Trusting The News? Or Trusting God?

"But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does."   ... James 1:25

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Oh, the earthquakes and shootings and razor blades being taped to children's playground equipment on the news this morning!

Yes, this is our world today. But not our whole world.

Jesus warned us that these things would happen! He's not shocked or frantic and depressed, nor sitting on a couch with a bowl of ice cream to help Him face it all ... and neither should we be.

What should we be, instead? Lights. Bright, non-flickering, gleaming lights:

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."   ... Matthew 5:14

And godly lights shine forth the Good. They glow with God and are examples of His protection, encouragement and provision. And they expect more good, more of God's promises to be kept, yes, even in 2014:

 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."   ... James 1:17

And God has not changed, even though our world has.

What am I expecting? More kept promises, more delight--not from this world--but from God, Himself. Surprises in unexpected places and times, rather like this Kohl's commercial from 6 years ago, one I've never forgotten.

Watch it and see what I mean, even though what I'm speaking of here, goes far deeper, of course. But still, the commercial is lovely -- a girl loses her scarf, faces a hot, annoying trek through the desert to retrieve it, but comes upon a gorgeous surprise which turns the whole affair into something memorable ... and then the ad ends with "expect great things."

And God being the God of the opposite world, still works very much like this--still touches and blesses and heals in the midst of hard times and imperfect circumstances. But only if we expect, have faith, that He still can.

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"When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."   ... Luke 21:28


"Your wisest moments are those when you say yes to God." ... Rick Warren

"Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears" .... Les Brown


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The Gift of Office Hours

"A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure."   ... Proverbs 16:9


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So there I was early last week, in our home office, doing these tasks:


Printing coupons
Working on my book
Changing to a better font on tons of old blog posts
Reading the Bible online
Writing new blog posts
Watching my favorite Bible teacher online
Encouraging people at Facebook and in emails
Reading lesson-teaching books on my Kindle
Finding new Kindle books
Paying bills
Adding life-affirming sayings to my Twitter list (to use in blog posts)
Finding helpful websites (for health, writing techniques, budgeting, etc.)

 ... all while feeling guilty about other things I should be doing and --. Why else? Because "they" say by spending scads of time online, we are ruining Life As We've Known It.

And who wants to do that?

But then I thought, "Hey, wait! I believe God asked me to do these things, so where's the guilt coming from?"

Answer: From letting other peoples' words guide my decisions.

Hmmm.

Then in the silence, I believe God gave me some direction. "How about creating designated office hours? Hours when you're free to do whatever you need to in here, say 7:30 to 11:30. Then afterward you can take a lunch break, a walk, and you'll still have hours for housework or yard work or whatever. All guilt-free."

Oh my goodness. And that has made all the difference.

Now it all feels like playing and like freedom with a bit of organization thrown in (God knows I love organization and fun). It doesn't feel like work, even, not yet, but feels like giving myself permission to be happy. Though this time, it's permission to work at the computer, guilt-free.

It's odd the way I can forget important things, like not letting myself or satan make me feel guilty when I'm not or not guilty when I am. And it's wonderful when I obey God and reap joy from that, staying all wide-eyed as a child because of the hourly strength which comes with it.

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"If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the 
land..."   Isaiah 1:19

"You’ll be free when you know that you don’t have to impress people. You don’t have to prove who you are. Just run your race." ... Joel Osteen

"Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement. –W. Clement Stone"


"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength..." ... Nehemiah 8:10


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And coupons.com brought out new coupons yesterday, though not as many good ones as usual. Find them here.

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Correction Done Wrong vs. Done Right

 "... act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God."   ... Micah 6:8

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A heavier post, ok. But part of my calling is to help people find lasting peace, to know the joy which brings dancing--and this, below, is something which can destroy all that.

Really, it's simple.

When it comes to correcting Christians who've gone wrong, God said it should be done this way:

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."   ... From Matthew 18

And---

"... if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ... Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother." Galations 6:1 , 2 Thessalonians 3:15

Oh, how far we have wandered from this.

Wandered into a world where clueless Christian ladies sit with coffee around tables and complain about "that pastor of that big church who is doing ____ all wrong and if I was a pastor I would do ____ instead." Forgetting we see in part, only understand in part.

And a world where Christian bloggers and Facebook (and message board) folks hear an Internet story--so it must be true!--about an evangelist or teacher and write 'so to warn their readers', not realizing they've just spread gossip instead of truth. 

People criticizing, by name(!), pastors they've never met (so there is no "between you and him alone," only a disregard of those who God has placed for correction around him.). Judging evangelists who hand up thousands of souls to God each year and pastors pouring out their hearts to save and grow-up that which was lost. Preachers and sharers of the Word, God's kids of whom He anoints and loves with His whole heart.

There is no lasting peace and joy and dancing for those who spread what feels holy, but is only gossip, an awful price paid, for by our words we will be justified ... and by our words we'll be condemned.  (Matthew 12:37)

But oh, to show mercy! To give others room to grow and to allow our own weaknesses to keep us wisely quiet. To pray and love and bleed inside rather than slice others up with our tongues, slicing our own future growth and freedom, as well.... and then wandering in dark, silent valleys, wondering what went wrong and why faith doesn't seem to work, to set us free, as it once did.


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"For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment."   ... James 2:13

"How can you think of saying, 'Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye."   ... Luke 6:42

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."   ... Ephesians 4:29

"Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm."   ... Psalm 105:15