pain was unbearable and I have no doubt had Christ not held my hand that I would have fallen into despair possibly to never return.  At the time I could count it as Joy and that was my hope and my strength because I knew the God personally that had taken her and I knew she knew Him personally and was with Him.  It did not erase the pain or the grief but it carried me through to the other side.  “Without Him I would be nothing, without Him life is in vain, without Him I would be dying, but thank Jesus, thank God I’m saved.”  The song came into my mind as I typed the last sentence.  One might think that coincidence, but I count it as God’s personal song, He put in my heart right at that moment to write and share with my readers.  I can never write anything unless it is coming from within my heart which is why I have been shamed more times than I have been praised.  You see, it is when the Lord has the keys that it brings praise, but when I have them it brings shame.

I am a slow learner.  I have to get kicked in the teeth a couple of times before I get the message.  However, the very next time I begin to speak or write about something that may be controversial and my heart beats out of my chest like a tom tom then I will put it away and wait on the Lord to take control of my reigns again and know that I have taken the bit in my mouth and am running away with it.

Yesterday in Bible class, LaVelle made mention of second chances and her opinion on the matter.  I believe I agree that when we are given a second chance it needs to be used to correct an error in our lives.  I am so glad my Savior not only gives me second chances but thirds and fourths and fifths.  Some of us are just so hard headed that we have to have the whip cracked over our heads until it comes around our neck and beats stripes all the way down our backs.  However, how sad it would be if we never felt those stripes and bent to His will and picked ourselves up and let him wash us clean and once again walk on down the road in the direction he has directed us to go.

Knowledge is not very much good if we do not put it into action.  My head spins from all the information that has been put into it as of this year alone.  It amazes me how alive the Word has become.  Each time I do something and look in the mirror it hits me, your life is like a breath of warm air exhaled into the freezing cold.  There it is and now it is gone. I read that just yesterday and know it is what I am to do but there I did it and now what do I do to correct it?  Why didn’t I put in practice what you showed me yesterday Lord?  Why do I continue to fall on my face in failure? 

Guess what?  I know the answer.  It is called learning to live by faith.  It is called learning to believe and trust God.  It is called being human.  So do I say to myself, “OK it is alright that is just the way I am.”  That is not what my God said to do.  If ye love me keep my commandments.  Repent, ask forgiveness, and run the other direction, because if you don’t my arm of mercy will stretch just so far and then I will have to get your attention and when it snaps you back to face me; it will not be a fun trip.  And it never has been, but after it is over, the beauty traded for ashes builds a more powerful relationship for me.  

My pride would be in tact if I could just learn the lesson the first time.  And then I could take glory in it and not in Christ that took my weakness and performed his will in spite of me.  I love it when I see him take a failure and make a victory of it.  I believe that is what increases my faith.

Trusting in a God you cannot see is a long shot from nothing.  And watching Him change lives, encourage, ease pain, heal the sick, save the lost, and speak to my heart in so many different ways,  is a long way from nothing.

Condemnation of the Issue or the person speaking of the Issue, that is the question.

Condemnation versus factual information

The dictionary definitions. 

con·demn (kn-dm)

tr.v. con·demned, con·demn·ing, con·demns

1. To express strong disapproval of: condemned the needless waste of food.

2. To pronounce judgment against; sentence: condemned the felons to prison.

3. To judge or declare to be unfit for use or consumption, usually by official order: condemn an old building.

4. To lend credence to or provide evidence for an adverse judgment against: were condemned by their actions.

5. Law To appropriate (property) for public use.

Fact (fkt) n. 1. Knowledge or information based on real occurrences: an account based on fact; a blur of fact and fancy. 2. a. Something demonstrated to exist or known to have existed: Genetic engineering is now a fact. That Chaucer was a real person is an undisputed fact. b. A real occurrence; an event: had to prove the facts of the case. c. Something believed to be true or real: a document laced with mistaken facts. 3. A thing that has been done, especially a crime: an accessory before the fact. 4. Law The aspect of a case at law comprising events determined by evidence: The jury made a finding of fact. Idiom: in (point of) fact In reality or in truth; actually.

Truth

truths (trz, trths)

1. Conformity to fact or actuality.

2. A statement proven to be or accepted as true.

3. Sincerity; integrity.

4. Fidelity to an original or standard.

5.

a. Reality; actuality.

b. often Truth That which is considered to be the supreme reality and to have the ultimate meaning and value of existence.

Fic·tion (fkshn) n

1.

a. An imaginative creation or a pretense that does not represent actuality but has been invented.

b. The act of inventing such a creation or pretense.

2. A lie.

3.

a. A literary work whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact.

b. The category of literature comprising works of this kind, including novels and short stories.

4. Law Something untrue that is intentionally represented as true by the narrator.

I have given these definitions in order that first I, who I feel am very inadequate with words and definitions since grammar was my weakest subject, will look and understand what someone else with more knowledge might think of something I have written.

With the issue of Homosexuality being a life style an alternate lifestyle to heterosexual lifestyle I have actually condemned.  I had every intention of doing so.  I condemned the idea and the tool I used was the one I believe and live by, which is God’s Word.  God’s Word for me is the final absolute.  Therefore what other tool could I use?  It is not my opinion that matters but what the Word of God says that matters.

I also used the case of Fact concerning the consequences of this act of human behavior which brings disease that has eaten up our world, cost millions of lives, broken up millions of homes and destroyed millions of families. 

Perhaps had I just have began a post on the subject rather than bringing these Facts and Truths to the lime light under the post that was put out as a parody, I would not stand accused of condemning the woman that posted the fiction rather than the issue. 

I have no right to condemn or hurt another human being under the umbrella of religious beliefs.  I am commanded to tell any and everyone that comes into my circle of influence the account of the gospel of Christ Jesus.  And that account being that God so loved me and you that He sent His only begotten Son to die for the sin of this world.  Which since we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God pertains to you and me.  He gave Christ as a free gift to any who would receive it.  However, He did put a condition on it.  We must believe that Jesus came to earth and was fully human and fully God and freely gave His life a ransom for you and me.  We must repent and turn from our sin and be willing to follow Christ with our lives.  Then we must ask Jesus to come live in our hearts forever.  As He has promised He will answer that prayer.  And in the language I know from reading scripture, we then will be saved, born again to walk in a newness of life.

When and where do we finally make a stand?

This post was so completely misunderstood as well as not posted well, therefore I deleted it. I also deleted the comments for it. 

I deleted the comments on other blogs in my favor simply because of that terrible thing called caring what others think.  I am the first that can and will take constructive criticism as well as praise.  However, I do not feel the comments were constructive because the ones making them did not understand or chose not to understand the article and I had really messed it up trying to put a copied conversation into the blog and address what the person had posted. 

Sorry I will make my stand but when I do it will be because it was directed not written in my own power.  I pray this will be in all future blogs that I may write.  I do not want my thoughts representing anything other than my own.  And I do not want to fuel someones ego that wishes to hurt rather than encourage or help.

“When circumstances here are tough, we can find comfort and courage in the verses about life’s brevity. We can think to ourselves, In the eternal scheme of things, He’s only asking you to do this hard thing for a few minutes. You can be faithful. It’s not that long!” Every new day is willed by God.” “We live because the Lord wills.” quoted from Beth Moore

January 11, 2012

Nothing can make a morning more beautiful than the sun shining on green dew kissed grass and air that is so clean and crisp it seems to swirl down into your lungs and refresh your very being.  A time of prayer and a fresh Word from the Lord will begin a day of real thanksgiving from the heart.

This morning as I continue the study of James, and 4:14 states, “ It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time and then vanished away.”  He is speaking to about life and plans we make for our lives.  I have heard the verse all my life but this morning the Holy Spirit opened up my heart to the real truth in the analogy given by Beth Moore.  “Picture someone exhaling a warm breath of air into the freezing cold.  There it is.  Then it is gone."

James tells us not to say we will do this or that tomorrow, but we ought to say, “if the Lord will we shall live, and do this, or that.” Then Beth suggested we just look at the words if the Lord “will we shall live.”   

Following this thought we go to Ephesians 1:5 “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”  

Wow! Brother Dean made the comment the Word sometimes had rhythm like a song and I had  experienced that very thing that same Wednesday morning in my study.  As I read some verses in Ephesians it was like a melody began to play in my head.  I wanted to hold up my hand and tell him during our class time, but since the verses would not readily come to my mind I thought maybe the Lord would just let that be my revelation. 

“This life goes fast.”  “Dr. Dan McCartney’s commentary on James 4:14 answered the question, what is your life? “It is a wisp.”  Beth Moore follows in her comments that we never forget we were significant enough in God’s eyes to offer the life of His one and only Son.  “The metaphor is about our length of time here.” 

 “When circumstances here are tough, we can find comfort and courage in the verses about life’s brevity.  We can think to ourselves, In the eternal scheme of things, He’s only asking you to do this hard thing for a few minutes.  You can be faithful.  It’s not that long!”  Every new day is willed by God.” “We live because the Lord wills.”

All of the information is not in the same order of the lesson as in “James Mercy Triumphs”, however it is how it played out in my head after I studied it.  As the last thought is stated, “You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring” (James 4:14), but He indeed does.  We have all sorts of plans jotted on our calendars pertaining to the next year, but they’re mostly based on theory.  He is the only day-timer based on certainty.  That’s one reason why spending time with God in His Word in the morning is so vital.  He wants to prepare us for the reality of our upcoming day."

For me life is but a breath of warm air exhaled into the freezing cold, but it is by His will that I live each day.  It has gone so fast.  I took it for granted.  I just want to hold each second in my hand and make it count now for him.  Oh! How I wish I had done more in the past sixty seven years of my life to honor Him.

My humanity astounds me.  “You can’t live it.”  My mother’s words ring in my ears.  Oh how right she was.  Each time I face an issue that may begin with all the good things I have studied and planned to practice, suddenly without warning, the phone rings.  I answer the call.  I begin to speak with a new heart and my words are those I believe my Lord would have me to speak, then Pride comes holding rejection by the hand and just as that wisp that I am fades away, I begin to react and my reactions are back to the old man inside of me.  It is the flesh Paul speaks of when he said, It is not that I would do but that I would not do that I do.  It does not bring me comfort, it makes me angry with myself.  Why Lord can’t I just win one time over these things that are so ingrained in my character that it makes me want to spue myself out as well as have you spue me out of your mouth?  

As I prayed for forgiveness, the study of yesterday entered my mind.  Perfection, the tongue that cannot be bridled and my imperfection all spin in my mind.  I loved the study on the word perfection.  The English meaning of the word is more like integrity I read.  The meaning of perfection is whole, consistent, complete, authenticity, as suggested by scholars.  Melissa Moore Fitzpatrick speaks of this in her comments.  I thought of myself and my desire to have perfection.  I want the perfect house, the perfect yard, to be the perfect mother, the perfect wife, the perfect friend, the perfect child of God.  And each time I fail that idea shatters right before my eyes.  I grieve in my heart when Pride rears it’s ugly head.  I despise myself when rejection flings itself in my face and I stand up and fight back with all my strength.   

Oh my God, how I praise your dear name that you said I could come before you and ask for forgiveness and you would give it to me. 

Although when I share myself with others in a blog or on Face Book my motives are to perhaps touch their lives through something that has touched mine.  Usually something in the study will catch my eye that seems like that would be the perfect answer to something someone else may be going through;  perhaps a difficult time and even though it pertains to me I want to share it with them.  I may fail and I may indeed run and try to fix something again in my flesh, however it is my endeavor that I write these things and if the Lord wills then He will touch that heart that needs it.  All I have to do is be an instrument he uses to perform His will.  Face Book may be a stage, but the only actions I want to present are those the Lord would have me to do.  I remember that it is the motive that He looks at.  I only pray others will perceive my motives are genuine and that I would not be a shame to the Lord.