Building Your House

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and

Puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds

Blew and beat against the house.  Yet it did not fall,

Because it had its foundation on the rock.

Matthew 7:24-25

As a small child, one of my favorite songs to sing in my Kindergarten Sabbath School class was The Wise Man Built His House Upon a Rock.  It was so much fun to bring my hands down from above my head to signal the rain, then back up to show the floods.  But the highlight of the song was at the end of the second verse, when we clapped our hands together while shouting, “SPLAT!” as the house on the sand came crashing down.

When I was in 3^rd grade, my dad built an addition onto our home.  I learned the value of huge 8x8x16 concrete blocks reinforced with steel rebar that formed the foundation of the new building.  Wanting to help, I tried to hand my father one of the blocks, only to discover that it was way too heavy for me to lift.  Without that heavy foundation, the house would not be fit to live in.   

Our foundation is based on the power and strength of the Word of God.  If we anchor our lives on Jesus Christ, the Rock of our salvation, we will stand firm through the storms of adversity.  If we anchor our lives in the sands of the world, we will be washed away. 

 

Love That Salt!

You are the salt of the earth.

But if the salt looses its saltiness

how can it be made salty again?

It is no long good for anything,

except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

Matthew 5:13

Growing up in Phoenix, I often took trips with my family to Luke Air Force Base where we shopped at the Commissary.  On the trip to the base, we always passed a big commercial area out in the desert with huge mounds of “white stuff” – salt.  A very large harvesting machine carried the salt up a high chute and poured it out on top of one of the mounds.  Dad would always stop for a few minutes so that we could watch the fascinating process.

Have you ever been on a salt-free diet?  Even a low-salt diet can be a huge adjustment.  Salt is the one ingredient that brings out the flavor in all foods.  Beans in particular are almost inedible if you remove all the salt.

“What does it mean when Jesus calls you to be the salt of the earth? Jesus uses those who love and follow Him to help preserve this fallen world that has turned its back on Him. Jesus also uses you to spread the Word in a way that is easier for others to understand, easier for them to hear and digest, by adding flavor and depth to your words as you share the gospel. Salt brings out distinct flavors in food, just as believers can bring out the words of God to impact listeners in a positive way. Those who know Jesus, radiate His joy, and share His love add flavor to the world. Look for ways today to be the salt of the earth in your words and actions.”     -Jack Countryman

Family Tree

A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ,

The son of David, the son of Abraham.

Matthew 1:1

I have spent the last 5 years doing a great deal of research on Ancestry.com, hoping to discover the identity of my birth parents.  The process is very slow and exacting.  I always say a silent “Thank you” to the individual who is meticulous in the construction of their family tree.  The more information that person includes, the easier my fact-finding journey. 

There are two different genealogies of Jesus in the Gospels, one in Matthew (1:2-16) and one in Luke (3:23-38).  They are somewhat different in the order of naming, but the biggest surprise is that Matthew’s listing includes women.  And not just any women!  Matthew chose four women whose names we automatically recognize – not because of their goodness, but because of their inappropriateness.  Two of them were foreigners (Rahab, Ruth) and two were pregnant from an immoral union (Tamar, Bathsheba). 

That Matthew would include them is astounding, but I’m so glad he did!  It reminds me that Jesus' earthly genealogy wound its way through a long line of outcasts and sinners.  Praise the Lord that He loves and accepts us all.

Summer Reading – New Testament

Tuesday, June 1  Matthew 1-3

Wednesday, June 2  Matthew 4-6

Thursday, June 3  Matthew 7-9

Friday, June 4  Matthew 10-12

Saturday, June 5  Matthew 13-15

Sunday, June 6  Matthew 16-18

Monday, June 7  Matthew 19-21

Memorial Day 2021

 

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:105

Memorial Day (previously called Decoration Day) is a holiday for honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died in the performance of their military duties while serving in the United States Armed Forces.  This remembrance started soon after the end of the Civil War, when the graves of the fallen soldiers were decorated with flowers.  World War I and II turned it into a day of remembrance for all military deaths in the line of service.  It became a national holiday in 1971,  Memorial Day is considered by many as the first day of the summer season.

Tomorrow is the first day of June – the first day of real summer for me, and the first day of my project to Read the New Testament in 90 Days.  You can never read the Bible “too much.”  Each time I read, especially if I switch out different translations, I find something new, or a thought I had forgotten. I hope that you will join me in this project.  I will post the readings for the next week at the end of the daily blog on Fridays/Saturdays.

Blessings!  Have a wonderful Memorial Day.

 Summer 2021 Reading List - New Testament

Tuesday, June 1  Matthew 1-3

Wednesday, June 2  Matthew 4-6

Thursday, June 3  Matthew 7-9

Friday, June 4  Matthew 10-12

Saturday, June 5  Matthew 13-15

Sunday, June 6  Matthew 16-18

Monday, June 7  Matthew 19-21

 

 

Who Gets Revenge?

He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should

do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed,

or lay my hand on him, for he is the Lord’s anointed.

1 Samuel 24:6

When my kids were little, it was not unusual to see them huddled together, plotting the imminent demise of someone who had been unkind to one of them – coming together as sisters against “the enemy.”  When I found them in full-vengeance mode, I would sit them down and remind them of this story about David and Saul.

Saul was determined to kill David, mostly because he was jealous that God had promised the kingship to him. Saul tried all kinds of tricks and traps to catch him, then resorted to taking part of his army out to hunt down David like a wild animal.  On two different occasions, David came upon Saul’s camp while they were sleeping.  It was the perfect opportunity for David to kill Saul.  But he refused to shed the blood of the Lord’s anointed.  David knew that God would work out the problem of Saul’s hatred, and would not take revenge.

I taught the girls Paul’s words in Romans 12:19:: “Vengeance is Mine, saith the Lord.  I will repay.”  If we give to God our hurts, slights, and anger, He will take care of our enemies – in His way, in His time.

Wit's End

 

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,

 that the surpassing greatness of power may be of God

and not from ourselves.

2 Corinthians 4:7  

Are you standing at Wits' End Corner, Christian, with troubled brow?
Are you thinking of what is before you and all you are bearing now?
Does all the world seem against you, and you in battle alone?
Remember - at Wits' End Corner Is just where God's power is shown.

Are you standing at Wits' End Corner, blinded with wearying pain,
Feeling you cannot endure it - you cannot bear the strain,
Bruised through the constant suffering, dizzy and dazed and dumb?
Remember - to Wits' End Corner is where Jesus loves to come. 

Are you standing at Wits' End Corner, your work before you spread,
All lying, begun, unfinished and pressing on heart and head,
Longing for strength to do it - stretching out trembling hands?
Remember - at Wits' End Corner the burden Bearer stands. 

Are you standing at Wits' End Corner yearning for those you love,
Longing and praying and watching, pleading their cause above,
Trying to lead them to Jesus, wondering if you've been true?
He whispers - at Wits' End Corner, "I'll win them as I won you." 

Are you standing at Wits' End Corner? Then you're just in the very spot
to learn the wondrous resources of Him who faileth not!
No doubt to a brighter pathway your footsteps will soon be moved,
But only at Wits' End Corner is the God who is able "proved."

– by Antoinette Wilson

 

Remembering Lot's Wife

Remember Lot’s wife.

Luke 17:32

A few months ago I received a flyer from AARP regarding a new way to adjust the side mirrors on my car.  Following the very precise instructions to the tee, I found that I had a completely different outlook when I used these mirrors.  Instead of competing with the rearview mirror, my side mirrors now open up my blind spot on each side so that I can see what is directly beside me.  Although all three mirrors are necessary when I am driving, most of the time my eyes are fixed on the road ahead.

Jesus uttered today’s three word sentence to the disciples during a discourse on the end of time.  He was describing to the disciples some of the difficulties they would face when out of the blue, He says, “Remember Lot’s wife.”   Mrs. Lot had been dragged out of Sodom by her husband when the angels warned them that the city was going to be destroyed.  Instead of being grateful for the angel’s intervention, she could not look forward because she was too busy looking back.  And that was her undoing.

Jesus is holding out a hand to us today, asking us to follow in His footsteps, letting Him guide us to our heavenly destination.  The world calls to us to look back – come back.  Remember Lot’s wife!