by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
An election year is always a prime soup of opinions. Everybody
has one. Political arguments, polls, speeches, and spin can stir the pot with a
lot of spice, some more fiery than others.
Heated conversation can be found in a host of places from
restaurants, stores, and sadly even church.
Even when we think we are not affected a mood change can be a key we are letting coals of anger or depression grow in our emotions.
by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
An assassination attempt on our former president, Donald
Trump, ended up in victory for him and our country. Although he was hurt his
life was spared.
I believe this was divine intervention of protection on him.
We may ask, “How and why did this happen?”
by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
Are you an empty nester? Has your life changed since adult children have flown the coop?
You may be rejoicing that this time gives you more freedom
and space. Or you may lament the silence in the house that no longer rings with
video game sound effects or the never ending question, “What do we have to
eat?”
Edie Melson’s newest book in her soul care series, Soul Care When the Nest is Empty, confronts the emotions and circumstances that
can afflict us when we no longer have our kids at home. You can find a cure for
the empty nest syndrome. (click to share on X)
Even if your heart doesn’t have that desolate feeling, this
book can bring to light some emotions you may not have recognized. Edie
combines devotions and prayers with simple creative exercises that are fun and
relatable.
You don’t need to be an artist or professional photographer
to complete these. Doodles, drawing, pictures, stickers, and coloring
stimulates different parts of our brains. We can find healing, rest, and
relaxation we didn’t realize we needed when we take the time to stop and let go
of burdens.
Soul Care When the Nest is Empty is the fourth book
in the soul care series. Others include Soul Care When You are Weary, Soul
Care for Writers, and Soul Care When You are Grieving.
I recommend all these books. They are short, easy to read,
but inspirational and thought-provoking.
You can find more about Edie at her website, www.ediemelson.com.
Join the conversation and share your thoughts about living
in an empty nest.
Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay
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by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
Some theologians have declared that American resistance to
British rule was unscriptural and that the founding fathers acted in
disobedience to the Bible by fighting. However, by doing so they are using
selective reasoning and taking Scripture out of context to support their views.
Over the centuries, the British monarchy became a
self-appointed god. James I introduced the Divine Right of Kings which states
that kings stand in the place of God, representing Him to the people. Complete Submission and Non-Resistance to
Authority states that kings have an allegedly divine position and are not to be
resisted ever for any reason. This principle was carried out to the point of
torture and murder of those who stood for biblical rights according to Scripture.
The Bible teaches us in many places to obey civil laws
except when those laws resist God’s Word. When the Israelites were under the
rule of heathen nations, God raised up judges and prophets such as Gideon,
Samson, and Deborah to fight against lawlessness and free his people so they
could worship Him again.
Peter and John were arrested for breaking the religious laws.
But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We
ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29 NKJV)
Paul was imprisoned numerous times for preaching the gospel
despite the religious laws. God’s laws supersedes those of mankind.
Our forefathers followed these biblical examples to stand
against an abuse of power by a man who ruled as a god. Because of these brave
men (and women too), we now have the right to worship God. (Although some laws
passed in the last few years seek to inhibit that ability).
Soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guard personnel fight battles all over the
world while we rest safely in our homes.
Jesus suffered in ways we can’t comprehend to release us
from the debt of sin.
Freedom is not free for those who pay the price to release
others from bondage. But it is free for those who enjoy the benefits.
Our military paid the price for our political freedom. Jesus
paid the price for our spiritual freedom.
Christ gave us the right to use His authority and live in
His identity because He wiped away the debt of sin for us.
America is a free nation today because of the men who opposed
a king who ruled in the place of God. They stood on biblical principles and
founded our country with godly wisdom.
Happy Independence Day! God bless America and may she
continue to be a beacon of freedom and hope to the world.
Join the conversation and share your thoughts.
by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
The lights are out. The house is quiet.
Yet sleep evades us.
The mind wanders and finds things we hadn’t even thought
about for years or invents possibilities that haven’t happened yet.
There are some physical things we can do that will relax our
bodies such as limit screen time, avoid foods that disagree with our stomachs, and
stay away from violent movies and TV shows that raise emotional responses.
But the minute the room is dark and the TV is off, even if all these physical requirements are followed, thoughts of disaster still race through the space of our brains like a rocket on a mission to the moon.
by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
Our Bible study is a never-ending adventure with God. We
need His Word in our souls more than our bodies need food.
Yet we do sometimes stray away from feeding on His abundant
harvest. This can bring us into soulish malnutrition.
We may wonder why anger flames up so quickly.
Where did the fear come from that gnaws at our minds?
by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
How much more
does our heavenly Father desire what is best for us? He doesn’t want the enemy
of our souls to grasp us with his talons of evil works.
Paul’s
instructions to the church in Ephesus told them not to grieve the Holy Spirit.
And
do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption.
(Ephesians 4:30 NIV)
All sin
grieves the Holy Spirit. We will focus on 6 behaviors that can cause pain to
the Spirit of God found in the book of Ephesians.
1. Negative Speech
Do
not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful
for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who
listen. (Ephesians
4:29)
The Israelites
complained about everything while they were in the wilderness.
The same
heart-breaking attitude can be reflected in our words if we don’t keep a watch
over our mouths.
2. Uncontrolled Emotions
All these words
sound like the same emotion, but they are different in subtle ways.
Bitterness is a
root formed by unforgiveness that can produce other sins.
Wrath is
indignation that can rise gradually and then subside. These are feelings that
come and go due to thoughts and exposure to actions of others.
Anger rises
when we abhor injustice. This feeling can be used righteously as in Jesus’
cleansing of the temple. But we must guard ourselves that we don’t use anger in
a vengeful way when we feel that we have personally been wronged (Ephesians
4:26).
Clamor is a
deep crying or wail in distress, like self-pity.
Malice is the
destruction of a person’s character through slander or to blaspheme and give no
respect to God.
We can all be
guilty of these emotions at times, and we know how destructive they can be to
our lives.
Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. (Ephesians 4:25 NIV)
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. (Ephesians 5:6)
Jesus warned about wolves in sheep’s clothing coming in with false words (Matthew 7:15). The Galatians swallowed the lie that they also needed to obey the Law of Moses along with belief in Christ to be saved (Galatians 5:4).
Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. (Ephesians 4:28)
Robbery is not part of the lifestyle of Christians. We don’t hold up banks or stores and ride off into the sunset with the loot. But the size or value of an item is not what determines theft. Even if we didn’t intentionally take money or products, keeping incorrect change, or not returning an item a clerk mistakenly places in our bag is defrauding the store.
Cheating on taxes or falsifying business documents could also fall under the category of lying.
These are small indiscretions, and these behaviors may seem insignificant. But they do matter. God sees all, and He is saddened when we don’t reflect His character.
Do not get drunk on wine,
which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)
The debate about Christians drinking alcohol will probably continue until Jesus comes back. But the Scripture is clear about drunkenness. This is another problem Paul addressed in several places due to the background the new Christians converted from.
The same principle can apply to alcohol as to the eating of food outlined in Romans chapter 14. We are not to judge, but we are also told not to be a stumbling block to another person’s faith (Romans 14:13). We should consider how all activities and attitudes we engage in can be interpreted by others.
Live in the
Fruit of the Spirit
We are forgiven
for all these soul wanderings, but that doesn’t give us a free pass for
committing any fleshly act. Living in the fruit of the Spirit will
keep us sensitive to God's voice and will empower us against any temptations.
Rather than
grieving the Spirit, we can praise and thank Him.
Join the conversation and share your thoughts.
Forgiveness doesn't give us a free pass for committing any fleshly act. Living in the fruit of the Spirit will keep us sensitive to God's voice and empower us against any temptations. (share on X)null
This post is an excerpt from an article that appeared on Crosswalk.com.
by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
God warned Adam.
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2:15-16 NKJV)
by Katherine Pasour @katherinepasour
When I first went away to college (many years ago), I discovered the card game of bridge. A group of students hung out in the student center, playing bridge at every opportunity. Unfortunately for me, I played a little too often, sometimes missing class to do so.
I was distracted by my enjoyment of being with friends, playing cards and socializing, and I took my focus off my goal—to do well in college.
I learned a valuable lesson—not just about college but about life.
There are even more distractions now—cell phones, social media, gaming, and the plethora of activities available through technology.
Whatever task, opportunity, or job that we're engaged in--we need to give it our all. Do our best. Stay focused. Keep our eye on the goal and make the commitment to do what must be done to complete the goal.
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So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)
You’ve had goals all your life and this new journey (college) is no exception. One of your goals is to do your best in school. Otherwise you will be wasting your time and your parents’ (or someone’s money). The college/university experience should be enjoyable but fun isn’t first priority.
When you throw a ball or run a race, it’s important to keep your eye on the target—to know what the goal is—to have your focus on your plan for success. Goals are important at any stage of life—from childhood through retirement and beyond. Some examples for a college student:
These are just some examples—your list may vary. But, as the Apostle Paul writes, the unseen goals are of utmost importance. Graduation may seem far away for a freshman, but those four years pass very quickly. Stay focused on the distant goals, too.
Your most important task will be to maintain your relationship with your heavenly Father. Read your Bible. Join a faith based campus group. Does your college have campus worship services? Can you travel home to church or find one near campus? Develop friendships that share your faith.
Prayer: My most important goal is keeping my eyes on you, my Father. I pray for guidance in all decisions and that I may find friends in my faith.
From Katherine: I hope you will join me in prayer for our graduates. It’s a tough world out there!
Purchase link for Stay the Course https://mybook.to/QQq3h
Dr. Katherine Pasour is a retired college professor,
an author, and a speaker. During more than four decades of teaching, greater
than half at the college level, Katherine has taught and mentored thousands of
students.
Katherine has degrees in health and physical
education and religion, and a PhD in education. She has taught health and
physical education to children, wellness to young adults, general education
courses, and research classes for honors students, and she’s prepared students
to be teachers.
An outdoor girl at heart, Katherine enjoys her farm
animals, gardening, and hiking. Although pulling weeds or spreading mulch in
her flowers aren’t her favorite hobbies, she finds these outdoor tasks are
great stress relievers, especially in the spring when the fruits of her labor
display their glorious blossoms.
Top Image by Alexandr Borecký from Pixabay
Jesus told His disciples, “If
anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross
daily, and follow Me. (Luke 9:23 NKJV)
Does this mean we are to carry a cross around? (Although
there is a man who did this as a ministry years ago.)
I have heard some people express that certain pains or
tragedies was their cross to bear. But Jesus wasn’t talking about life’s
circumstances being a cross that was put upon us.
Jesus died on a cross in a selfless sacrifice to save
sinners. He put aside His own needs and wants for the good of the whole world.
Innocence killed because of the guilt of others.
His example is for us to deny ourselves for the good of
others too.
Dying to self is taking up our cross and following Him. When
we take up our cross, we identify with what Christ did. We humble ourselves to
accept the cost that comes with being a disciple.
Denying ourselves doesn’t mean we don’t obtain some of the
things we want. Psalm 37:4 tells us, Delight
yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Dying to self can’t be attained by behavior
modification. Denying self means
crucifying the fleshly way of thinking. To put away selfish behavior, angry
responses, unforgiveness, and bitterness.
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit,
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each
of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of
others. (Philippians 2:3-4 NKJV)
Our soulish realm is where we fail because our minds get in
the way.
Only when we realize how much God loves us will we be able
to let the Spirit of God shine through. Our behavior will exhibit the Holy
Spirit’s fruit to other people (1 John 4:19).
Spiritual characteristics flow through the soul to create
action. If our soul is contaminated with doubt and hurt, God’s spirit doesn’t
shine. He is still there but His fruit is hidden.
When I was a child, my grandparents lived in a house out in
the country that had a well. A bucket was tied to a rope on a post at the top
and if you wanted water, you had to lower the bucket, scoop the water, then haul
the bucket back to the surface.
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of
his heart will flow rivers of living water. (John
7:38)
The same is true with our inner being. We lower the bucket
by digging into the Word and scooping that living water into our minds to drink
so we can exhibit the gift that has already been given to us. The water in my
grandparent’s well was always there, but if we wanted some, a person had to
lower the bucket and get it.
There are many times I have let the flesh fly and the fruit
remained in the bowl of my spirit (just ask my husband). But I am learning and
as I study and pray, I am reminded more often of how the response that wants to
come out is not one that would be godly actions.
Dying to self is not a one-time event. This action
develops through daily fellowship with our Father. Abiding in the vine of
Christ. This is where the strength comes from to control the emotional
responses our flesh wants to express.
And of course, Jesus is the ultimate example. His entire
ministry focused on fulfilling God’s will and ministering to people at the
expense of His own comfort and safety. When dying on the cross, He still
thought of others.
He asked God to forgive those who stood at the foot of the
cross and mocked Him (Luke 23:34). He
thought of His mother and gave her care over to John (Luke 19:26-27).
Our actions and words will be dominated by whatever we
focus on. When our priority is on God and not ourselves, His character will
come out. This isn’t supposed to be something that takes effort because our
efforts can’t make anything happen. He flows when we open the gate.
What did Jesus mean when He said to deny ourselves? Let the
Holy Spirit have control.
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has
been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5)
Join the conversation and share your thoughts about what
denying self means to you.
TWEETABLES
What did Jesus mean when He told us to deny ourselves?(click to tweet)
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
Intrigue, suspense, deception, rape, betrayal…and murder.
Does this sound like the scene from a crime documentary?
Would you believe a biblical cliffhanger?
No rain for three years.
The woman looked out the door at the cloudless sky and back
at the hard, dry ground. No one could remember the last time a stalk of wheat had
grown out of the soil. A spear of hopelessness stabbed her soul. She wasn’t so
concerned about herself, but she didn’t want to watch her child die of
starvation. Her husband perished, now so did the food.
How could she trust God’s faithfulness? Her emotions were
as dry as the ground outside.
The woman reached toward the bin of flour. Only a handful
left, and just enough oil to make a paste. One more meal and death would win.
All she knew to do was what she did every day. She went
outside and picked up sticks for a fire.
As she did so, a shadow passed between her and the ground.
She looked up and saw a stranger.
“Bring me some water,” he said.
She stared at him for a moment. Didn’t this man know how
scarce water was? No rain in ages made water more valuable than gold. But
something within her heart urged her on.
She walked toward her house for a cup and heard the man’s
voice ask for more. “Also bring me some bread.” Now he’s done it. Not even
enough for herself and her son and this man wants to take it.
Then she remembered the message she received from Yahweh.
He had told her to feed someone that would be directed to her (1 Kings 17:9).
Would this man be the provision in the middle of this
famine?
“I don’t have bread, only some oil and flour, barely enough
for me and my son. After that, we’ll die because there is no more.”
Elijah the prophet answered her, “Do not fear, make me a
cake first and then there will be some for you and your son. The flour and oil
will not run out until the Lord sends rain on the earth.”
So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and
she and he and her household ate for many days (1 Kings 17:15 NKJV).
The story of the widow of Zarephath reminds me of the hymn, “Great
is Thy Faithfulness.”
The world is dark. When all we focus on are the tragedies
and evil this planet produces, our souls can fall away from hope (Proverbs
13:12). This widow faced a famine so severe, without supernatural intervention
she and her son would die.
But the King of kings is full of light and hope.
So why do we see the famine instead of the provision as the
widow woman did at first?
Because we look elsewhere. The situations we face are
exalted above the faithfulness of our Father. She saw the dry ground and
the empty bin. We feel dry, hopeless hearts and empty souls because of life’s
pain and lack.
We know God is big, but we see His greatness as out in the
vast beyond instead of here and now with us.
As the song says, “As thou hast been thou forever will be.”
He was before all else began and it is his power that holds
everything together (Colossians 1:17 TLB).
I will worship toward your holy temple, and praise Your name for
Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all
Your name.
(Psalm 138:2 NKJV).
God’s Son shines out with God’s glory, and all that God’s Son is
and does marks him as God. He regulates the universe by the power of his
command
(Hebrews 1:3 TLB).
Psalm 138 says His Word is above His name. God cannot go
against His word or the universe would explode. If the faithfulness of God’s
power holds the universe together, why can’t we trust Him to hold us together?
The widow of Zarephath listened to God’s words through
Elijah. She stopped seeing the famine and saw the power of provision.
We can follow her example as we:
Read portions of scripture that tell us how powerful God
is. Genesis chapters one and two show us the power of creation; Revelation
chapter one depicts the majesty of the risen Christ.
Listen to praise music. This sets the tone for
worship and puts our mind on God.
Rehearse the ways He has been faithful in the past. Perspective
changes to the promises of God instead of the limitations in our minds.
Above all, the Savior is faithful to forgive.
The Father is devoted to us in everyday life. His
faithfulness does not depend upon our emotions.
How do you show your trust in God in the middle of life's famines?
Share your thoughts.
Recently an author I love and respect released a new book, Graceful Influence, Making a Lasting Impact through Lessons from the Women of the Bible.
How is this book different from others that highlight the
lives of biblical women?
The contrasts and comparison Lori Roeleveld shares reveal
parts of these women’s lives we may have never thought about. We may have even
forgotten some of these characters existed because their roles in the
historical account is minor, but the impact they left deeply affected others.
Consider the impact the woman who anointed Jesus with costly
oil made, not only to Jesus, but also to those around her as you read this
excerpt from Graceful Influence. The bold highlights are my emphasis.
Simon was hosting a dinner, and Jesus and His disciples
were present with him there in Bethany. It was just before Passover, and soon
swelling crowds would congest the streets of nearby Jerusalem. The room buzzed
with guests reclining at the table. People of fine reputation served the meal.
Everyone’s focus was on the honored guest, the rabbi from Galilee. One woman
walked past them all, guests and servers, her attention entirely on Jesus. When
she reached Him, she broke open an alabaster flask of costly, pure nard. Nard
(or spikenard) is an oil derived from a plant in the honeysuckle family. It’s
amber colored, with a musky, woodsy scent. The contents of this woman’s flask
were aromatic and of great worth, the equivalent of almost a year’s wages,
perhaps representing her dowry or her life’s savings.
Nard is mentioned in the Song of Solomon. The bride says,
“While the king was on his couch, my nard gave forth its fragrance” (Song of
Solomon 1:12). Pretty romantic imagery.
Later, the bridegroom lavishly describes the scents of
nard and saffron which emanated from his bride (Song of Solomon 4:11–14).
The love this woman demonstrated at Simon’s feast was
a costly risk, economically and socially, but she concentrated on the only One
in the room who mattered to her. Jesus who forgives sins. Jesus who
heals diseases. Jesus who announces the kingdom of God. She probably wasn’t
trying to be significant but was simply expressing her devotion to Jesus.
This was a wildly intimate moment that created
discomfort in Simon and the guests as she anointed Jesus’s head with oil. It’s
fair to imagine they were familiar with the poetry of Solomon’s love story. Did
the references spring to mind, increasing their unease?
The disciples challenged the woman. “Why this waste?”
(Matthew 26:8). These men appreciated the value of the oil. They knew of
Jesus’s love for the disadvantaged, so they scolded her. “This could have been
sold for a large sum and given to the poor” (v. 9).
Jesus scolded them back. Of course, care for the poor.
Care for the poor whenever you like. They will always be with you. But, He
explained, He would not always be with them. This woman had, in her devotion,
anointed Him for His burial. “Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is
proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of
her” (v. 13).
Her demonstration of love not only ministered to Jesus
but also unintentionally exposed the hearts of others. She didn’t
preach a sermon. She simply acted on her love without concern about who was
watching, and her love became a searchlight that revealed the shadows lurking
in their hearts.
The actual reach of our witness is, like hers, often
hidden from our sight. For while some are called to global
ministries, many more of us are called to a more local influence. Like the
Israelites rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall in Nehemiah’s day, we too are asked to
guard and build our own small section of the “gospel wall” in God’s kingdom. We
are divinely appointed to humble days, small scopes, and the mystery of God at
work in the ordinary.
In God’s kingdom, it’s not only those who accomplish
“great things” that have a powerful influence for Christ. It is also
those who contribute their widow’s mite of devotion, who open their single
alabaster jar out of love for Jesus, teaching children, visiting the lonely,
building sets for Christmas plays, planting trees, or generously supporting
ministries to people they may never meet on earth.
What we see about having a graceful influence from the
woman with the alabaster jar is fourfold.
First, graceful influence begins with forgetting
ourselves and focusing on Jesus. The devoted woman risked the
disapproval and rejection of those gathered to demonstrate her love for Jesus.
Second, influence for God isn’t limited by gender.
From the opening of Scripture to the close, God demonstrates that men and women
have equal opportunity. Both can sin in ways that have lasting
negative effects. And both have equal opportunity for redemption in Christ and
inclusion in the work of proclaiming His kingdom until He comes. The Holy
Spirit is the power behind our lives, and He is not limited by anything about
us— not our ethnicity, economic status, appearance, gender, worldly status, or
age.
Third, graceful influence involves doing what we can
do for Him, not what we can’t. This woman offered Jesus what she
had. She probably wasn’t trying to do something that would become a story told
to every generation to come. She just expressed love the way
she knew how to express it, pouring out what she valued most onto the One she
valued above all. We all have unique gifts and ways of expressing ourselves.
This variety was God’s design so we can lean into Him in love.
Finally, it’s God who determines the scope of our
influence. No one in that room appeared terribly impressed with what this woman
had done. In fact, because her giving illuminated the selfishness of their
lives, they probably wished she’d kept her gift to herself. I’m guessing they
didn’t want this story recorded.
Jesus is the one who determined this would be a story
told through the generations. He is also the one who determines the impact of
our lives, our stories. When Jesus is central, our ministry can be as
far-reaching as a powerful fragrance released from its broken container.
We are, after all, the aroma of Christ. “But thanks be to
God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us
spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma
of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are
perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance
from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Corinthians 2:14–16)
In life, as in that room, our love poured out for
Jesus will be a sweet aroma to those open to Jesus’s love, but an unpleasant
odor to those resisting the repentance to which He calls us. As our
lives, out of love for Jesus, are broken and poured out for Him, we become the
precious nard that is the aroma of Christ.
The lasting effect of this aroma will be life for all who
are being saved.
Lori ends each chapter with a biblical challenge of
Scriptures and an application for the battles we face, but win, through Christ.
I found so much encouragement from reading Graceful
Influence, and I think you will too. This book is available to order now.
Once you read the book, please do the author a favor and leave a review on
Amazon. You can find out more about Lori at her website https://loriroeleveld.com/
Join the conversation and share your thoughts.
TWEETABLE
Image by bess.hamiti@gmail.com from Pixabay
“I do not know Him!”
Peter’s words of denial echoed
across the High Priest’s courtyard into Jesus’ ears. The one who boldly
proclaimed only hours before that he would go to prison or die with Jesus now
shriveled with panic before a servant girl.
The compassion in the Savior’s eyes when He turned and looked at Peter shattered this disciple’s wall of defensive fear. Remorse and embarrassment moved him to run away and weep bitter tears.
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by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
Holiness is
viewed by the world around us as an undesirable trait.
The reason for
this is because they don’t understand what holiness means. To unbelievers,
holiness means being a boring, never-doing-anything-fun type of person.
According to
Strong’s #H6944 holiness means, hallowed, consecrated, dedicated.[i]
Ascribe to
Yahweh the glory due His name; worship Yahweh in the splendor of His holiness. (Psalm 29:2 HCSB)
One of the dictionary definitions of holy is having a spiritually pure quality.
 |
| Happy Valentine's Day From the One Who Loves You Most |
by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
Chocolate, roses, fancy dinners, and stuffed animals are the
primary gifts given for Valentine’s Day. These are physical reminders of
affectionate feelings for another person. But after the day is over, do we
revert back to old ways and forget the loving things said and done because of a
special holiday?
Our tokens of love are emotional. Feelings aren’t wrong, but we can’t depend on them to guide our lives. Sometimes we don’t feel like being loving, we would rather be grumpy or rude.
But real love does the action without the feeling.
by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
In the Garden of Gethsemane, the chief priests
and Pharisees came to arrest Jesus and brought a crowd with them. The King
James Version uses the word band. Other versions state multitude or detachment.
But the word is translated from the Latin speira (Strong’s 4686) and
denotes a Roman military cohort of 600 men. This shows what a threat Jesus
was to the religious establishment.
by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
The legend of Groundhog Day tells us if this furry little creature
comes out of hibernation and sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of
winter. No shadow means an early spring. Spring brings to mind new life as
trees and flowers bloom and animals give birth to young. We hope for relief
from the bitterness of winter. But this observance is merely tradition. How
many times is the groundhog wrong? His shadow doesn’t represent the truth of the
season’s weather.
Groundhog Day Can Teach Us Not To Rely On Shadows For Truth.
by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta
The Old Testament provides us with multitudes of examples of
Israel’s failures to obey God. Despite warnings from prophets, the people
refused to turn away from false gods. When the leaders fell into sin, most of
the population followed.
Here are 3 lessons we can learn from Israel’s kings. If we
will read their history with open eyes we can learn from their examples and
avoid the same mistakes they made.
1. Disobedience Has a Price.
Now all these things happened to them as examples, and
they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come
(1 Corinthians 10:11 NKJV)
Saul took it upon himself to offer a sacrifice that only the
priests were allowed to do. He decided what to do rather than listening to the
Lord. Because of this disobedience the kingdom was torn away from his family
and given to another.
David’s sin with Bathsheba is recorded in 2 Samuel chapter
11. He repented and God forgave him, but he paid a heavy price. The child Bathsheba
bore died, the sword never left David’s house, and his children lived in
turmoil. One of his sons raped a daughter of David and his son Absalom
attempted a coup against his father’s kingdom. But because of David’s repentant
heart, God made a promise that David’s descendant would always be on the
throne.
Solomon started out right. He was the wisest man who ever
lived. He penned hundreds of proverbs and songs and his wisdom was known
throughout the world. Yet because of his marriage to multiple women from
heathen countries, his heart was turned away from God and toward the idols of
his wives (which God forbade His people to do for this reason). God preserved
one tribe because of his promise to David but the remaining tribes were torn
from Solomon’s line and after his death given to his servant Jeroboam.
And the most famous evil king of Israel was Ahab. He brought
the worship of Baal to Israel after he married Jezebel. He wouldn’t listen to the
prophet Elijah’s warnings. He died in battle and the dogs licked his blood from
the chariot where he fell.
2. Advice From Ungodly People Can Draw Us Away From God.
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Solomon’s son Rehoboam reigned in Judah after his father’s
death. He rejected the counsel of the elders who had advised Solomon and
instead he listened to his friends. He fell to peer pressure.
Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord but later
relied on the king of Syria instead of the Lord. He was diseased in his feet
the rest of his life.
Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, walked in the ways of David but he
did not take away the high places of false worship. He later allied himself
with the evil king of Israel, Ahaziah, to make ships to go to Tarshish. Because of this the ships they made were
wrecked.
When Joash became king of Judah he did what was right in the
eyes of the Lord. Yet when Jehoiada the priest died, Joash listened to the
leaders of Judah and they bowed down to worship wooden idols. After years of
the kindness of Jehoiada into Joash’s life, Joash still killed that prophet’s
son. Because of this act, judgment was executed against Joash and his own
servants conspired against him and killed him.
3. A Divided Heart Will Make Us Unstable.
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and
fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. (Ephesians 4:14-15
AKJV)
In 2 Kings 10 Jehu destroyed the worshippers of Baal yet in
verse 31 it says, But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God
of Israel with all his heart; for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam,
who had made Israel sin.
Jehu destroyed the elements of Baal but did not totally
dedicate himself to the Lord. He had a divided heart and a divided heart will
make us unstable in all our ways (James 1:8).
We live under a new covenant and we are not judged for sin
the way these Old Testament kings were. But there is still a consequence to sin
and the lessons the lives of these kings left behind can show us what happens
when we abandon God and go our own way.
We can be thankful for God’s mercy and forgiveness, but we
can spare ourselves so much pain and heartache if we will follow His ways to
begin with.
What have you observed about the lives of these kings?
Share your thoughts.
Image by Jukka Niittymaa from Pixabay
