Inbox, Save, Trash, Spam

As I was checking my email in my inbox, I started marking mail as save, trash and spam/junk.  The save mail is mail that is of value to me.  It holds content that is useful. This is mail that I will return to and use again, often.  The mail that has been tossed into the trash is mail that is no longer needed. I have already read it, and taken care of said content. The spam/junk mail is just that. Stuff that is unnecessary garbage that just gets in the way and clutters up my mailbox.   It is of no value to me at all.  As a matter-of-fact, some of that junk mail can be very damaging and is better off left alone.  It needs to be discarded ASAP!

As I was marking my e-mail and sending each to their perspective places, that Still Small Voice spoke to me and said; "This is how you need to organize the thoughts that enter your mind."  I instantly stopped what I was doing and my mind went to several scriptures. The first one being Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."  These thoughts are what goes into my SAVE file. They are thoughts that I will return to again and again and often.  They are of great value and very useful to me.

When thoughts enter my mind, I need to check and make sure they are like the thoughts found in Philippians 4:8.  Colossians 3:2 says,  "Set your minds on things above not on things that are on the earth."  (ESV)  We need to be careful what thoughts we heed to.  Romans 12:2 reads, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."  I need to have the mind of Christ.  Philippians 2:5

If we have thoughts that are not like the thoughts in Philippians 4:8 bombarding our minds, it's time to send them to the spam/junk box. These thoughts are of no value to us. They are just junk mail and  unnecessary thoughts clouding our perspective. They can even be harmful to us. We need to discard them ASAP.  Ephesians 4:27 says, "and do not give the devil an opportunity to work."  2 Corinthians 10:5 reads, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."  We must put on the helmet of salvation like it tells us to in Ephesians 6:17. For it is what protects our minds from the fiery darts of the devil. If I am wearing my helmet of salvation and have Christ living within me, then no junk mail, no thoughts, "No weapon formed against me shall prosper."  Isaiah 54:17   Proverbs 23:7 says "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."  I must resist the devil and his junk mail and he will flee.  James 4:7  If I want my mind to stay focused and clutter free, then I need to organize all the thoughts of my mind just as I do my e-mail.

WHATS IN YOUR STOREHOUSE?

Proverbs 23: 4-5 "Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.   (NLT)

When I ran across this scripture, it reminded me of the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12: 16-21;  "...A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, 'What should I do?  I don't have enough room for all my crops.'  Then he said, 'I Know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I'll sit back and say to myself, "My friend you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy!  Eat, drink, and be merry!"'  But God said to him, 'You fool!  You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?'  Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a relationship with God."  (NLT)

There is nothing wrong with working hard to have nice things and to provide comfortably for your family. Matter of fact the bible says in 1Timothy 5:8; "But if any man provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel "  (KJV)

Where the wrong comes in is when our possessions begin to posses us, our time and our energy.  Think about it!  What is your driving force?  Your treasure?  Tearing down barns to make bigger barns to store your wheat and other goods or are you laying up your treasures in heaven?  Are you striving to have that relationship with God?  Matthew 6:19-21 says;  "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."   (KJV)  Question......Where does your heart lie?

Isaiah 33:6 "And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure."  (KJV)  What's in your storehouse?  Where is your storehouse located?  Heaven or earth?  What kind of treasures are you storing away?  Oh Sweet Jesus!  Wisdom and knowledge is my stability, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is my treasure!  I must never lose this. I must always take inventory of what is in my storehouse.  I must make sure that I am storing up the correct treasures that cannot be destroyed by moth nor rust, and where thieves cannot break through and steal.

Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."   (KJV). When I put Him first and foremost in my life, all my needs WILL be met.  He will help me through every situation that comes my way, financially, physically, mentally, and spiritually, whatever the need may be. I do not need to wear my self out trying to get rich in order to supply my needs or wants. Not when I know the Way-Maker, the Provider, the Peace Speaker, the Healer, Jesus, my Friend, my Lord and God, my Savior.

Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.  Don't store up earthly wealth but rather seek after a relationship with God.

MOVED WITH COMPASSION

When preparing for yesterday's Sunday School lesson, I noticed that before Jesus fed the 5,000 with 2 fish & 5 loaves, he had just received the news that John the Baptist, his cousin, had just been beheaded. He was sorrowful in heart and had left by boat to an out of the way place to be alone to deal with his agony and pain. I can imagine how he was feeling at this time, to lose a loved one, a family member, and in such a horrific way. But someone noticed that Jesus was in the area and soon word spread and the crowds gathered. The bible says that when Jesus looked upon them he was moved with compassion. Even in the midst of all of his own heartache, pain, suffering and agony, Jesus put his own needs and hurts aside to meet the needs of those that were hurting and suffering around him. He began to reach out and work wonders and miracles in their lives that day. Oh to have compassion like Jesus. No matter how much I'm suffering, hurting, dealing with heartache and sorrow, God help me to be more like you. Help me to reach out to the brokenhearted, to those who are suffering, to those who need someone to care. After all, I'm suppose to be a Christian and Christian means Christ-Like. To be more like you, that's my desire.

You Say God/Church Is Just A Crutch?



Someone told me that God/Church is just a crutch for the weak. Yes, I agree. I am weak but Thou Art Strong! At times, when life hits me hard, I lean on God and the prayers of the church to help get me through. That is where I find my strength. When you break your leg, you use crutches or sometimes a wheelchair don't you? Well, when life throws things at me and breaks me, I use my crutches too. God and the prayers of the Church are my crutches! I lean on God when I am broken for He heals the broken hearted.  When I feel I can't take another step, I lean on Him and He helps me to walk on.  He gives me the strength that I need to carry on.  He is my strength when I am weak.  But He is not only my crutch, at times, God becomes my wheelchair. When the storms of life knock me off my feet and cripple me to the point that I don't even have enough strength to stand, that's when I need a wheelchair.  God then swoops down and lifts me into His arms and carries me until I'm strong enough to stand again.  He holds me close and lets me know that everything will be OK.  He has it all under control.  I rest in His arms until I am strong enough to stand again.  When I am strong enough to stand and walk again, He walks with me and talks with me.  He NEVER leaves me alone.  


God is more than a crutch and a wheelchair to me.  He is my Bright and Morning Star. He is the Lily of my Valley, My Shelter in the time of storm, the Joy of my soul, the Song that I sing, the Breath that I breathe.  He is the wind beneath my wings. He is Joy unspeakable and full Glory, the Hope of my Life, the Peace Speaker. He is the Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. He is the ROCK that I run to. Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Oh let me hide myself in thee! He is a SURE Foundation. A Prayer Answering God! He Is the Lover of my soul. He's my Everything, My Friend that is ALWAYS there when I need Him. He has NEVER failed me or forsaken me. He is FAITHFUL!  He is GOD And I know Him by name.....JESUS!!!

God is just a crutch, you say? I guess you're right and I'm leaning on His Everlasting arms!

HOUSEKEEPING

There is nothing like a nice clean house!  It smells so fresh and looks so nice and pleasant.  But a house does not clean itself.  If you want a clean house, it takes work to get it clean and more work to keep it that way.  It is a never-ending chore.  When you wake-up the next day I guarantee there will be more work one will have to do to get the house back in order.  More than likely, you will have to repeat some of the work you just did the day before.  To have a really clean house, there will be times you will have to do some deep cleaning.  Surface cleaning will not get the job done.  Sometimes you have to get down on your hands and knees to scrub the baseboards.  The walls at times need some scrubbing and maybe even some new paint.  The carpet will need to be shampooed, and the cupboards need to be cleaned out.  Drawers and closets need to be gone through and set into order.  Windows and window seals need to be washed inside and out.  Yes, there is more to cleaning house than surface cleaning.  I remember watching my mother with an old toothbrush and comet, scrubbing around the base of the toilet near the floor to make sure it was clean and sanitized.  I remember her scrubbing down the trash can and the wall behind it in the kitchen.  Her children have picked up several of her cleaning habits.  Even some of her grandchildren have picked up those cleaning habits.  

The other day Kerrie noticed some strange things on her clothing in the closet.  Wondering what it was, she began to take a closer look.  She discovered she had moths in her closet and they were laying eggs in her clothing.  It was time to clean out the closet!  Those critters can cause a lot of damage if you don't get on it right a way.  Thank goodness they were only in the one closet and nowhere else in the house.  Although we do this every year, this made me understand the concept of Spring Cleaning a lot more. We were really at it to get rid of those critters.  

Our Spiritual House is just like our earthly house!  If we want the LORD to abide within us, then we MUST KEEP IT CLEAN!!!  He loves a fresh smelling place that looks nice and pleasant to dwell in too.  Like our earthly house, our Spiritual House does not clean itself.  We have to keep it clean.  Surface cleaning will not get the job done.  It's going to take hard work to get it clean and keep it that way.  Like our earthly house, we will have to clean our Spiritual House DAILY.  Sometimes we are going to have to get down on our hands and knees and do some scrubbing.  We might have to scrub off the trash of the world that has splattered onto the walls of our soul and into the thoughts of our hearts.  We will have to take that fine tooth brush of prayer and bible reading out and do some scrubbing in the nooks and crannies of our hearts.  You need to make sure there is nothing lurking where it ought not to be.  One has to search the cabinets and drawers of the heart, making sure there is nothing stored in there that shouldn't be there.  Get rid of anger, frustration, bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy, and anything else that is not of GOD.  We will need to scrub the windows of our soul to make sure we can see clearly.  Clean the carpet of your soul.  Make sure you are still walking on the right path.  Go through your prayer closets!  Make sure you don't have any moths in there laying eggs of doubt, deceit, confusion, depression, oppression, etc, that can bring you down and destroy your Spiritual House. We need to keep our House Clean but it will take work on our part.  Our children and grandchildren are watching us.  What kind of example are we to them.  What kind of a Spiritual HouseKeeper are we teaching them to grow up to be?  

Psalm 51: 2  "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin."

Psalm 51:7  "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."

Psalms 51:10  " Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."          

Consider The Voice You Heed!

When I was in the 4th grade, my mother grounded me.  I can't remember what for but I do know she was very upset with me, therefore the reason for my being grounded.  Now, I find that odd for I know I was the perfect child.  Don't ask any of my three brothers or my sister if this is true because I'm sure they have a different opinion of my behavior as a child.  That's OK, they never could tolerate my perfection.....jealousy, you know.  Whatever it was that I was in trouble for, one of my cousins was involved, yet she didn't seem to be in trouble, well not in the degree like I was.  I remember her coming into my room and telling me how horrible my mom was for grounding me.  I agreed!  The more she talked, the madder I got at my mom.  Oh, my cousin knew how to stir up a hornet's nest.  She was good with words.  She had me convinced that I  had done absolutely nothing wrong and I was being so mistreated.  If she was me she would pack her bags and run away.  She would show my mom a thing or two. Why, she would even run away with me.  Before I knew it, I had packed a few things and I was sneaking out the back door and I was on my way to freedom.  Yes, I was heeding to the voice of my cousin and I was running away.  I was going to show my mom a thing or two.  I was going to teach her that she couldn't ground me and get away with it.  I was so excited.  That excitement didn't last very long.  We had only gone about three blocks when my steps became slower and heavier.   

The further I got away from home the colder I felt inside.  My mind was racing.  I began to think about all the good things about home and momma.  My warm bed at night.  Momma's good cooking and those three delicious meals and snacks I got every day.  My clean laundry that momma worked hard to keep done up for me.  Her comforting arms that were there for me when I was sick or scared.  Just knowing that she would be there to protect me. Then I just stopped dead in my tracks.  My cousin turned around, looked at me, and asked what was wrong.  I told her I had changed my mind and I wanted to go home.  She asked me if I was crazy and if I had lost my mind.  Funny, I had been asking myself the same questions.  I turned around and ran as fast as I could for home.  When I got there, I went straight to my room, put everything away, went and found momma, and hugged her as tight as I could.  I told her I loved her.  I don't think she knew what I had done, but I sure was glad to be home.  I was willing to take my correction for whatever it was I did wrong.  All I knew was,  I was home, momma loved me, I loved her, and she knew what was best for me.  In momma's house I was safe. 

You know if we are not careful, we will heed to the wrong voices and they will lead us astray.  Sometimes those voices will even come from within the family.  A family member who is disgruntled with the pastor, the pastor's wife, or other saints in the church.  Given the opportunity that family member (saint) in the church will look for another family member (saint) who is down and begin to weave contention with very subtle words.  They will begin to tell them how wrong they have been treated.  How horrible the person is that did this or said this.  They will sow cords of discord among the brethren and even go as far as suggesting  that the grass is greener on the other side.  That it would be better if they "Ran Away".  If one is not careful to the voice you heed, then that voice will drive you away from "The House of God!"  Away from the man of God who prays for you, fast for you, cares for you.  That voice will drive you away from the one who watches over your very soul.  The one who fights to protect you from all evil that comes against you, who feeds you spiritually.  It will drive you from the House where you feel the protection of the Gods arms around you.  Take heed and consider the voice that you listen to.  If it is driving you from the House of God then it is the wrong voice.  Stay in the house where you are loved.  Stay in the house where your pastor and God knows what is best for you.  Stay in the house where you will be safe.  Consider the voice you heed!          

Exercising Our Spiritual Muscles

I have been going to Physical Therapy due to the back surgery I had in June. I was down for six weeks before the surgery. Then it was another three months after surgery before they allowed me to start therapy. I did a lot of walking on my own around my home outside with a walker for several weeks. As I got stronger I was able to put that walker aside and use my cane. It wasn't long after that, and I was able to put that cane aside, and I was walking on my own. After my strength was built up, and was more stable on my feet,  I started walking on the treadmill. You see, the doctors said I would be down for 4 to 6 months. I was determined to get stronger faster than they said. So I took it upon myself to just simply walk daily. Even if it was slowly! But I walked and I got stronger and stronger every day. The Neurosurgeon was amazed at how fast I was improving. I was doing things at 2 months that he didn't expect from me until 4 months.

When I started Physical Therapy I was shocked when they told me that my back muscles were like mash, reduced to pulp, fleshy tissue. Due to the fact that I have had several fusions, I'm not allowed to bend or do any lifting at this time, so all my exercising and strengthening of my back muscles have to come from exercising my legs and abdomen. Believe it or not, after working out these muscles, I do feel it in my back. All the leg stretches, lifts, presses and so on, actually targets my back muscles as well. I feel great after a workout. I find it is much easier to start my day off with my leg stretches before getting out of bed. It works out the aches and pains and I can move much easier. Then if I hit the treadmill first thing after I wash my face and brush my teeth, I'm sure to have a much better day. But if I don't exercise on any given day, I always feel sluggish and ache all over. I don't want to move because it just hurts to much. All day I have aches and pains and I'm a miserable person.

I was thinking about this and it is no different in our spiritual life. If we don't exercise daily by Praying, our spiritual muscles will turn to mash, be reduced to pulp. We will become sluggish in our walk with Him. Our spirit will begin to ache and we won't want to move and we will become miserable people. We won't have the strength to stand against the fiery darts that come against us. We won't have the power or strength to fight off temptations, worldly lust and desires when they come our way. Our attitudes will not be Godly attitudes. We become impatient, hateful, short tempered, lustful, easily offended, lackadaisical, unthankful, unholy, disrespectful, etc. That's why Paul said in 1st Corinthians 15:31; "I die daily", meaning through prayer, he dies out to his flesh, his will and desires and gives way to the will of God. He is strengthening his spiritual muscles so that when things come against him he will have the strength to stand and not fall to temptation.

Reading the Word of God is another way to exercise our spiritual muscles. David said in Psalm 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." When we read the Word of God, we are growing strong in Him. When sin and temptation comes against us, we can use the Word that we have hid in our heart to fight off that temptation. Through the Word of God and Prayer we have built up the strength that we need to fight a good fight. Ephesians 6:10-17 reads "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

As much as we need to exercise daily physically, we also need to exercise daily spiritually. I was determined to grow stronger physically so that I could stand and walk on my own without the assistance of a walker or cane. I'm determined to build my muscles up in my back as well. It will take a lot of hard work and exercise but I have to work at it to succeed. I'm just as determined to stand one day and say as Paul did in 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith."  I must die daily to do so.  I must exercise my spiritual muscles and keep them strong through prayer and the Word of God.