Tag Archives: daily walk

We Can Do Better

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Proverbs 7-12

Reading these proverbs today served to remind me how far removed our present society is from wisdom and righteousness. Whether it’s the false gospel being preached in some churches, the liberal left’s platform, the anti-Christ “woke” agenda, the LGBTQ abomination, the evil transgenderism attack on innocent children, we live in a world controlled by Satan.

I know some will say God’s in control. But I’m not sure we understand what that means.

Often in Scripture we see where God, in His sovereignty, gave up His control when men’s heart turned to evil. Make no mistake about it, it’s NOT God’s will that any child or adult, mutilate his or her body to pretend to change genders. It is NOT God’s will that there is rioting, murder, hatred, in our government, in our streets, and in our homes. Those things happen when we step OUTSIDE of God’s will.

That is the sovereignty of God. It offends me, and I believe it offends God when well-meaning Christians say God’s will will always be done in the world. Look around. Is this the God you know?

If God’s will is always done, then it was kind of ridiculous for Jesus to teach us to pray: “Thy will be done.” How unnecessary for Him to pray in the garden, “Thy will be done.” If for no other reason, Jesus’ prayers help me understand that God’s will isn’t a given.

Do we want God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven? Then we need to CHOOSE to obey Him. It’s our disobedience that results in Him giving us over to our sinful nature. That is a repeated truth in His Word.

Read Proverbs. Hear God explain over and over what wisdom is and where it comes from. Let Him tell you about righteousness and the consequences of rejecting righteousness. Choose wisdom. Choose obedience. Choose God’s will, and lovingly yet firmly stand up against sin that is so obviously controlling our society.

Your voice matters. Do you still think abortion is a matter of a woman’s control over her body? Do you still shop at Target? Do you still pay for Disney+, vacation at Disney World? Do you drink Bud Lite and buy Ford? Why?

Why participate in their blatant sin against God? Does that sound wise according to Scripture?

Come on, Church. We can do better. THAT’S God’s will.

A Blank Check

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Psalm 119; 1 Kings 2-3

I’m glad these chapters were bundled together in my reading plan today. We hear God give Solomon a blank check. He could ask for anything, and God would give it. Anything!

How would you fill out that blank check? What would you ask for? Most of our minds would probably go to that ocean-front home, the presidency of the US, that Ferrari we’ve dreamt about, or that bank account that rivals Elon Musk’s. Others might ask for a long healthy life, or the love of that elusive high school crush. If you could have anything at all, what would it be?

How many said, “wisdom?” Anybody?

We know that is exactly what Solomon asked God for. Discernment. The ability to be a wise leader. Sorry, but I doubt that would have made my top five things I’d ask for if I had the chance to fill in that blank check with anything I wanted.

That is, until I stopped to think about it. Because the truth is I DO want wisdom and discernment. I do want to know Truth and be able to share that with those who have distorted it. I do want to lead by example. I want these things more and more as our society continues to crumble right in front of me, and the eternal souls of the children in my life are being ambushed.

I believe, if I ask God, He will give me the wisdom I seek. But how will I receive that wisdom? Will He just zap me like He did Solomon? Maybe.

Or maybe He has already provided His wisdom, and all I have to do is cash it in.

Turn to Psalm 119. There is the answer. The key to having the wisdom of God is to love His Word like the psalmist did. Every one of the 176 verses that make up this psalm speaks to God’s Word, His law, His decrees, precepts and testimony. The psalmist loves God Word, longs for it, and lives it. That speaks to me today

Is my daily time reading the Bible just something I do, or is it my lifeline? Do I read it, then forget it? Or do I ingest it and allow it to feed and grow me? Do I spend more time reading things people have written ABOUT Scripture than I do reading Scripture for myself and allowing God to reveal His wisdom directly to me?

Do I love God’s Word and base my life on its Truth?

If I want the wisdom of God, I need only to open the pages that contain His own Words, and let God bless me with everything I need to know. I don’t need a blank check. I want to cash in the one that God already offers, payable to Connie in the amount of unlimited wisdom, signed by my Heavenly Father.

Living With The Enemy

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Psalm 109

David wanted his enemies crushed with no mercy. I’m comfortable with my enemies right in my own home. David wanted his enemies banished. I tolerate mine. David wanted everyone to look on his enemies with horror. I’m silent when my enemies are celebrated.

David’s enemies were people. My enemies are spiritual, the unseen soldiers of Satan’s army. Oh, that I… that we… all hated our enemy with as much passion as David hated his, if we’d stand up against evil with the same boldness as David had.

Have we become so comfortable living with the enemy that we no longer fear him? Are we more concerned about offending Satan than we are of offending God? Do we put family first, comfort first, friendships and relationships first, reputation first, or is God truly the most important thing in our lives?

The enemy has a strong foothold in our society today. His voice is louder, his power gaining strength. Do we just shrug our shoulders and let him be because we are so used to living with the enemy?

Make It Count

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Psalms 61-62

In this evil world, it can be hard to hold on to truth, to morality, even common sense. You look at what’s happening and it’s hard to believe it will ever change for the better. Insanity’s voice is drowning out reality, and mental illness is not only celebrated, it is doing unspeakable things to children.

Those who are brave enough to stand up to the mob are being silenced and demonized. And it doesn’t seem like that is about to change any time soon.

Very often I find myself thinking like David:

“Take me away, Lord. Let me hide in the safety and security under the shelter of your wings. Appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over me. You are my rock, my fortress, I shall not be greatly shaken. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

It’s understandable that we who have a relationship with God through the blood of Jesus would long for Him to wrap us up in His strong arms and shield us from the evil running rampant. It’s scary out there. It’s no longer a battle with easily identifiable enemies.

But are we really going to just bury our faces in God’s shoulder? Are we going to put our hands over our ears and block out the lies by loudly singing praise songs that remind us how blessed we are, and that our destiny is heaven? I doubt we’d admit to thinking, “Well, I’ve got my ticket. You’re on your own,” but I wonder if our actions (or lack of) are saying it anyway.

I love my time in God’s Word every day. I open up the pages of Scripture, crawl up into His lap, and read His Words, hear His voice, allow Him to speak to me. I pray, pour my heart out, and know He hears me. I wait. I rest. I’m fed. I’m often hugged, sometimes stuck by His loving hand of discipline. I’m encouraged and convicted… but always loved as I snuggle closer to Him every day.

Yes, I love this one-on-one time with my Heavenly Father. But I’m not going to sit here all day with my Bible open in front of me. I have VBS to prepare for, a dentist appoint, pickleball later. I have phone calls to make and laundry to do. It’s called life.

And it’s a battle. Am I going to hide, or am I going to fight? Am I going to throw my hands up and say, “I’m done,” or am I going to be the Christian woman God is molding, the warrior He’s training during my precious time alone with Him this morning? I can speak up, live loud, be the light. Or I can be a tool of the enemy with my silence.

I want my time with God to count for something. He deserves that.

And our world needs that. In my life. And in your’s.

Choose Praise

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Psalms

So many psalms are about hardships, enemies and battles, unfair treatment and sickness. But what I find is that most of the time these same psalms have a word of praise, too.

Some remember what God has done in the past, and praise Him for His goodness. Some remember who God is and praise Him because He deserves it. Some praise God for His faithfulness, even if they don’t understand Him.

We may look at our world, the evil, the insanity, the danger, and pray to God that He will intervene, defeat Satan in our midst. I hope we are praying! But let’s not forget an important aspect of our prayers: praise!

Don’t wait until the storm is over, praise God in the rain. Don’t wait until evil is defeated, praise God in the battle. Don’t wait until your loved one is healed, or your wayward child is home, or you are recognized, appreciated, and treated fairly. Praise God today. Praise Him all day, tomorrow, every day. Let you relationship with God be adorned with praise.

We can focus on the negative or we can focus on the Lord and praise Him for who is He and what He is doing. You have a choice today. I pray you will choose praise.

Psalm 16

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These days it might be easy to be discouraged. It seems as though evil is out of control, and who knows where this is heading?

I read Psalm 14 and recognize the people David is talking about. Oh, that the salvation of our world would come out of Zion.

Then I remember… our salvation HAS come out of Zion. His name is Jesus. The problems we see in our world are the result of sin. The fool who says there is no God. A generation who has declared we are our own god. The blatant disregard for the Laws of God. And the rejection of the cross.

Psalm 16 reminds me that God is the answer. He alone is our refuge. Nothing good exists apart from Him. He holds our future and blesses those who call Him Lord.

It is God who gives counsel, who instructs, and upholds. He makes known the path of life, and in his presence is the fullness of joy. No matter what the enemy is doing, I know God lives… and I am His through the blood of His Son, Jesus.

Let this psalm encourage you today. Then, let it give you the courage to tell others, to live a life that reflects the joy you have in your salvation. It’s true we live in an evil age. But instead of sitting back and complaining about it, let’s share what we know is true so that others can share our joy.

What Can It Hurt?

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Joshua 1-4

Was Rahab’s lie a sin? After all, it saved the lives of the Jewish spies, didn’t it? Plus, she told the spies afterward that she believed in God. So, was her lie part of God’s plan? Is it ok to lie if it helps someone?

I am reminded we are reading the account after the fact. The Bible tells us what happened as a result of choices the people made. It is what it is. So if you are asking if Rahab’s lie was overlooked by God, caused by God, or if God condoned her sin because the end justifies the means the answer is…

NO!

Rahab’s lie was a sin. What it did was diminish God’s power to save. If she had told the truth, we would be reading a different account of how God worked to bring the children of Israel into the Promised Land. Who knows what amazing miracle we would be reading about had Rahab (and the spies) trusted God in that moment. And, as I think about that this morning, I wonder…

Rahab’s family was saved. But had she let God do His thing instead of taking matters into her own hands, would other citizens of Jericho been saved, too? We will never know this side of heaven.

There is no such thing as a little white lie. If it isn’t the truth, there is no third option. If it isn’t the truth, it’s a lie. No matter how you justify that lie in your mind.

Thankfully, God does not place immediate judgment on us when we sin. There wouldn’t be anyone still living on earth if He did. Rahab believed in God. She will be saved from the destruction of Jericho, and later she’ll be listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. But Rahab would have to deal with her sin of lying, because that sin sent Jesus to the cross.

So, who gets hurt when we sin? First of all we do, if we don’t repent of it. And maybe more importantly, Jesus does. As someone who has received His grace and mercy, that is something I never want to do. I don’t want my choices to ever cause Him pain.

The next time you are tempted to lie, consider your trust in God. Why do you feel the need to lie? Do you not think God can handle the situation? And if you lie, are you preventing God from doing a work in the people who hear you?

What can it hurt? A lot, I think.

Obedience Is Not The Most Important Thing

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Deuteronomy 5-7

God is speaking to His children, those who worship Him, to we who go to church, refrain from sinful behavior, and call ourselves Christians. What he said to the Israelites through Moses, He is saying to us in 2023.

And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of the people, which they have spoken unto thee; they have well said all that they have spoken. O that there were such an heart in them…” (6:28-29a)

Did you hear it? Did you detect a hint of sadness, of longing in His voice? If you go back to verse 27 you’ll know what God is referring to. The Jews had heard what God’s message through Moses was, they understood that they didn’t want to repeat the sins of their ancestors.

“Tell us everything God has said, Moses,” they declared. “We will hear it. And we will do it!”

God liked what He heard. He told Moses that the people had done well to make that declaration. But verse 29 breaks my heart as I hear the longing in His voice.

You see, God knew that their promises to obey Him didn’t go very deep, as sincere as they probably were at the time. It wasn’t a behavior change God longed for. It was a change of heart.

That reenforces the fact that religion is not what God demands. Of course obedience is important. But doing the right thing can be a sin if it’s done for the wrong reasons.

God longs for hearts so in love with Him that doing the right thing spills over, a natural outpouring of His love, done to make Him, not us, look good in the eyes of people around us. He wants children who obey Him out of fear of angering Him, children who would rather look into His eyes and see approval rather than disappointment.

Well done, good and faithful servant.

Are you determined to obey God? Then give Him your heart. Love the LORD with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, ALL your mind. I think you’ll be surprised how easily obedience is after that.

Because, although obedience is important, it’s not the most important thing.

Me

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Genesis 35-38

Reuben discovered his brother Joseph was missing. Joseph, the Golden Child, Dad’s favorite son wasn’t in the pit Reuben and the other brothers had dumped him in. Now, the boy was gone!

Had he somehow escaped and gone back to Dad to tell on them? It’s not like he hadn’t done that in the past. Had a wild beast gotten to him, dragged him away and killed him? Was he kidnapped by evil men who would abuse him? Reuben didn’t know. And he was visibly upset at the realization Joseph was gone.

I think we may have all experienced imagining the worse when something unknown happened. It’s understandable Reuben would be upset and worried, thinking about the “what if’s.”

But heres’ the kicker: Old Reuben wasn’t worried about Joseph! “What’s going to happen to ME?” he cried.”

Wow. Heartless!

Hold on before we get too judgmental here.

Someone is diagnosed with cancer. What am I going to do without her?

Friends are getting a divorce. Who are we going to hang out with now?

Oh, you might pity them for a second. But then your thoughts go to Me! Me! Me! Where’s the compassion?

This past Sunday, our SS class talked about the difference between pity and compassion. Pity is a feeling. Compassion is an action. I think God would have us save our pity if it isn’t followed with compassion.

The “I” is one of Satan’s favorite arrows to shoot at us. But I’m reminded God has told us to die to self every day. Crucify the “I.”

Let’s remember the world doesn’t revolve around “me.” Look around. Someone needs your compassion today. Make a call. Go to lunch. Write a note. Be a taxi or just sit and listen.

People are hurting. And it’s not about you! Be God’s hands, feet, and ears to someone who needs Him today.

Living As I Should

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Psalm 119

May this psalm be my prayer. And may these verses describe my life:

Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey His laws and search for Him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in His paths.

You have charged us to keep your commandments faithfully. Oh that my actions would consistently reflect your decree! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands.

As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me. (Verses 1-8, emphasis mine)