SelahV Today by hariette petersen

LOAVES, FISH AND MINUTES

Ever need a few a more minutes?

I did. Yesterday.

I had to go to a doctor's appointment with my hubby. I needed to do a bevy of things before I went, but wanted to sit down, have a cup of coffee and read my Bible for a while.  Before I knew it, it was nearly time to go and I hadn't gotten prepared.

I glanced at the clock; it was 10:27.  I hopped up, went to brush my teeth, curl my hair and slop on some makeup.  I realized I needed to iron three shirts and a pair of slacks.  So, I said, "Lord, I know this is silly. But I need more time.  If I don't have time stand still, then we will never get out of here in time for this appointment."  I timidly reminded the Lord that I found being with Him far more important than getting prepared but He quickly pointed out how neglectful I'd been in managing my time.  I should have ironed the clothes earlier instead of reading emails, etc.  I thought how sorry I was to ask more of God when I hadn't even been a good steward in the first place.  Yet, I found myself saying, "Lord, you made time stand still for Joshua, surely you could give me a few minutes."

I began setting my hair. Ironing three shirts and one pair of slacks (yes, I know I already said that, but emphasis is necessary here), chasing down shoes (I'm so unorganized), looking for my keys, grabbing paperwork, cell phone and cash.  I looked up at the clock again; I almost choked.

A mere 4 minutes had passed. It was 10:31. Same clock, mind you. In my best ever possible time, I've never been able to iron one shirt let alone three and a pair of slacks in less than 10 minutes.  And here I'd not only surpassed any record in ironing, but also in making myself (dare I say) presentable, finding shoes, keys and money.

I know a physicist would say I am wacko.  I'm sure some person smarter than me with twenty degrees could account for how I accomplished everything because my adrenaline was pumping or something.  I don't believe that for one second.  I didn't do all I did in 4 minutes.  No way.  God made time work into my actions.  He either had my particular moments stand still till I got everything done, or He stretched my time and squished 20 minutes into 4 minutes.  Whatever He did, and however He did it, I know I didn't do it.

So even though we think we have time all measured out in our perfect little man-made increments, the Lord likes to show us (me, anyway) that He is in total control of time.  And as long as I put Him first and acknowledge His power in all things--even the details--He will show Himself mindful of me in my inadequacies.  And for the record, this isn't the first time He has done such for me.  selahV

[NOTE of Interest:  My friend Luke has an interesting post on TIME at his blog HERE.  You ought to check it out.  I know you have plenty of time to read it.  And if you find you have a wee bit more, check out the discussion we're having on Sovereignty and time HERE, also.]

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]

FIVE REASONS I DIG JESUS...

CAN BE FOUND BY GOING TO WHAT MATTERS.  (now, I'll see if you really care why I dig Jesus)

CALL FOR PRAYER

R.L.Vaughn's mother-in-law, who has alzheimer's has been missing for one week after walking away from home.  Please pray for him, his wife and his mother-in-law.  You can see a picture of her by going to Bro. Vaughn's site.  May God's angels encamp around them all in this uncertain time.  selahV

ALL FOR ONE...ONE FOR ALL

"UNITED WE STAND", by Dr. Peter Lumpkins published in THE CHRISTIAN INDEX June 21, 2007, is a Bible lesson which punctuates exactly what my Sovereign Lord is doing in my life--the unity of God's people.

UNITY~~  What picture does that conjure up for you?  For me it is a unity of spirit.  The spirit by which we show our love for another ultimately shows our love for the One Who unites us by His grace and sacrificial blood.

I've told you, my readers, how my husband had a heart attack on May 13th which resulted in open-heart surgery.  We were faced with multiple problems at that time--many of which were financial.  But finances were back-burner problems to the issues of life or death.  And I knew my God would be faithful to provide if He was allowing this difficulty to befall us.

One day of blessing, I tithed a love offering of one-hundred dollars given to me for food.  The Lord provided the tithe when I found a 10-dollar bill in the parking lot.  So in reality, I only was out one dollar for 110.00.  But there is so much more.

Our hospital bill has reached a total of 106,000 dollars.  We must still see other doctors and medicine costs are mounting as I speak.  My 1994 van has no air, needs an exhaust system, brakes and shocks.  At present, we do not see my husband going back to work in construction anytime soon, if ever.  We have filed for early social security, (something we didn't want to do for two more years).  That check will not even cover our rent and immediate needs.  Let me be clear, I am not complaining.

I tell you all this to say one thing:  God is good.  He is the Sovereign Provider.  And He works through His people.  He has done this with us.  Our church members' generosity has surpassed any I have seen in my husband's 22 years-plus ministry as a pastor.  We have not gone without.  We are simply members of this church--we hold no staff position.  We are just members; joined three and one-half years ago, when we moved from Kentucky.  And to top it all off, friends and members of former churches are also giving to help us.  God is great; He is awesome!

Recently, Les Puryear, a Southern Baptist minister, posted a blog question "Does A Church Need To Have "Members"?" Another question posed in his attempt to flesh out thoughts running through his heart was: "Why do we have "members" of the church like a club?"

I think Peter Lumpkins' article on the unity of that membership of Christ's Bride--the Church, answers a portion of Puryear's question in a significant way.  Peter Lumpkins speaks exacty to the way we, as a church body, should act as a church body.  United we stand, divided we fall.  Furthermore, unified we portray the heart of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  And they will know we have love of Him by the love we show one another--when we fellowship together, when we pray together, when we share our blessings.

That's why we need members in a church, in my humble, unlearned opinion.  That's why we need each other and should lift each other up, care for one another, shoulder burdens and never think ourselves more highly than our brothers.  In doing so, we show the world there is a reason for our church membership--to show the love of Christ to a world without Him.

[ANOTHER OF LUMPKINS' articles can be found HERE.]

[NOTE:  The Southern Baptist Convention also acts as that body through their giving to the Cooperative program which helps fund our Baptist Colleges, seminaries, church-starts, administration and more, much more.  Our Annie Armstrong offerings collectively fund missionaries in North America.  Our Lottie Moon offerings collectively fund missionaries on foreign soil.  Without the membership in the local churches, we'd have less strength for the mission of the larger body--The Church--Christ's Bride.]

   

BEATEN, BRUISED AND BATTERED

   I feel like my sunflowers, hollyhocks and cannes lilies.  The rain and minimal sun has given birth to a splendor of color.  Orange-tipped golden cannes lilies stand 7-feet high. Brilliant yellow sunflowers top-out at 6 feet.  Hollyhocks surpass the 6-foot fence by 10 or 12 inches to show off their burgandy, pink, and salmon beauty to the neighbors next door. 

That's me.  Many times.  I feel so full of God's joy and love that I could climb mountains and wave banners of His goodness and provision.  In these times, all that I am is Jesus inside of me glorifying Himself; for nothing--I am or do--is of me~~apart from Him.

Then, there are the other times.

The repeated storms, the drenching rains, the straight-line winds, the absence of sunlight.  I get weary.  I look and feel like my drowned petunias--wilted, soil-coated and limp.  My energy is spent from the downpour of circumstances--my precious sick husband who isn't bouncing back from open-heart surgery because of additional complications.  My brain is depleted from lack of sleep.  My body is weakened from a physical condition which shows no signs of getting better and thus saturates the foundation of my overall health.

My spirit hungers and thirsts after my Lord's all-sufficient grace and sustaining warmth.  I bask in the sunshine of His eternal Flame and Light of hope amid the storms of life.

Yesterday, between storms, I pondered the fallen soldiers of cannes lilies, wind-beaten sunflowers and hollyhocks.  Their beauty was still there.  Beaten but not destroyed.  Battered but not uprooted.

I took sticks and limbs and stuck them in the watersoaked ground at the base of the giant plants.  I pulled them erect and placed more limbs with forked branches to bear the weight of their heavy, drooping heads.  In shouldering their burdens, they weathered another storm today.

Six inches of downpour in 15 minutes.  Tons of water poured off my rooftop onto my eroded front yard. But this time, the storm did less damage.  The bit of support I gave my mature plants served them well.  They did not fall over again.  They had a shoulder to lean on.

"Cast your burden on the Lord, for He careth for you."  And oh, how he loves to hear our dependent heart's cry.

"Pray for one another."  What a privilege to support one another!

"Bear each other's burdens."  What a blessing to undergird a brother, to lay down one's life is need be.

Should we use a brother's weakness, flaw or immaturity to beat them down further?  Should we point out their mistakes, their sins, and spread their laundry on the public square?  Should we breathe out threatenings or could we not post verses of scripture to encourage, comfort and edify?

Could we not find supports and place them at the roots of their feet?  Could we not brace their weakened state with prayers of intercession?  Could we but bind their wounds and leave them at the inn with provision to meet their needs?  Could we do all we can to heal and mend, rather than destroy?  Could we judge not, condemn not, criticize not?  Could we but find the good and dwell upon it, then leave any justice to the Just Jehovah?  I think we could.  I really do.  selahV

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]       

   

"PEACE! BE STILL."

The storms roared, the Savior spoke...the seas whispered, then fell silent.

"Be still and know that I am God!"

Yesterday I took my granddaughters home after a blessed joy-filled two and a half-day visit.  Storm-clouds displayed their blackened anger and beckoned us toward them.  There was no avoiding it.  Bright sunshine and giant puffy-white cumulus clouds teased me from my rearview mirror as I drove.  Five miles from the Red River between Oklahoma and Texas, sprinkles warned of the torrents to come.  Within 30 seconds I couldn't see ten feet ahead of me.  I liken it to a carwash drenching.  It lasted until I hit the river's bridge, then lessened to a sprinkling again.

Abby slept through it, Brooklyn prayed through it.  I focused on it and the hidden road beneath the drenching rain.  I thought how similar that was to when Jesus slept, and the disciples scrambled and fought the winds and gales and feared for their lives.  I didn't worry, just considered pulling over and getting off the road.  But couldn't see the exit ramp till I was already passed it.  Not a good time to hit the brakes.  So I kept my eyes on the road and drove on.

I wonder how many times I've taken my eyes off the task before me and ended in the proverbial ditch.  All the details around me, created to distract, confuse, produce fear and worry.  But in the midst of every storm there is peace when our minds are stayed on the Lord Himself.

As I drove back home, I wondered if I'd drive right back through the storm again.  To my pleasure, it stayed to my west.  That's when I saw the beauty of Light within the storm as pictured above. Clouds hung in smokey grey and black vapors above a darkened landscape of houses on the horizon.  But the light rested in its eternal bliss beyond the clouds and spread forth its rays through those clouds...an awesome sight.

Had I not gone through the storm, I would have missed that beauty.  I would not have seen the gorgeous picture of Peace in being still.

Peace...when the world rages on.  Peace...when accusations crash like lightening bolts into my life.  Peace...when others thunder and pummel my character, motives and intentions.  Peace...when life sprinkles warnings of storms yet before me.  Peace in the stillness of God.

"In everything give thanks."  Yes, my Father.  I do.  selahV

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007] 

WEAKNESS IS A PAIN

My husband and I were walking the mall today and when we rounded a corner, he told me to read the sign on the Marine Corps recruiting office wall.

"PAIN IS WEAKNESS LEAVING THE BODY."

I laughed.  Leave it to the Marines, "A few good men", to come up with a slogan like that.  Think about it.

Is that suppose to mean that when weakness leaves our body it is replaced with pain?  Or does it mean the presence of pain means we are strengthened because weakness leaves us?  And therefore like the other addage goes, "no pain, no gain."

It kind of makes sense.  Really.

When Jesus died on the cross, He endured excruciating pain...the weakest part of all He was on this earth was His body--humanity.  The pain He felt was the weakness--the sin and iniquity--of all mankind leaving His human body. 

And Hebrews faithful "quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to fight the armies of aliens." Hebrews 11:34.

It takes pain, the strength that engulfs our bodies, to expell the child within a womb.  Once the baby is born, the weakest part of us, that part that screams in agony is gone. 

I'm sure when the Marine Corps came up with that slogan, they didn't think some wandering mind like mine would get all carried away pondering the spiritual significance of its words.  I'm sure they never thought anyone would consider the slogan for anything more than a big "hoo wah" kind of statement.  But here I am. 

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong." II Cor.12:10

The birthpangs of a nation.  The brokenness of man filled with the presence of God.  The pain in letting go of self, pride to receive the strength and exaltation of our Lord's greatest joy.  Humility.  Meekness.

"For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Apologies.  I am sorry.  I was wrong.  I need help.  Please forgive me.  All--weak phrases by the world's standards.  Each spoken in the humiliating moment of surrender bring pain--and then the weakess leaves the body.  And strength prevails.  selahV

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007] 

I'VE BEEN WONDERING...

Wonder what would happen in blogland if all the bloggers in the known world were to dwell on that which is pure, lovely, and good?

Wonder what would happen if we all found one sentence within every person's blog post with which we could validate in kindness, love, and peace.

  Wonder what would happen if before we begin reading, we prayed for God to let us see through His eyes the motive, intent and spirit of the post. Wonder what we would see when we read the post?

Wonder what would happen if we read each and every post without any preconceived assumptions of the kind of  person that wrote it, what we could discover?

Wonder if we looked as hard for the good in another's writing as we look for the bad, if we could find something to dwell upon that enriched our lives?

Wonder if we asked God to help us not to judge, condemn, complain or criticize, if we could see more clearly as we read the words between the lines?

I wonder if then we'd see the beauty of our brother and our sister in Christ.

I wonder.  Do you?  What do you wonder?

[BIG NOTE OF INTEREST~~After posting this, I received a comment from TRIPP SPANGLER. He has a wonderful post on "some" of the POSITIVE news results from the SBC annual meeting in San Antonio. I encourage you to read it.] 

WHAT AM I REALLY SAYING?

I've been reading a blog today in which the host posted a blog to purposely mislead his readers.  He waited 48 hours and watched the world of cyberspace take off with the news.  It went from sea to shining sea.  News travels fast when folks want support for a point of view and the support comes from a source known for not supporting that view.

Exploitation.  We exploit others for our own gain.

Oddly, nothing...absolutely nothing in the original post was a lie.

The lie, if there was one, was using his carefully crafted post to lead people to think something that was not true based on their view of him and their understanding of him.  However, he knew, as he carefully crafted each word, how his readers would perceive it and how they would run with their own perception of what he said.  Or, at least, he thought he knew.

After the time he alloted to let the grapevine grow into a tangled web of misinformation, he wrote another post exposing his social mind-game.  Some have called it "deceptive".  Others manipulation.  (Myself, included.  Shame on me.)

But what was the purpose of his social experiment?  He wanted the world of bloggers to realize how easily they can be manipulated to think something simply because the writer leads them to believe that "something".  In this case, I think he succeeded.

He assures us that it happens all the time.  After much thought, I agree with him.  It does happen all the time.  Every advertiser does it.  Politicians use the media to spin things their way.  Actors and actresses use publicists to present a persona to the public that casts a particular light upon them.  So did this blogger do something lower than they?  Any worse than anyone else does on any given day?

Do I fault him?  Do I call him liar and deceiver?  No, I can't.  The reason is, he didn't deceive me.  I learned of it later.  After the facts were known.  I wasn't a regular reader on his blog.  I didn't know where he stood on issues.  I responded to his blog with an air of piety and indignation.  How could he do that to his readers?

I suppose if it I were one of his faithful, I might have been even more upset if, in fact, the wool had been pulled over my eyes.  But I wasn't.  I was looking at the whole thing from the objective of a blogger who seeks credibility.  And such an experiment, which garnered the attention of national news reporters to be "fooled" by whomever that leaked it to them, is, indeed a textbook experiment with incredible data to back it up.

And it's scary.

It's scary because every day we read blogs, newspapers, articles.  We hear news reports, anchors and reputable people deliver information.  We listen to friends "share" tidbits of grapevine news.  We gorge ourselves on the voyeuristic entertainment of someone else's reality, heartache and pain.  We sit in judgement upon our fellow man because someone accused them of wrong, only to discover later that it wasn't true at all.

I think of the upcoming elections for president of the United States.  I think of the gossip about a neighbor down the street.  I think about email relationships I'm building in the blog-world.  I think about the maneuverings, the schemes behind the scenes, the vaguely worded motions, the carefully crafted scripts for those who seek our trust.  Ultimately, I think about myself.

Do I try to manipulate thinking?  Do I say anything in life to add punch to my point?  Do I have any leaven in the closet of my thoughts?  Do I work my magic with my fingers pressed against the keyboard with any ulterior motive in mind?  Am I honest in all my ways?

Search me O God.  Search me.  See if there is any wicked way within me.  And when You see it, Lord, show it to me.  Let me see the reason I have no right to judge another.  Lead me in Your way that all I say and do might be significant to You, for You and others.  selahV

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]   

HONOR THY FATHER...

"Blessed is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly...

nor stands in the path where sinners walk...

nor sits down where the scornful gather.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on His law he habitually

meditates by day and by night.

And he shall be like a tree firmly planted by the stream of water,

ready to bring forth its fruit in its season;

its leaf also shall not fade or wither

and everything he does shall prosper." Ps.1:1-3.

It would be great to be able to say such a man is a father, wouldn't it?  Can you imagine having that kind of father?  I can.  I imagine that is the exact kind of father every man is created to be.

Yet, instead of walking on, refusing to stand in sinful traffic, or avoiding fellowship with scornful companions, some fathers walk, stand and sit amidst the sinners of the world.  Does this mean one is to avoid all who aren't Christians?  I don't think so.

I think it means men should be ones with unimpeachable character, firmly rooted to Christ who provides the Living Water who continually provides sustenance and grace in all circumstances.  Their delight should be in the Lord--not the companionship of men with ungodly beliefs.  He should be a man of the Book, who not only reads it, but meditates upon it and applies it to his life.  He should be so immersed in the precepts of the Lord, that there wouldn't be even the slightest desire to tarry in the way of sin nor in the world of sinners.

A father abandoned to the Father in Heaven is the father with a promise.  As we honor our earthly fathers tomorrow, let us give the honor and glory due our Heavenly Father.  In honoring Him, we show honor well placed.  selahV

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL!

By The Way~~Be sure to check out WHAT MATTERS on my other blog.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

FLOCK TOGETHER~~

Sometimes.

Other times you'll see a gathering of gaggling geese, ducks, herons, and seagulls assembled together and not in one accord.  They are pushing and shoving and knocking each other over trying to get to a single scrap of bread tossed in the air.  They encourage no one.  They battle with anyone.  And they are all for one and none for all.

Pictured above is a group of birds--some banty, some guinea, some white something-or-the-other and some speckled hens with chicks.  The lady dressed in country-calico, shade-brimming hat and long apron, is my grandmother from the hollows deep in the mountains of Tennessee.  In her hands is a bowl of corn which she's tossing to the gathering feathered friends.  She gathered them together by making a "buck, buck, buck" call to them. 

It's interesting that each morning and evening when grama use to feed these birds, that they'd all come running.  Each were seeking their fair share of the kernels of corn.  But alas, some more hungry, more aggressive, more assertive than others often were the only ones walking away with a tasty treat.  The rest had to wander around pecking and picking at June bugs, flies and beetles.  Others searched and scratched throughout the yard and garden for worms to assuage their appetites.

Are we Christians like these birds?  How aggressive or assertive are we in our eagerness to hear God's voice on Sunday mornings?  When our Lord stands ready to feed us, do we come running? Are our hearts prepared to gather all we can from the moment we hear His call?  Some of us don't even bother going to the Feed.  We stand on the parameters of abundance watching others pick and peck their way to satisfaction and contentment.  And then we wonder why we go hungry.

Sincerely yours, selahV

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]    

GET READY! BRAD REYNOLDS IS JOINING US AGAIN

I am honored to announce that the voice of GUARDIAN MINISTRIES which has sat in pause position since the end of January is about to rejoin the world of Blogland.  Dr. Brad Reynolds plans to post soon after convention.  I hope he'll address the churches of Revelation myself.  But thus far he hasn't revealed to me the topics he shall post.  May have that for you soon.

I like Dr. Reynolds.  His new fatherhood adventure has him beaming, cooing and bouncing about.  Isn't that going to be refreshing to read?  Keep an eye on his site...it won't be long now. sincerely yours, selahV

~~~~~~

  Speaking of refreshing.  I kinda like the post I wrote on Feminity.  Especially the pictures.

~~~~~

And for What Matters to me at the moment, I like my post on Sincerity. Aren't these pears pretty?

~~~~~

And for thoughts I have on monuments of value, I like my post on Made of Stone.

~~~~~

And for a mini-miracle that offers an insight into the heart of God and His incredible care for even a sparrow, I like my post on Special Delivery.

~~~~~

Hope you enjoy some of these.  I know a lot of folks only read SelahV Today.  But there is so much more to me than this blog.  So much much more.  sincerely yours, selahV

TARRY AWHILE AMONGST THE TARES

"O beautiful, blue spacious skies, for amber waves of grain..."

Pictured in the photos below are wheat fields near my house.  The fields are overgrown by thistles, darnels, yellow daisies and other weeds. 

I see America as a wheat field. The tares have been allowed to grow up for so long that the field is overcome with them. You can hardly see the wheat.

  Nevertheless, if God can find but one righteous man, He may not destroy our Sodom.

The "fields are white unto harvest".  Yet, we tarry.  There are so few laborers; pray that more will come.

Until the end of time we will have tares among us.  "Let the tares grow up amongst the wheat".  In His time, the heavenly Reaper will sort it all out.  The hay and stubble will be burned away. Thistles and daisies will wither.

The wheat will be sifted and the chaff will be blown away.  And all that remains will be grain.  That grain will be crushed and pounded and readied for use.  And when it is ready, the Lord will add heavenly ingredients to it.  And He will knead it, roll it and form it into a loaf of His choosing.  Because the loaf must be fit for a King.    

"Pray ye, the Lord of the harvest..."

sincerely yours, selahV

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]

SPECIAL DELIVERY

So my husband and I went to ABC for breakfast this morning after his echo-cardiogram.  For those of you who do not know your ABC's, it stands for Atlanta Bread Company.  It's a nifty little restaurant that bakes all kinds of breads, pastries, cheesecake and offers scrumptious sandwiches, breakfasts and to top it all off...COFFEE.

Who could ask for more?  It's kinda Bostonian-like.  I love the place.  Don't go much, except with my friend, Barb.  But this morning I decided to treat my hubby to some of their wonderful French Toast.  (Yes, he's allowed to have stuff like that occasionally. And trust me, it will only be occasionally.)

While I was standing at the counter placing my order, I spotted a wonderful looking bread with tomato slices and onion on top.  It has a real big fancy name.  I can't remember what, but it was Italian.  Anyway, I thought, that looks so yummy!  So I asked the gal if she had any samples of it.  She didn't.  I mulled it over in my mind and realized that it was not a need.  It was a want.  So I didn't want to give in to a want simply because I wanted something that I really shouldn't have anyway.  I decided quickly that curiosity would not win today.

Long story short~~

When my hubby and I arrived home, I went to check emails.  When I went to get a cup of coffee, he said from the living-room, "Honey, someone brought us something."  I went into the living-room, but no one was there.  He said, "I don't know who it was, they just left it here on the sofa.  While we were out."

Puzzled, I went and looked and low and behold, there in his hands was a box of pastries and the very loaf of bread I'd been eyeing at the restaurant just an hour earlier.  It didn't make sense.  Where in the world did it come from?

Obviously, someone stopped by the Atlanta Bread Company and brought the goodies by.  But who, we do not know.  All I can say, is God sometimes gives us what we want even though we don't need it.  But that bread sure is good and even though I don't need it, I want it.  And since some angel delivered it, and God allowed it to happen knowing full well I'd tell you all about it, I figure it is calorie free.  What do you think?  Sincerely yours, selahV

For another story and some healthier thoughts go HERE.

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007] 

MY THOUGHTS FOR ALL IN SAN ANTONIO

~~A PEACE ROSE blooming in my garden

reminded me of you.

I pray the Lord will lift your thoughts

and kiss them with His dew. 

May all you do and say today,

bring glory to His name;

but most importantly, I pray,

all others do the same.

sincerely yours,  selahV

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FOR MY THOUGHTS ON FEMINITY CLICK HERE~~~

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]

PATH OF RUIN OR LIFE ~~IT CAN GO EITHER WAY

One day my little HayJae was lying on the floor in her mom's carpeted livingroom.  She had settled down to eat some tomatoes on a plate.  I was lying on the floor opposite her, looking into her hazel-brown eyes.  She had just smiled the most endearing smile and offered me a bite of her tomatoes.  Then it happened!

Her face contorted.  Her leg lifted.  She screamed and began to wail.  "A scorpion!" I yelled as I saw that ugly brown venomous creature crawl from beneath her leg and creep across the tan carpet.

Scorpions are so devious.  They crawl inside a pair of shoes, an empty glove, a damp towel and wait.  Wherever human flesh has been and left its trail of salty perspiration, a scorpion cloisters and hides.  I don't know why.  Haven't looked it up.  Just know it happens.  This time it had been traveling across the carpet in search of a resting place and HayJae happened to lay her leg down just as the scorpion passed by.

That happens in communication with people sometimes.  Someone is talking and going about their life and eating their tomatoes and suddenly bumps into someone else who is going about their life talking and eating their tomatoes.  And wham!  They inadvertantly cross paths and set off a storm of emotions...stinging and hurting one another.

In the case of the scorpion that stung HayJae, it met its quick demise from her daddy.  HayJae was quickly treated with powdered charcoal and bandaged up.  One party soothed, the other destroyed.  Did the scorpion set out across the carpet in search of Haylee?  seeking to wreak havoc upon her tender skin?  I don't think so.  It had no clue she'd put her leg down just as it passed by.  It didn't even know she was there until her leg came down and pounced upon it.  It just reacted in the only way it knew to act--defensively.

The difference between the scorpion and people is people are given a mind to keep in check.  An attitude to control.  A tongue to bridle.  A spirit with which to discern.  And a heart to render mercy, forgiveness and love.  As Christians we are to live in harmony with one another, to show love, to reprove and be reproved.

Proverbs 10:17 shares "He who heeds instruction and correction is [not only himself] in the way of life [but also] is a way of life for others.  And he who neglects or refuses reproof [not only himself] goes astray [but also] causes to err and is a path toward ruin for others." (Amplified)

As Christians, it is our responsibility to hold one another accountable for our words, our actions and our walk with the Lord.  Reproof may not feel good when reproof is on the receiving end.  But to be honest, I'd rather receive reproof than render it.  Proverbs 12:1 promises "Whoever loves instruction and correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is like a brute beast, stupid and indiscriminating." (Amplified)

It takes spirit-sealed discernment to recognize another's need for reproof.  It takes a spirit-filled graciousness to deliver that reproof.  And it takes a spirit-yielded heart to receive that reproof.  Knowing this, Christians must take heed lest they be found guilty of the same need of reproof from another.

I want to thank someone for reproof rendered unto me.  You know who you are.  Through it I shall be more fit for the kingdom and will not cause err or pave a path toward ruin for others.  From it I will lead others in a way of life only Christ can be honored for.  Indeed, I find myself loving reproof at this moment.  And for the reproof I've received in years past.

May I now lead all who come in contact with me along a pathway to Life, Life Everlasting~~ abundant and peace-filled. selahV

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]      

WAR OF WORDS

IRAQ.  ISRAEL.  LEBANON.  IRAN.  SOMALIA.

SAN ANTONIO.

WAR

BLOGVILLE USA.

Everywhere we turn battlelines are being drawn--swords being raised, blood being spilled.

It is worse than I thought nine months ago when I started reading blogs and since October when I posted my first blog.  I'll admit that in the beginning I didn't have a clue what everyone was arguing about.  Some people called it debates.  But the hatred and venom that spewed from the blogs I read gave me little understanding of positions and less understanding of theology and doctrine.  In fact, every time I asked a question (I realize I wasn't the moderator of the blog) someone jumped on me like a chicken on a Junebug.  I learned not to take so much of that personally.  I tried not to ever retaliate in kind.  Instead, I felt called of God to read blogs and only respond when I felt the Lord leading me.

Sometimes my flesh got the better of me and I fired off a comment (one to Ben Cole before I knew it was Ben Cole) that I regret.  Other than that, I have a rather clear conscience.

I realize now that it's not okay for everyone (as in me and bloggers on Pete Lumpkins site) to have fun and be sarcastic.  Some people get offended in a big way as a result of it.  I played along in one post because the one who started it was a Calvinist and I knew he wouldn't mind.  But one blogger told me they didn't appreciate the humor that a couple of Calvinists, a couple of former Calvinists and I engaged in on one post.  Because I know it offended someone, I am truly sorry for my part in it, now.  At the time I certainly meant no harm.  But even coarse jesting is not acceptable to the Lord.  So perhaps all jokes should be weighed in light of that before one pops off a satirical, sarcastic remark.  I'm getting so I can't figure out who is joking and who is serious anymore.  Or for that matter, who is allowed to joke and who isn't.

Ben Cole and Robin Foster were going at it on one of Robin's blogs and I thought they were joking.  Then it turned ugly.  Then it seemed like they were joking again.  To be honest, I still don't know if they were funning or not.  I like Robin Foster, and it really upset me to see Ben Cole call him fat and accuse him of gluttony.  I'm overweight and I eat salad, fruit, chicken and fish.  Is my weight a symbol of gluttony? 

I'm very unhappy today.  I tried to focus on a positive and encourage someone on a blog and my heart was rebuffed.  I guess that happens when things aren't any of my business.  I should reserve comment in the future.  On all blogs, I think.  You see, I think all blogs are just a bunch of opinions.  And since no one asked for my opinion, why give it?  To see my words in print?  Actually, I believed I was going to help someone.  You see, I thought I knew them.  They seemed to be hurting over a situation and I felt compassion upon them.  I've been hurt like that before.  Many times.  But I know that getting angry only hurts me and my witness for the Lord.

As I read the comment in response to my effort, my heart felt like someone had plunged a knife into it.  My eyes filled with tears.  My words were not only not heard, but my heart had been rebuffed.  That wasn't enough.  My best friend in the whole world was also trashed.  And he hadn't said a word or made one comment in my comment that deserved such a thrashing.  I wish I'd never brought up his name.

I'm not angry.  I just feel sick.  An all over sick.  It's akin to the grief I feel from the loss of my son.  You see, when you think you have something and you treasure that something, and then discover you no longer have something and you begin to think that maybe you never did have that something. That discovery crushes your spirit as much as the loss of a person you love. I wrote in one of my blogs, it may have been two posts ago, that I was hurt years ago by someone I trusted.  It's kinda like that post.

Oh well.  I've been spending way too much time reading other blogs anyway.  I need to clean my house, weed my garden, study my Bible and pray more.  Slowly but surely, the Lord keeps weeding the blogs I read from my life.  I've had a hard time letting go of some.  But He knows what is best for me--what will edify me.  He knows where I should go to encourage and build up others.  I just need to pray more fervently that I be more of what He wants me to be.  The rest I'll leave with Him.  All I'm responsible for and accountable for is me.  My responses.  My attitudes.  I'm not everyone's keeper.  I think I'll take a page out of other bloggers' playbooks.  When they feel someone has been maligned or attacked, they write a post about it on their blogs and share their thoughts that way.  I think that is how I will do it in the future.  I always wondered why Jeremy Green didn't allow comments on his blog.  I think I understand that now. selahV

BY THE WAY, my dearest friend in the whole wide world has written two posts on two wonderful men of God.  I hope you can take the time to read them.  If you aren't a Southern Baptist, then they may not interest you.  But if you are a Southern Baptist, I think they are well worth your time.  Please click on SBC TOMORROW to read them.

GOD GAVE ME A TITHE AND MORE

My friend Barb called and asked if I wanted to meet for lunch the other day.  I had to run a bunch of errands so I told her I'd meet her in between running.  My hubby is able to get up on his own if he is very careful and doesn't do any sudden movements.  My daughter said to have him call her if he needed anything.  So I took a few minutes to fellowship with Barb.

It's been three weeks since my husband's open heart surgery.  When he gets up from a chair, out of the car, from bed--he can't take two steps without losing his breath.  Literally, he can't breathe.  He gasps for air.  It's the result of the heart attack and damage to his heart.  We went to the doctor yesterday and when he got out of the car, he took two or three steps and began turning white and gasping for air.  I managed to get him five steps further to a stone wall where he sat down in the parking lot for several minutes to regain his breathing.  As he felt better we slowly walked to the office.  He remarked, "Wow, I feel like an old man."  (Since he's not an old man, I can only assume he felt like he thought old men felt.)

The doctor said it is some congestive heart failure.  He gave him more medicine to add to the 9 pills he is already taking each day and said he should feel better in two or three days.  He ordered an echo-cardiogram to see how the blood flows throughout his heart now.  This will show him how well the heart is performing.

Hubby is extremely tired.  He doesn't do anything to get that way.  He has very little appetite and probably wouldn't eat at all if I didn't bring him something whether he asks for it or not.  Everything he does is an effort.  Even going outside and sitting on the back porch takes enormous amount of energy for him.

~~~~

In the midst of my errands, I went to my insurance office.  When I came out of the office, I found a ten-dollar bill in the parking space, next to my car.  It was rather exciting because I knew it would pay for my lunch with Barb.  I thought, "One dollar for tithe and nine dollars for lunch.  How neat!"

Then when Barb and I ordered lunch, she bought my lunch--said is was for my birthday coming up.  (She's such a sweetheart.)  While eating with Barb, she asked how we were doing financially.  I told her of the different people who had given us money.  How each time we got money it was just enough to meet our needs at that moment.  God was providing.  After we finished lunch, Barb told me she wanted to help us and wrote me a check for 100.00 to buy groceries.  I was so humbled.  She said, "I'd rather give you this than bring you flowers or some thing you don't need."

Later, I thought about how God is providing.  Our church paid our rent this month.  I had just enough in my banking account to pay my bills till the middle of the month because a friend from Kentucky (who was a member of our first church over twenty years ago) sent us a check for 500.00.  I thought of the hundred dollar gift from my friend, Barb.  I realized that God had actually provided the tithe on her gift to us with the ten-dollar bill in the parking lot.  All I was out was 1.00 and God had literally given that to me, too.  It's amazing.

I haven't worried much about finances.  I've given the problem to the Lord.  He wants it anyway.  He wants to show me how dependable and trustworthy He is.  I share this with you because I think someone somewhere needs to hear it.  As my hub and I walk through this valley, on the waves of life, I cannot believe it is for anything but God's glory.  And the only way He gets the glory is if I share how He is working in our lives.  So this is the least I can do in the scheme of things.  I pray He blesses you as much as He is blessing us.  selahV

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]

FACTORS OF SOVEREIGNTY

"There are many mysteries of faith that I'll never comprehend, this side of heaven, but even my mistakes seem factored into life beforehand." Victoria Gaines of Windows To My Soul.

Ever made a mistake?  Taken a wrong turn in the road?  Trusted someone you shouldn't have? 

I have.  Many times.  I can't seem to ever get the old addage fixed inside my mental state: "err on the side of caution."  Even in my most cautious moments, my most thoughtfully considered conversations--I find myself falling into the "Joseph pits" of life.

In my early Christian life, I had several Christian leaders who led me in a path that brought me out of those pits.  They helped me see God's sovereign grace and hand in those pits.  However, I had some who caused great turmoil for me.

One in particular, was a counselor I trusted completely.  He was a respected man of God.  Yet in the midst of our counseling he made an inappropriate advance toward me as I was leaving his office one day.  I was shocked, thunderstruck and humiliated.  I was a new Christian, struggling in my faith.  I had shared my deepest problems and struggles with this man.  I respected and trusted him.  Yet, after that incident, I never truly trusted a man again.  I always held something inside me in check.

I remember struggling with why it happened.  I blamed myself.  I wondered if I'd produced some unintentional signal that provoked him.  I never told a soul.  I never went back to him as a counselor or mentor.  From that day forward, I questioned all his teachings and all his instructions.  I tested every word he said in application to my life as a Christian.  I never accepted anything as gospel without having studied and proven that what I was hearing was true.

Throughout my thirty-plus-year walk as a Christian I've found I could never quite let go of that incident.  I had to verify what someone said before I'd trust it.  I had to test the metal of it and find it pure and worthy.  I think that is a good thing that came of a bad thing.

Today I wondered if I'd confronted him with what had happened, and the wrong of it, how things might have turned out.  At the time I was too stunned to speak or act on the matter.  Looking back, I'm sure it would have been hard for folks to believe me.  I wonder if there were other people victimized.  I have no way of knowing.  I'm not one to let an incident like this go without confronting the party, but in this case my tongue was frozen. 

But one thing is sure in my mind.  Had I done anything about it when it occurred, my husband's faith would have been severely damaged.  He was a vulnerable Christian, too.  And I don't think it would have served either of us in our faith or in our marriage.  I learned several things from the incident.

Foremost was forgiveness.  I learned to forgive an offense without holding a grudge.  I learned God was not man, and no man was perfect.  I learned God uses all things to bring about His purpose and plan for my life.  And I learned that I am not in control of very many of those things.  I learned to put on the whole armor of God in every situation.  Ultimately I learned, what satan sought to use to destroy, my Sovereign Lord used to build up and edify.

As Victoria said in one my comment threads and I posted above, "even my mistakes seem to be factored into life beforehand".

Sovereignty.

How blessed we are that we need not know all things.  selahV

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]