Bible Passage for the Week

Today was our first day of VBS at Redeemer and the bible passage came from 1 Samuel 16:7 - "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.  The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

This is a great verse to remind us that no matter who we are God knows us!  It is also a great reminder that we should be careful how we judge people by their appearance.  We do not know what is on their hearts by looking at them. 

Cheryl

Are you deliberate?

(Rose no longer in its prime)

Tonight, while watering the poor plants that were begging for something to drink, I noticed a rose that was no longer in the prime of its bloom.  The bloom had “run” its course and needed to be plucked from the stem.  However as I was standing there replenishing the plants with water, I noticed the rose had a particular beauty about it even though it had “run” its course.  For that reason I decided it was a good night to get out the camera; something I hadn’t done in a while.

Once again I wasn’t disappointed in what nature has to offer.  I decided the details of the rose were intricate enough that I should use my macro lens.  I am truly amazed every time I look through that lens.  Tonight, while taking pictures of the beautiful dilapidated rose I noticed a green insect on the plant; the rose no longer became the focus.  This insect was fascinating!  It was very deliberate in all of its actions.  It moved very slowly as it turned around; one step at a time.  At some point in watching this insect it appeared to be “cleaning” its legs.  It would put one leg at a time up to its mouth and then carefully put it back.  No move was quick or jerky but “thought” out.

As I was watching this insect through my camera lens, the thought that came to mind was how deliberate am I in my relationship with Christ?  Do I set aside time to study and pray or is it something that I get to when I have a chance?  Sadly, too many times I have to say I am not deliberate or it is the first thing knocked off my list of things to do.  Life gets busy!

I am so grateful Christ doesn’t operate under the same premise as I do!  Can you imagine how busy Christ is with all the details of the world?  He could easily forget about me; but he doesn’t!  Matthew 6:26 notes, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?”  Matthew also notes in 10:30, “And the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”  Christ is never too busy for any of us.  We are truly valuable to Him; so much so that He even knows how much hair we have on our heads. 

Christ was also deliberate in His love for us.  Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  He could’ve decided He wasn’t going to die for us because we couldn’t get our act together; but he didn’t!!!  His love for us is so grand that while we continually sin He doesn’t give up on us! 

Be deliberate in your relationship with Christ!  Don’t set Christ aside and when you have a moment you will get to Him!  When I take time for study despite my long list of things to do; I always seem to get everything done.  Many times I even have time to spare.  Not only do I have time to spare, but I had time to truly spend with the One that loves me so dearly.  Christ should never be on the “to do” list, He should be foundation of our everyday life.

(One very deliberate bug!}

Cheryl   

Bible Passage for the Week

Hebrews 12:28 - "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe."

In the days of so much uncertainty, it is such a blessing to know we have Christ and His Kingdom that is unshakable!  We have been given an amazing gift!  Post this around your house to remind you of the amazing gift as well as to do all you do in reverence and awe of our Lord! 

Cheryl 

How Do You Care for Your Spouse?

“Your care has preserved my spirit.” Job 10:12b

Care – such a little word that everyone seems to understand.  We obviously care about our spouse or we wouldn’t have married them.  Then why write about the word care?  The definition of care is not as simple as the word appears to be.  Care means, “Serious attention; solicitude; heed; protection.” (dictionary.com)  The words used in the definition take what seems to be such a simple word and gives it a whole new meaning. 

As you think about your day-to-day interactions with your spouse do you provide serious attention, expressive attentiveness (solicitude) and protection for your spouse?  Does that question make you stop and think about how you care for your spouse?  I have no doubt that all of you care for your spouse; yet are we deliberate in our care?  How do we be deliberate in our care?

Care for your spouse can be shown in many ways.  Care can be shown in the simple ways such as knowing your spouse needs something at the grocery store and you just pick it up.  You may just come home and give your spouse a hug because you are expressing your care for them.  Care is more complex too.  As noted in the definition care means protection.  You can care for your spouse by protecting them and not using harsh words about them to other people.  You can protect them by not allowing harsh words from other people. 

When you take a moment to really digest the definition of care the care you give your spouse is crucial to growing together.  Scripture notes in Job, “Your care has preserved my spirit.”  Job was not in a great situation.  He had lost loved ones and livestock and yet he saw and felt the love from God.  He noted how His care is what was getting him through the tragedy.  The care you give your spouse can protect the spirit of your spouse.  It is not the same protection that we get from God but it is a safeguard for our spouse.   Stuff is going to come up throughout marriage and it will not always be pleasant.  You can offer that “safe” place for them.  That place where they know they can go and find solicitude.

Christ has provided His care for us.  He cared enough for us to protect us from evil.  He cared enough for us to prepare a place for us in heaven.  He cared enough for us to die.  He also cares enough for us to help us.  Caring for someone is very involved.  Ask Christ to help you see where your spouse needs care and how to provide it in a way that preserves their spirit. 

Cheryl           

Bible Passage for the Week

Psalm 143:8 notes, "Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust.  Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."

What a great prayer to offer every morning!  Lord, let me hear of the love you have provided for me and please continue to show me the way I should go.  Do we take time each morning to hear Christ?  Do we hear of the amazing love He has and continues to provide for us?  Do we listen to the direction He wants us to go for the day?  Many times we get busy and life is "routine".  We need to make sure we take time out each and every day to hear Christ and follow His direction.

Cheryl

Bible Passage for the Week

Psalm 127:1 "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.  Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain."

This is a great verse to remind us that the Lord is overseer and if we go about building our home without Him, we are building in vain.  Post this around your home to remind you that Christ is center of your household! Turn to Him in how to build your home and family! 

Cheryl

Peaceful Sleep

Does peaceful sleep elude you?  Do you just want to lie down, close your eyes, and fall into a peaceful sleep?  Psalm 4:8 states, “In peace I will lie down and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”  Sleep, peace and rest are all things we look for in the hectic society we live in today.  David was looking for the same thing so many years ago.  Just think…he wasn’t connected to work via blackberry 24/7.  He wasn’t managing a lifestyle that prides itself on being busy all the time.  David was managing a lifestyle of enemies surrounding him.  He was King and had to make some tough decisions.  He was constantly being watched.  Whether it is today’s society or a few thousand years ago sleep, peace, and rest are important!

David said, “In peace I will lie down and sleep…”  What a sweet thought - to lie down and rest peacefully.  However, the author of the book “A New Song” posed a very interesting thought.  “I can’t help but wonder what song I carry with me as I lay my head on the pillow each night.  Too often, it’s a litany of the day’s problems drumming a steady beat in my head.” (Fryar, pg. 74)  Does that sound familiar to anyone?  Sometimes I wish I had an on and off button for my brain!  Oh, how I desperately need that off switch at times. 

The crazy part in all of this is Christ is the “off” switch.  The second half of the verse notes, “For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”  Therefore, I have nothing to worry about!  I have all the reassurance I need that I am taken care of.  Then why does the brain not shut off?  I feel like the disciples in the boat as they cried out for help and Jesus says, “O you of little faith.” (Matthew 8:26)  The bible passage might as well be saying, O Cheryl, you have little faith.  The promises have been given and I still choose to worry.

Worry, doubt, lack of rest, and any other uninvited word one that can be put in the list is satan’s way of working his way into our life.  I Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around you like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  If we are consumed with worry, doubt, lack of rest, etc. then the devil is doing a pretty good job of devouring.  If we cannot shut off the brain, the devil is willing to add his two cents into the “conversation” running through our head. 

Remember to let Christ be your “off” switch!  He will take care of you; in fact, He has everything under control!  There is no need to worry.  Peaceful sleep can be yours!

Cheryl