Bible Passage for the Week

"Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens!" Psalm 119:89

To be a recipient of God's promises is humbling!  The Word He has provided us is firmly fixed in heaven.  God is still staying true to His promises that He promised so many years ago. 

What hope we have in knowing His promises!

Cheryl

Restoration

Proverbs 28:13

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”

Have you ever done something wrong and decided it would just be better to be quiet about it?  What is the harm if nothing is said?  Do you recall the feelings that followed the decision to be quiet about your mistake?  The thoughts of the wrong doing creep back into one’s mind over and over again.  It is there reminding you that what you did was wrong.  There is a sense of guilt; no relief because forgiveness has not been given.

Psalm 32:3 notes, “For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.”  Those words paint a very vivid picture.  Our bones are wasting away because we choose to be silent.  It is almost as if we are dying from the inside out.  We are carrying this burden around with us that weigh us down when in reality we don’t have to carry the burden.  We don’t need that weight on our shoulders; for in the second half of Proverbs 28:13 notes, “he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy”.  The burden and weight will be lifted.  We have mercy!

If you continue reading in Psalm 32, just a couple verses farther it notes, “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.” (Verse 5)  It is interesting how different the picture is when you read just two more verses.  We confess to the Lord and He forgave us!  We don’t have to be wasting away!  We don’t have to be groaning all day long!  We don’t have to conceal our transgressions and not prosper!  We have been forgiven.

John talks about this very thing in 1 John 1:8-10.  Verse 8 – “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”  Another risk we run when not confessing is that we start to believe we don’t do anything wrong.  If we start thinking that, then the truth is not in us!  The truth is not just what happened surrounding the circumstances, it is also Christ.  He is the Truth!  Verse 10 states, “If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.”  If we believe we have not sinned then we are calling God a liar.  He stated in Romans, “For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory.”  (3:23)  Along with that, Christ did not need to suffer for us if we have not sinned.  So in verse 9 in notes, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 

Don’t hang on to the sin!  Let it go and restore your health!  Open your heart and ask for forgiveness.  You have been given the most amazing gift ever.  Embrace that gift which Christ gave!

Cheryl

Discipline - Bible Passage for the Week

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11

As a parent, it is no fun disciplining a child!  However, when a parent chooses not to discipline a child the child does not learn there is a right and a wrong.  In all actuality, the child suffers more from not being disciplined than by being disciplined.  The child doesn't learn how to properly treat people, or learn that the world does not revolve around them, or simply learn no means no. This lack of learning can prevent the child from being successful through childhood and adulthood.

Discipline is no different for us as adults.  When we do not follow as God has commanded and are "disciplined" it is not very fun.  However, if the Lord did not correct our ways we would be a mess.  In fact, Proverbs 3:11-12 note; "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of His reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom He loves, as a father the son in whom he delights".   The Lord loves and cares for us that He takes the time to correct us. 

It is truly a blessing to receive the discipline when we need it and it is a blessing to our children as well!

Cheryl
 

Bible Passage for the Week

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and money." Matthew 6:24

It is easy to think that we would only have one master and that being Jesus Christ.  It is the obvious.  However, when one carefully reflects on life there are things that get in the way of Jesus Christ being our Master.  These things take us away our time with Christ; they take us away from hearing what Jesus is sharing with us; it takes away the peace we have in Christ.  Ask Jesus to help keep your focus on Him and not all the other "distractions" that appear daily. 

Cheryl

What You Learn in 3868 Miles...

Have you ever spent hours and hours in the car traveling with your kids?  I have spent many hours in the car with my kids but it is usually with my husband.  However, this time the beginning of the trip was going to be just me and the kids; Dan would join us later.  This meant three days of traveling with no assistance in driving or helping with the kids.  I was slightly nervous, but this was the only option available to be able to celebrate the wedding of friends. 

In all 3868 miles traveled so much was learned.  One thing we learned is we can sing our hearts out and no one can hear us.  Music brings people together!  We sang all different kinds of songs, laughed at how bad we sounded and sang louder.  We also played road trip scavenger hunt and I noticed how observant the kids really can be.  Their vision was quite profound! 

This trip provided opportunities to spend with friends as we made our way across country.  The Lord has truly blessed us with amazing friends that willingly open their homes for us.  The kids and I had the opportunity to enjoy a state park in Iowa with a friend.  It was a great way to expend some pent up energy, spend time in God's creation and visit.  While venturing on one of the paths we found a bridge that makes for a perfect picture opportunity. 


 In Nebraska, my husband joined us and we were able to attend the wedding of friends.  The location of the wedding was beautiful and the little chapel provided the backdrop for the wedding.  The wedding was outside on a hill with the sun setting in the background.  Sitting and listening to the couple say their vows while I was surrounded by my family was a great reminder of how the Lord blessed me 18 years ago with an amazing husband.  Time was also spent reflecting on all that has happened in 18 years.  Truly astonishing how the Lord has provided and abundantly blessed us!   

We left Nebraska and headed for South Dakota and spent time with friends there.  While we were there the moon was brilliant.  My daughter was spending time 4-wheeling on the farm and she called me to tell me I had to get my camera.  I am so glad she called because the beauty was stunning!  I love seeing God's creation through the lens of my camera and what I noticed was my kids are starting to see the beauty of God's creation.  They notice how beautiful things are or how different things are and make comments.  So many times we get "lost" in life and forget to see the beauty surrounding us.  I am so grateful my kids see the beauty of God's creation!

This trip also allowed for family time.  We were able to spend time at both family farms and enjoy farm life.  The kids were so excited to see the new farm dog and pitch in where help was needed.  Life on the farm was how my husband and I grew up and watching my kids embrace farm life is a joy to watch.     






Finally, as we were traveling God's promises were shining through!  The picture does not do this rainbow justice as at the peak of the rainbow the colors were brilliant!  After all the years since Noah, God still lets us know He keeps his promises!

What you learn in 3868 miles is that we are truly blessed in so many ways!  Taking time to reflect upon on all the blessings is humbling. 

I pray you are all enjoying your summer!  I will be back to updating the blog on a regular basis now that I have returned.

Cheryl