In Excess...

Proverbs 23 happened to be on my devotional journey this morning. As I was sitting again in the comforts of the deck, sun and swing I journied through its 35 verses. I was very comfortable until the thought of "excesses" hit me full in the mind and heart!
These are a few of the excesses that can actually kill. If you eat in access your health may get so bad you die...if you say too much a friend or foe may have you killed or you just may kill your good name. If you drink too much wine you may kill your finances or your body. If sex is your driving force you may drive yourself right into the grave.
My devotion time is my time with God so He was faithful to speak to me. I am having a few issues with my heart...the physical one...that requires me to loose all my weight. So do I struggle with an excess? Yes! So pray for me in this struggle and let me know if you are struggling with an excescs and I will pray for you too.
The picture of my dog...Charlie.

Personal stuff...

It is Monday morning and I am having a nice lazy morning. A cup of coffee in hand and headed to the back deck to enjoy the sun is not a bad way to start the week. I'm very thankful to have the day off!
I'm wondering what my life would have been like if I hadn't accepted Christ? And what if my husband had not become a minister of the gospel? There have been some difficult days...even difficult years...but everyone has hard times.
It is so easy to think of all the negatives. Yet, this morning I want to share with you the great things that have happened as a result of our lives given over to Christ.
I wish I had kept a list of all the people who have come to know the Lord as a result of our ministry...God has so we'll check in with Him one day. Many are finding their purpose in life through their ministry. Yesterday I was reminded of the many children who have received so many Bible lessons in Sunday School. The Lord also has allowed us to be in a church that has backed our mission work. In four weeks we head to the Philippines once again to minister through medical, childrens and crusade ourtreach. We are truly blessed!
This Saturday I turn 50! I'm thankful my life's verse is still my driving passion. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you."

Psalm 119:49-56

The devotion work I did on the section of Psalm 119 was on June 11, 2006. Things were going quite well for me two months ago. In the time since then I've gone through some personal struggles with my health. Really, not knowing what was wrong until yesterday.
This section of the Word is all about hope and comfort. Verse 50 says, "My comfort in my sufering is this: Your pr0mise preserves my live." Verse 49, "Remember Your word to your servant, for you have given me hope."
Most everyone around the world wants these two things! The end of most of what we do is about hope. My husband was working with a man from church today on a work project on our house and I was hoping it would all come out OK :). We go to school with hopes for a great job. We will go to church tomorrow with hopes to have God speak to us. And when God speaks He brings His comfort to our our lives. People can say nice things that give us comfort and God wants us to comfort one another but God also wants to be that source. In 1 Corinthians chapter 1 God encourages us to comfort one another with the comfort He has comforted us. God is the source of real comfort. Comfort brings hope...hope for all the tomorrows to come.

Psalm 119...part 2

The second paragraph of Psalm 119 covers verses 9 – 16. The blessing of God is found as we memorize and meditate on God’s Word. I remember someone saying, “Sin keeps me from the Word or the Word keeps me from sin.”
My husband and I were praying together this morning and he said…”Garbage in garbage out,” referring to what’s on TV these days. Now if we put a positive spin on this thought by putting in the in good things (the Word) and you will find yourself thinking and doing right things (righteousness). Not only will you react properly but verse 14 says you’ll have a good time doing so!

Psalm 119

God has always blessed me as I’ve read and studied Psalm 119. Everything you want to know about what His Word will do for you are written in these 176 verses. Usually I’ll read 2-3 sections at a time and write down what each section is telling the Word will do in me and through me.
So many times we flippantly throw out to people that God is gonna bless them if they do this or that…NOT TRUE…God will bless you and me as we do our best to live blameless lives in obedience to His Word.
This section (vs. 1-8) make it very clear…Blessings from God are given from a desire to obey to His Word. This Psalmist had times of struggles and sin but went to God with a desire to know what is sin, repent and learn to overcome…obey!
If you want a blessing look at your heart today…ask the Lord if what you see is a sin…seek His forgiveness and strength to overcome. God will bless the life that seeks to obey! Stay tuned…next week we’ll look at another aspect of God’s blessings.