Reading. Early morning. A little rain. Quiet.
Jealousy.
Selfish Ambition.
These two, give birth to much evil. Every foul practice The Word says.
Does this mean if I stay clear of jealousy and selfish ambition, I’ll sin less? I think it does!
Ambition (number 4) for today: staying clear of jealousy and SELFISH ambition. Pray me obedience! :)
What’s your ambition for today?
Flaws.
My Scripture reading this morning was Revelation 2:1-7. Click HERE if you’d like a link to read it. One thought led to another and soon I found myself hearing a word about flaws.
We’ve all used the word, right? She, he has this flaw _________________.
I have this flaw ____________________.
Free Dictionary dot com gave me some definitions. Here are a few:
An imperfection, often concealed, that impairs soundness.
A defect or shortcoming in something intangible: The two leaders share the flaw of arrogance.
And just for fun – yes, it’s new to me too:
A quick, intense burst, especially of wind, rain or snow
Who knew? One more.
A feature that mars the perfection of something.
And so as I read these definitions it confirmed the word I heard while looking at the flaw of the Church in Ephesus and those of someone(s) close and loved. The word flaw seems kinder than other words we might use. Don’t you think? That is why we use it, right? I thought so too, until today.
Before this morning (and it will again, unless I practice what I preach) when I see flaws in others it just gives rise to one of my own flaws: irritation. But I see something different this morning.
My new definition for flaw: well practiced sin.
Seeing a flaw in him or her or me with this definition brings a new response. A response of prayer for mercy and grace for them and for me. This new definition of flaw doesn’t let me off the hook, I can’t just dismiss the practice (action) as oh well that’s just who I am. Live with it! And when it’s out there in someone else, with this new definition, rather than irritation, love prevails and so I pray. Because she who loves does not want a brother or sister or child or spouse bound up in sin, right?
Flaw. Tiz kinder I think to call it what it is — a well practiced sin.
No more excuses. Not just a flaw. But a sin I have practiced way too much, and way too long!
ABBA, desiring to call it what it is and pray, for me and for them. To love You and them enough to do the kindest thing, offer mercy, grace and forgiveness instead of irritation and aggravation, no matter what the ‘flaw’ is. I love you, ABBA. Thank You.
Picture Prompt! Here’s Leah’s pic to prompt us at THE LOFT to write. I like it!!
What comes to mind when I see this pic she asked? Tennessee farmland, days gone by, Daddy, Larry, ABBA, for starters.
Tennessee farmland because that is my growing up place in days gone by and as you would guess my Daddy was a farmer who baled hay. Ours were much smaller and rectangular bales though, that had to be hauled and placed in the barn for keeping through the winter when they would be fed to the cows.
Larry? My beloved brother actually enjoyed hauling hay. Why? Because baling and hauling hay meant he was alive and active. Larry was diagnosed with Bright’s Disease when he was 12 (1959). And baling and hauling hay allowed him to feel as though he was ‘normal’. Something the doctors would probably have frowned upon but Larry said give me 5 years of doing what I enjoy or 10 years of bed rest and I’ll take the 5. As it turns out, he did have about 5 years from diagnosis with us before he stepped into Eternity. And because of his certain testimony about Heaven given on a Friday night, followed by a traffic collision the next Wednesday that ushered him to JESUS, another young man came to that same certain testimony after saying to our Pastor: tell me how I can know what Larry knew (about his eternal destiny).
ABBA. A Certain Eternity. Because of JESUS we can KNOW what that Eternity will be.
3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. [source] John 14:3
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed. [source] John 3:16
Hay Bales. Food for cows. Food for thought for us too.
A place called home. (Graphic below by Kerry Messer )
There have been many places I have called home; some for just months, others for years. My first home was Kenton, Tennessee, for about 16 years; and now, Satsuma, Alabama is where I hang my hat. :) Actually, this is my second time to live here. The first time was long ago, in another life.
Satsuma, round two, is full circle for me. A redo you could say. November 1975, I called Satsuma home as a woman who knew a lot about GOD but with NO assurance that I was His and He was mine. In His grace and goodness that changed on November 18, 1975 at right about 9:00 pm when I surrendered my pride and stubborn will to the Savior, JESUS CHRIST the Righteous. We walked together in sweet fellowship for many years through many places and a couple States.
Today, I am here again, a new wife for almost ten years now. A new address in the same community; a new name in the same church. Day after day Satsuma reminds me that ABBA gives do-overs.
From here where will we go? ABBA knows. This I know:
