Monday Manna - "Who is that Masked Hypocrite?"

My mind needs time to let thoughts sink in. I often need a day or so to apply the truths I learn at church on Sunday. I hope to share these meditations here each week. Feel free to comment or share them with others.

(I hope you can take the time to listen to the sermon link.)

MASKS

Some masks are worn for protection - 

underwater mask

medical mask

welding mask

baseball catcher mask

gas mask

Masks can also give a person a different character. 

A child may wear a mask to pretend he is an animal. 

Some masks are worn for theatrical purposes. 

Comic super heroes wear masks while saving the world - 

or villains, while trying to conquer it.

When a person feels safe behind a false face, they usually act differently than normal. Pranksters on Halloween and Mardi Gras wear masks so they can do mischief anonymously. Criminals wear ski masks to avoid being identified. Many cultures wear masks as part of their tribal ceremonies. 

Sunday's sermon reminded us that very often people wear masks when we want to appear religious. We put on our suits and ties, or dress and high heels. We smile and shake hands and look like the picture-perfect Christian. But if others could see our thoughts, or how we act at home, our invisible masks would be made evident. 

God sees our inner heart.

He knows our motives.

He hear our thoughts. 

He sees beyond our masks.

May we pray, like David, 

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; 

try me, and know my thoughts." (Psalm 139:23)

 "Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts." (Psalm 51:5)

(Listen to Sermon)

Monday Manna - "My Attitude"

My mind needs time to let thoughts sink in. Often, I need a day or so to apply the truths I learn at church on Sunday to my life. Our pastor puts his sermons very neatly into a simple outline form - which makes it easier to remember. (even when I can't take notes) I hope to share these meditations here each week. Feel free to comment or share them with others. (I hope you can take the time to listen to the sermon link.)

"My Attitude"

In our kids' program, JOY Club, we sing a simple chorus that has been pricking my heart.

Work on your attitudes, the way you know you should

Put away those selfish thoughts and think of only good

Check all those motives, make sure they pass the test

Then the Lord will help you to do your very best

You’ve got to work on your attitudes in all you do and say

Look for opportunities, to practice them each day

People around you are watching all you do

So work on your attitudes; faith, joy and gratitude

Yes work on your attitudes today!

When I go to church, sing in the choir, give my offering, pray out loud, teach a class, etc., am I doing it with the right attitude? Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, saying, "But all their works they do for to be seen of men..." (Matthew 23:5)

Yes, those are all good things. We are told to worship together, to encourage each other, to pray together, to sing together, to teach others, but are we doing it to look good or because we love the Lord and our church family?

It comes back to the issue of pride and lack of humility. 

Neither should I think of myself as higher or more important than other Believers. Jesus warned of men giving themselves more authority than they should. "... all ye are brethren" and " he that is greatest among you shall be your servant." (Matt. 23:6,8) The Holy Spirit is in all Believers. He can work through anyone, no matter their age or level of education or experience. I can learn truths about God from a child that loves the Lord, just as much as from a person with a doctorate in theology. I should always have a humble and teachable attitude.

So, why should I do good things? 

I know that I don't gain Brownie Points with God by doing my good deed for the day. What is the purpose of doing good things? To bring glory to God.

My life should be conducted with a high level of standards, not because I live under the fear of the law, but because I love God and want to be like Him. "We should be as strict as the Bible teaches, but not stricter - adding more rules to what God has already said." (R. Bonin) The Holy Spirit is the One that will convict and teach me how to live. I should not place my convictions as rules upon others, teaching them that this is the way to please God.

When I "love God with all our hearts, and soul, and mind, and strength," then I will naturally do those things that please Him. I will show kindness and love to others. I will have patience and self-control and good attitudes in my daily life. It's not a matter of trying to be good, but letting the Spirit live through me.

"Man Made Religion"

(Matthew 22:41-46, 23:1-12)

(CLICK HERE)

Am I Grown Up Now?

This weekend our daughter and her husband took our old slides and transformed them into digital form. We had a lot of ahhhs and giggles over how much we've changed.

Looking in the mirror later, I felt old and fat, but then I realized that I was also wiser and more confident as a person. I thought, "I've grown up, but sometimes I don't feel grown up."

Over the years, God has been teaching me many lessons.

He's worked on my pride

covetousness,

careless words,

bitterness,

ungratefulness,

worrying,

grumbling,

discontent,

etc.

Have I grown up as a Christian?

Have I learned my lessons?

(Yes.... and no)

I've learned to trust God more.

I've learned to be more grateful.

I've learned to be more aware of others.

I'm far from having attained perfection,(and I won't until I get to heaven) but God knows me, and He knows I'm still learning.

"He's still working on me,

To make me what I ought to be;

It took Him just week to make the moon and stars,

The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.

How loving and patient He must be!

He's still working on me."

Over the next few weeks, I'd like to do a series of posts about what God has been teaching me.

"Grow in grace and in the knowledge

of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ"

(II Peter 3:18)

Monday Manna - Justice and Mercy

What is God like?

"...Let thine eyes observe My ways."

(Proverbs 23:26)

Is He a stern ruler that requires man to measure up to His high standards? Are His ways so high that we cannot attain them? Does He punish those who go their own way?

God is holy. He is pure. His laws are right. He is the Creator and Designer of all things. He also has the power to destroy.

"Be not wise in thine own eyes;

fear the Lord, and depart from evil."

(Proverbs 3:7)

Yet...

there is another side of our God.

Like a light and shelter in the midst of an angry storm, we find that God is also gracious and merciful, and full of compassion. So sweet is that mercy in the midst of our sin and God's justice!

Jonah said,

"...for I knew that Thou art a gracious God,

and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness..."

A holy and righteous God cannot allow sin to go unpunished, so how can He also be merciful and gracious? It was at the cross that His justice met His mercy. Jesus, the sinless man, took the punishment for sin to satisfy the requirement of God's justice. Those who accept this wondrous gesture of love receive the gift of God's mercy.

"Justice and judgment are the habitation of Thy throne;

mercy and truth shall go before Thy face."

(Psalm 89:14)

Add your link here, if you wish to join me on

Monday Manna - Peace in Your Heart

Each week, I hope to share what God is teaching me through His word. Feel free to join me each Monday. What have learned about God recently? Post your thoughts on your blog or website and link to mine at the bottom of this page.

(Mid's Pix)

With a new year comes the effort to make it a better one. Many people resolve to lose weight, spend less money, or accomplish some project. They hope that their lives will be happier and more peaceful.

Our pastor, Russell Bonin, gave a great soul-searching message yesterday about finding lasting peace in your heart using this Scripture.

(Philippians 4:6-9)

"Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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.

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received,

and heard, and seen in me, do:

and the God of peace shall be with you."

We will never find peace in life until we find peace with God in our hearts. Our attempts to change our life will not be successful until we have an inward change.

It starts with prayer. We must focus on who God is and worship Him. The closer we are to God, the more we will know His will and align our will to His. When we present our requests, they will be given in an attitude of thanksgiving and yieldedness.

Peace will rule in our hearts as we trust in His sovereignty. Our prayers will change, our hearts will change, our attitudes will change. We will become calmer, knowing that our God does everything best.



Changes in our hearts also comes from the way we think. We are pummeled by evil thoughts constantly. God says to think on things that are -

True

(not what we imagine things to be)

Honest

(honorable)

Just

(things that are upright)

Pure

(without stain)

Lovely

(beautiful, sweet spirited)

Good Report

(good news, not critical)

Virtuous

(moves us to do better)

Praise-worthy

(something worth telling others)

What we think is how we will act. When our minds and hearts are in tune with God's, then our actions and our lives will change. We will have true and lasting peace.

Lord, draw us closer to You. Teach us to pray. Search us for wrong attitudes. Fill our minds with good thoughts. May we feel Your peace in our hearts today. In Jesus' Name, Amen

Monday Manna Changes

Usually on Mondays, either Joanne Sher at Open Book Blog or I would post a verse and then write a devotional on it.

It's been a great learning experience to see how God speaks to different people about the same Scripture. I have enjoyed it, but I found that I often felt that I wanted to write about something else God had been teaching me. I will still be posting devotionals on Mondays, only not on a pre-determined Scripture or subject.

Feel free to join me with your own devotionals on Mondays.

Monday Manna - "Come Unto Me"

Today's Monday Manna

is hosted by Joanne Sher

at An Open Book.

We are focusing on this verse -

"But Mary kept all these things

and pondered them in her heart."

(Luke 2:19)

Mary was an ordinary girl. Every Hebrew girl knew the promise of the Messiah to be born of a virgin. Mary was not a perfect girl; she was a sinner, like anyone else, but she had a humble and submissive heart. God had a special job for her to do. It was very difficult right from the start. Even her intended husband did not believe her at first. She was made an outcast, so that God could be glorified.

I'm reading a new book that tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of Mary. Laura Davis puts the reader in Mary's sandals -all the emotions, fears and joys, of this wonderful honor bestowed on her.

(excerpt from Come Unto Me )

"Quietly, the shepherds shuffled into the warm, cozy stable. As soon as they saw the baby in the manger, they fell to their knees in worship. Mary watched in silence, struck numb by the sudden clarity of who the baby in the manger was. 'I just gave birth to the Son of God! Blessed be the Lord!'

She looked around the stable. What a contrast! Cows, goats, and sheep surrounded her. She sat in a bed of hay while the king of the world slept in a feeding trough at her side. And wonder of wonders, the shepherds were kneeling in the hay worshiping her son. She looked at Joseph, who had fallen to his knees. What a night! What a joy! Her heart overflowed with thanksgiving for Yahweh's provision and she wept with happiness."

Interview with Laura Davis

Monday Manna - God's Shopping List

I am hosting Monday Manna today, where we meet to together to study a portion of God's Word. You may link to your blog with thoughts on this verse (with the Linky at the bottom of this page), or you may add a comment.

"Buy the truth and sell it not;

also wisdom and instruction, and understanding."

(Proverbs 23:23, KJV)

'Tis the season for shopping. Anyone who has ventured to the malls in the last few weeks will experience the crazy experience of people spending their savings (or going into debt) on gifts for Christmas.

When my children were young, we gave them $10 and let them loose in the dollar store. They loved it! They could buy something for everyone in the family all by themselves. As they got older and got jobs, they realized how hard it was to to earn money. They were able to buy more valuable gifts, and they became more particular of the quality and durability of their purchases.

Today's verse is talking about buying some things much more valuable and durable than video games or leather coats. We can't buy them with money or even credit. We buy these with our time and hearts. We buy them with our lives.

TRUTH

(eternal facts about God)

"All things were made by Him." (John 1:3)

"The LORD our God is holy" (Psalm 99:9)

"For God so loved the world." (John 3:16)

"I will come again." (John 14:3)

WISDOM

(applying God's will to our lives)

"Love your enemies" (Luke 6:27)

"Forgiving one another" (Eph. 4:32)

"Take no thought for tomorrow." (Matt. 6:34)

"A soft answer turns away wrath." (Prov. 15:1)

INSTRUCTION and UNDERSTANDING

(lessons from God's Word)

"Search the Scriptures" (John 5:39)

"Thy Word is lamp unto my feet." (Psalm 119:105)

"Obey them that have the rule over you" (Heb. 13:17)

"Observe to do according to all that is written therein" (Joshua 1:9)

Have you been looking for

TRUTH and WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING?

God said,

"Ask, and ye shall be given you,

Seek, and ye shall find,

Knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

(Luke 11:9)

Monday Manna - New Verse Dec. 12

I will be hosting Monday Manna this next week. Take the time to find this verse in your Bible. Read the other verses before and after it to get the context, then next Monday, write what the Lord has taught you about Himself. Post it on your blog, and link it to mine, or just write your thoughts in the comment section, so we all can learn from it together.

"Buy the truth, and sell it not;
also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding."
(Proverbs 23:23, KJV)

Waiting for God's Springtime

Today's Monday Manna
is hosted by Joanne Sher
at An Open Book.
We are focusing on this verse -

"For as the earth bringeth forth her bud,
and as the garden causeth the things
that are sown in it to spring forth;
so the LORD GOD will cause righteousness and praise
to spring forth before all the nations."
Isaiah 61:11

When I moved from the Bahamas as a child, I couldn't understand why the other children drew pictures of the trees like naked sticks. I thought the barren, winter trees looked ugly and dead. I stubbornly drew tropical palm trees in my pictures.

Even after living in New York and Maine through my teen years, I still preferred evergreens to the spindly deciduous trees. It wasn't until my husband taught me to tell which ones were still alive (sleeping and waiting for spring) that I learned to appreciate the shape of their trunks and branches.

When the leaves begin to appear on the trees, it's a joyous time of celebration. The long wait is over! Life has come back to the earth. The birds sing; flowers bloom; even the gurgling streams are happy. The tiny peeper frogs fill the night air with their praises. The earth is full of His joy.

Our world is approaching the dark wintertime. There will come a time when the light of the Holy Spirit will be taken away. It will be a cold and dark time, a time of wickedness and death.

But it will not last forever...

God has also promised a blessed and fruitful time. He will return to earth as King. The long wait is over! The earth will be filled with "righteousness and praise." The whole earth will celebrate the return of life and joy.

There will be peace on earth.

(www.wallacepathwaysart.com)

What is God's Light?

I am hosting Monday Manna today, where we meet to together to study a portion of God's Word. You may link to your blog with thoughts on this verse (with the Linky at the bottom of this page), or you may add a comment.

"Where is the way where light dwelleth?

And as for darkness,

where is the place thereof?"

(Job 38:19, KJV)

What is light?

According to the dictionary, it is "electromagnetic radiation that has a wavelength in the range from about 4,000 (violet) to about 7,700 (red) angstroms and may be perceived by the normal unaided human eye."

We considered the most basic form of light to be the sun, but it wasn't the first light. On the first day of creation, God said, "Let there be light!" and there was light. What was this light? It wasn't the sun, for that wasn't created until the 4th day. It was God's light.

Light travels at 186,000 miles a second. I looked up the explanations of how scientists discovered this, but my small mind couldn't comprehend it. I only know that even though light is moving, God made it already here when it was created, giving it age at its conception.

"Where is the way where light dwelleth?

And as for darkness,

where is the place thereof?"

(Job 38:19, KJV)

God showed Job the wonders of creation that only He could know. Physics, biology, and astronomy, which were "discovered" later in time, are all discussed in these chapters. (Job 39-41) We learn of dragons and other creatures that are not around any more.

In thinking again of light and darkness, it brings to mind the times when the Bible describes unnatural forms of darkness. God plagued the Egyptians with a strange darkness.



"And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt, and Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They saw not one another, neither rose from his place for three days, but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings." (Exodus 10:21-23, KJV)

Two more times, God used this "thick darkness" in the book of Exodus. Darkness is also mentioned in Revelation, in the time of the Great Tribulation and in the everlasting punishment of Satan and those who have followed him.

"God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all."

(I John 1:5)

Every time, God gives man a glimpse of heaven, of angels, or of His glory - a very bright light is the first sensation of being in the presence of something supernatural. God's glory shows His presence.

"Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation,

and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle."

(Exodus 40:34)

Heaven is always described as being filled with light - brighter than the sun, brighter than anything we can imagine. It is filled with God's light.

"And the city had no need of the sun,

neither of the moon, to shine in it;

for the glory of God did lighten it,

and the Lamb is the light thereof."

(Revelation 21:23)

I think God's light will surround us like the air in heaven. I wonder if the "white robes" are really light. Perhaps Adam and Eve were clothed in light before they sinned.

We think we can control light with electrical power, but we can only simulate real light. God creates His light with only a word. He can withhold it with thick darkness. He can reveal glimpses of it to mankind. There will be a day when we will see Him as He is, in all His glory!

Monday Manna - New Verse Nov. 28

I will be hosting Monday Manna this next week. Take the time to find this verse in your Bible. Read the other verses before and after it to get the context, then next Monday, write what the Lord has taught you about Himself. Post it on your blog, and link it to mine, or just write your thoughts in the comment section, so we all can learn from it together.

"Where is the way where light dwelleth?

And as for darkness,

where is the place thereof?"

(Job 38:19, KJV)

Do You Know God?

Today's Monday Manna
is hosted by Joanne Sher
at An Open Book.
We are focusing on this verse -

"But let him who glories, glory in this -
That he understands and knows Me,
that I am the LORD,
exercising lovingkindness,
judgment, and righteousness in the earth -
for in these I delight."
(Jeremiah 9:24, NKJV )




I know a lot of people.

My family teases me because I have many more friends on Facebook than they have. My husband asks me, "Do you know all those people?"

Some of them are in my writing group. We share an interest. I only know their names. I have acquaintances - those I've met through my children or a mutual friend, people who live in my town. There are others I know a bit more - students, teachers, extended family, and neighbors. Of course, I know my family and closer friends. I know their birthdays and their interests. I know how to make them laugh and when they are feeling low. Best of all, I know my husband. I know what is thinking without him saying a word. I know how he feels about things. I know how he will react to certain circumstances.

It's been said, "It's not what you know, but who you know."

I can brag that know the author of the "Left Behind" books and the president of Bibles International Mission. Some people brag that they know a movie star or sports celebrity.

God says,
"But let him who glories, glory in this -
That he understands and knows Me,
that I am the LORD,
exercising lovingkindness,
judgment, and righteousness in the earth -
for in these I delight."
(Jeremiah 9:24, NKJV )

God wants us to know Him - to know His will, to know how He feels about things, to know His lovingkindness and righteousness.

Do you know God?

~ ~ ~

Smelling Good

I am hosting Monday Manna today, where we meet to together to study a portion of God's Word. You may link to your blog with thoughts on this verse (with the Linky at the bottom of this page), or you may add a comment.

"And walk in love,

as Christ has loved us

and given Himself for us,

an offering and a sacrifice to God

for a sweet-smelling aroma."

(Ephesians 5:2, NKJV)

As a mom, I've had my share of odors in our house. It began with the diapers. No matter how cute babies are, they're not so cute when they stink. Before long those kids are sprouting up. They go through a stage where they don't like to shower or change their socks, and no matter how much you love them, they stink. Then there are the teenager stinky bedrooms - the gym bags, the sour towels, the left-over pizza, plus the hair spray and cologne. That stinks.

God wants us to smell good - "a sweet aroma."

I find it interesting to read about the Old Testament tabernacle. God orchestrated every item, every piece of clothing, and every movement of the way He wanted to be worshiped.

For years, I thought the "sweet-smelling savor" was the incense that the priests burned in the holy place with their prayers, which I'm sure had a distinct pleasant odor. But this phrase is continually associated with the burnt offerings on the brazen altar. The sacrifices on his altar displayed the repentant and contrite heart.

"It is a burnt offering to the LORD;

it is a sweet aroma,

an offering made by fire to the LORD."

(Exodus 29:18b, NKJV)

Even if a person showers with strawberry bodywash and wears the ocean breeze deodorant, even if they sing in the choir and go to every church meeting, but they have a prideful and rebellious attitude, then they stink.

God loves our praise and our devotion, but it's the prayer of a humble heart that smells good to the Lord.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present yourselves a living sacrifice,

holy and acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service."

(Romans 12:1)

Christ gave us the example of giving up His "rights" with a humble and sacrificial love. God wants a sacrifice from us, not a sacrifice of lambs and bulls, but more than that. He wants us. He wants our full surrender - "a living sacrifice" - willing to do anything, to go anywhere, to be whatever He asks.

That is a sweet-smelling aroma to God.