My Morning Dose of Conviction

Psalm 78:39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

Psalm 78 is a concise history of Israel. It rehearses the story of the Israelites as they left Egypt and traveled toward the promised land. During their journey, they complain over and over. They turn back on God over and over. Yet, over and over the Lord delivers them and provides for them.

You know, I've been catching myself complaining lately. I grumble and mumble, mostly under my breath, but it shows on my countenance that I am not content! I was just smitten by the Holy Spirit about it yesterday. Now, today, I read about the children of Israel and how they griped - and I didn't read it in Exodus, oh no! I read it in Psalms! I think the Lord is trying to tell me something. And it is this: stop complaining. I need to just take God at His Word with confidence that He will keep His promises! I know He will, I've seen Him do it over and over! So, this is not a stretch for me to believe. In fact, it should be automatic. But, I am just flesh. I fail. I often make the same mistakes over and over. I grow weary of being in this trial....when will it end?! When I feel panicky, I must turn to God, He will help me. I must guard my mouth for it will not!

I'm so grateful for this verse! I'm so happy that God remembers I'm flesh, that my life is just a breeze that will not come again. So is this trial. Contrary to popular belief, it will not last forever. He will see me through it. I'm thankful for God's mercy and forgiveness!

Well, now that I've been thoroughly convicted of my sin, I think I'll go on with my day. But not in my flesh, in His strength.

Where to Take Broken Toys

Ps. 59:17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

The excitement and nerves surrounding this trip to Chicago has been a blessed diversion from the fact that daily, I'm in a battle. Problems, temptations and enemies are all around me. When this excitement is over, I will still have these battles to face. What will I do, then? Will I sit down and wallow in it? Will I mope? Pout? I hope not!

This verse today was an encouragement to me. It reminds me that GOD is my strength! HE is my defense and HE will take care of me. I don't run to him often enough, though. I first try to fix things myself, sometimes many times, before I hand the situation to the Lord as a child hands a broken toy to their parents. One thing about children, though, is that they don't try to fix a broken toy, they immediately bring it to their parents! I suppose they realize their lack of ability to repair it, so they take it to the person they love and trust the most, hoping they have the answer.

That's what I need to do. I need to immediately run to the Lord, the one whom I love and trust the most,  for help. I am too inadequate, I can't do anything without Him. I want to be a blessing to the ladies today, but guess what! I'm too inadequate! I'm just flesh and blood, sinful and not smart! I need the Lord to use me, to work through me, to fix me up so I can do this work.

What might it be for you today? Caring for a sick child or parent? More month at the end of the money? Illness yourself? Job loss? Criticism from those whom you though loved you? Loneliness? Whatever it is, take your "broken toy" to the Lord, and let Him fix it. Run to Him for strength and protection. He is only a prayer away.

Cover It Up

I always get a blessing from the chapter I read each day in Proverbs. I don't have time to write all of my thoughts each morning, but I often jot down a verse from Proverbs in my notebook that convicts me.

Today, it was Proverbs 17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter spearateth very friends. By sharing someone's sin with another person, we are hurting them, we are not showing love. It's something I need to watch! If I truly love someone, I'll cover up their transgression. 

When I was in high school, a very good friend of mine criticized me for something I wore, saying it was immodest. My intention was not to be immodest at all! I was very embarrassed and hurt at the way she shared her thoughts with me. She had assumed I'd intended to do wrongly. When I got home, I told my mother about what she had said. I knew my mom would care and understand, but she wouldn't hold it against my friend. I was planning on letting the whole thing go, I knew that it was just my friend's way- she was kind of critical. I did not, however, want to tell my Dad! He and I were very close, and I knew my friend's words would have hurt him. He might have said (as a knee-jerk reaction) "Don't spend any more time with her." Because of this, I wanted to cover up my friend's words; I wanted to hide them from my Dad. I loved her, and while her actions hurt me, I didn't want others to think poorly of her. I didn't want to stop being friends.

Why can't I be this way with everyone? I suppose it's because I don't love everyone the way I should. It's something I'm working on. By the way, I'm very grateful when others cover up mywrong-doing as well. It's a blessing to have friends and loved ones who see my faults, but love me anyway! I'm so thankful for my Saviour, who gave His very life to cover up my sin. Because of Him, when the Father looks at me, He sees righteousness! Praise the Lord!! 

He Came to Me

I jotted down several thoughts from my reading today. Luke was a blessing, especially reading about the blind man who cried out "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!".(Luke 17:35-43) Others tried to shush him, but "he cried so much the more". He knew this could be his only chance for healing, he didn't care if he made a fool of himself, all that mattered was getting Jesus' to look his way, to come to him. The blind man was unable to go to Jesus - where exactly was He? But Jesus could come to him, and He did! I'm so thankful that Jesus heard me cry out to Him for salvation on June 12, 1993. He came to me, because I could not see where he was. I'm so glad He changed me - He opened my eyes - and I've never been the same.

I'm Thankful for what I Don't Have!

In Genesis 20, we read the story of Abraham jouneying to Gerar. There, for some reason, he told Abimelech, the king of Gerar, that Sarah was his sister. (Which, she was his half-sister, but more importantly, she was his wife!) Abimelech made plans to take Sarah for himself, thinking she was unattached. God intervened before that could happen. God told Abimelech in a dream that Sarah was taken, thus sparing Abimelech from sinning and sparing Abraham the consequences of that sin as well. Even though, Abraham sort of deserved it, since he did lie and all. God took care of Abraham, even though Abraham had sinned!

I often make mistakes. I say things I shouldn't, or I think things I shouldn't, or I make bad choices. Often, I immediately feel pricked in my heart for my wrong doing. I ask the Lord to forgive me, but I don't ask that he erase the penalty for my wrong doing. How can I? I made the mistake, I deserve the punishment. Today, as I read this portion of scripture, I wondered how often the Lord has not just forgiven me for sin, but spared me the consequences of my wrong action? Probably more than I could count! Since He doesn't speak to folks through dreams anymore, I'm not aware of how often He has extended mercy to me by preventing things from happening. We know what does happen - the blessings He sends us - because we see them. But I have no idea what hasn't happened but should've. 

I'm so thankful for God's mercy. I'm thankful for things He hasn't given me.