Category: Biblical Wisdom

Yesterday morning, a friend of mine posted a link to a blog on Facebook. It was titled “Take a little wine for your stomach (or how to live well in a stressful world.) It was based on 1 Timothy 5:23 which reads, “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and frequent illnesses.”

Here’s a link, if you would like to read it: http://artofholiness.com/2016/04/20/take-a-little-wine-for-your-stomach-or-how-to-live-with-sinful-people/

Being  someone who has coped with stomach issues caused by stress, for years, I was intrigued and not only did I read it, but I read it to my hubby too. It was a good article which had me thinking all day.

My first thought was in today’s super secular society with very little respect for God, I’m surprised some alcohol selling establishment doesn’t have the quote emblazoned in neon somewhere, touting that the Bible says we should all get sloshed for our health.

We’ve become pretty skilled these days, at making the Bible say, what we want it to say.

But, anyone who knows anything about the writer of that letter, Paul, would know that there’s no way that was Paul’s intent. Paul, however, was no stranger to the strife that goes on in churches and he was writing his young friend a letter of encouragement.

Churches are made up of broken people, kind of like gyms are often made up of people who aren’t in the best of shape, but are trying to get fit. Broken people can make us crazy and if we try to control or fix them, we are creating a ton of stress for ourselves.

The bottom line is, we can’t control or fix them.

For that matter, we can’t fix anyone in our lives, not even our own kids, spouses, or friends. We can share the truth with them. We can pray for them. We can pray with them. But, in the end, only Jesus can actually change them.

I think Paul was telling the younger man who was newer to the faith, to relax. Making himself sick over things he couldn’t control was useless, so perhaps he should drink a little wine. In other words, to chill out because God was in control.

But, then my hubby shared his thoughts about a deeper meaning and they were even better. He pointed out that wine, in Christianity, represents the blood of Jesus. Water was great and Timothy needed it to live, but to thrive and to not be riddled with stress and anxiety, which was leading to his health issues, what he really needed was more Jesus.

The same goes for us today. We tend to worry about everything, to the point of making ourselves sick. We try to fix and change people. We stress over all kinds of situations completely out of our control. We wonder if God is listening to our prayers. Is He going to help us or liberate us?

He has done even better. He sent Jesus to redeem us. Sure, a little wine may help to relax us. But, if we really want peace, we need more Jesus.

A Facebook post reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

 

I pinned the above quote on Pinterest a few weeks ago. I don’t really spend that much time on Pinterest. Quite frankly, it usually frustrates me. I’m not all that creative and I certainly can’t build a house out of wooden pallets, or a coffee table, or even a shelf. That kind of art is simply not my gift.

But, I do sometimes look for ideas for specific projects and I also look for spiritual inspiration there from time to time. I have written about fearless faith before and how Christians are called to live boldly, so “The phrase ‘Do not be afraid’ is written in the Bible 365 times. That’s a daily reminder from God to live everyday being fearless,” was a perfect pin for me.

What I didn’t expect was the amount of re-pins that came from that quote. Almost everyday, I have received a notice from Pinterest that someone else has re-pinned my pin. I laughed it off at first, but then I really began to think about it and pray about it.

What was God trying to show me?

Perhaps it’s that Christians are living in a lot of fear right now for many reasons. We have a presidential election coming up and for many, we feel that there’s no good candidate to represent us and our values. How can we possibly vote for either one?

We have a national debate going on about which sex should use which bathroom. Should people actually be able to choose?

Police officers are being shot in the streets simply for being police officers. Race relations are beginning to look more like they did in the sixties than in the year 2016.

Americans are angry, but we are also afraid. The future of our country seems awfully bleak to many. I suspect that’s why this pin has been so popular.

Realistically, as Christians, what are we to do?

First of all, we need to pray. We need to pray that God will raise up leaders who will seek His will. Then we need to pray for wisdom on who we should vote for. The Bible tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him.” James 1:5

After much prayer, we have to vote for the candidate who God puts on our hearts and after doing that, we need to pray for that candidate.

If we need some courage, we can seek it from the scripture. We worship the same God who changed the murderous heart of Saul to the Jesus loving, church building heart of Paul.

We need to pray for peace in our country. We need to pray that our young people will stop rebelling against authority as we ourselves seek to try to follow the will of God in our own lives.

We need to remember to put on the entire Armor of God, found in Ephesians 6:10-6:17. We need to remember the words of Jesus in Mark 5:39-40 “He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?'”

The storms are raging right now. There’s not doubt about it, but we have to remember that we worship the God who made the seas and the wind and we are redeemed by the One who can quiet them with a single command.

God is still in control. Do not be afraid.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

Last weekend, I finally planted some tomato plants as well as a few okra plants. I also planted some herbs around the edges of my raised beds in hopes of foiling the very bold and always hungry deer, who are only too happy to jump my fence to get to my plants. Deer won’t eat herbs; so we will see how it all works out.

I planted some annuals too, all very lovingly and looking forward to watching it all take root. I even found myself saying a prayer for  protection over my tender new plants.

I came home from work yesterday and watered everything. There was a fabulous breeze. It’s always so exciting planting something new. I was saying a prayer of thanks for the beautiful day and the growing plants when I was reminded that it’s always great in the beginning.

At the beginning of the growing season, I can’t wait to get outside to check on the progress of fresh life. I look forward to watering and nurturing what I planted with my own hands.

The weather is so nice in the beginning, but as the season wears on, I get weary. As May turns to June, it gets hot and by July, it’s scorching. In July, I dread going outside to water because it doesn’t matter whether it’s 8:00 in the morning or in the evening, it’s scorching hot.

Then there’s the pests. By July, some sort of insect will be attacking my plants. Everything from white flies to tomato worms will be interested in destroying what I worked hard to grow. It’s a never-ending struggle and I get weary. But, I won’t give up.

I won’t give up because I am committed to protect and nurture what I have planted even when it’s not always fun.

I am reminded of other things in life that deserve the same commitment even when we get weary. Exercise plans are always exciting in the beginning. New eating plans are exciting in the beginning. New jobs are usually exciting. New relationships are exciting too. New church memberships and new Bible studies and prayer plans are also exciting in the beginning.

When something is new, it’s easy to get on board. It’s fresh. It’s exciting. Making a commitment in the beginning of anything is a piece of cake. The work doesn’t even feel like work and we are happy and grateful for a while. Then, as the season wears on, we get weary, just like I feel about watering and fighting pests in July.

But, when we feel weary, we need to pray and lean into Jesus. Commitment has nothing to do with feelings. Commitment is a promise and when we are doing God’s work, there is help. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit knows how to pray for us when we don’t even know what to pray.

The Bible also tells us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 That goes for harvests way more important than tomatoes and okra.

Sometimes we need a break. Sometimes we need rest, but giving up on what God has planted in us and for us shouldn’t be an option.

A cool breeze reminded me today. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

When I was a kid, my mama used to drive a van load of us to Six Flags every summer. Sometimes we even went twice. We looked forward to it every year and I was so excited about it the night before, I could hardly sleep.

It was a two hour drive from our house to Atlanta and it seemed to take forever to get there. When we finally arrived, we had a system. We hit each ride in order, so we didn’t miss any. We didn’t skip any even if there was a line.

In fact, if there was a long line, Mama would suggest we get a snack or a drink to consume while we waited. It never occurred to us to skip a ride because we had to wait. Due to the fact that we always brought a load of some of our most favorite people in the world with us, we had people to talk to in line. Besides, for the most part, the lines got us out of the Georgia summer heat.

The rides were usually worth the wait.

But, people don’t like to wait. These days, at Six Flags, you can pay extra, on top of your already expensive ticket and avoid waiting in lines, by purchasing a Fast Pass. You get to go to the front. Since we don’t like to wait on anything, Six Flags will help all of those impatient people out, for a fee.

The entire idea of refusing to wait in a line at an amusement park, baffles me. I remember my friends and I as teens, always looking out for cute boys in the queue lines. Those lines were also a way to get a quick break. I never considered waiting for a ride to be a bad thing.

I’m not sure the fast movement has been very beneficial for us. Fast food has made us obese. Fast meals have also done away with family time around the table, where everyone talks about their day. Driving fast will get us a speeding ticket. Jumping in an out of relationships too quickly, brings us nothing, but heartache. The list goes on.

God’s way is a different way. The Bible teaches us that waiting is not a bad thing. It builds, patience, faith, trust and character. Jacob waited for fourteen years to marry Rachael. It was thirteen years from when Joseph was sold into slavery and when he was finally set free. Jesus endured forty days and nights of temptation from Satan in the wilderness before he finally left him alone.

There are times in our lives when we are called to wait on God’s timing and it’s usually timing that we don’t understand. If we never have to wait on the little things along the way, like waiting for a ride at an amusement park, or for a cake to bake, can we possibly have the patience or perseverance when we need it?

And often times there’s rest in the waiting, and there’s fellowship and there’s grace. There’s really no way to know what we might miss if we always refuse to wait.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

As I was recently reading through the Exodus of Israel account, I noticed that God stayed ahead of the Israelites and they followed Him. “By day,  the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.” Exodus 13:21

Isn’t that interesting that God didn’t push them or force them along their journey? Nope. He stayed ahead of them and beckoned them to follow. Not only that, He went out of His way to make sure they could see Him at all times, even in darkness.

What does that tell us about the character of our God?

Skip ahead to Jesus. He is known as the, “Good Shepherd.” Shepherds also call not herd or push. They call to the sheep who know their voice and they follow.

As I was appreciating the fact that God was leading His people to safety, the Egyptians came on in strong pursuit. The Israelites were terrified. But, God gave Moses instructions to raise his staff to divide the sea.

“Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.” Exodus 14:19-20

God got in between. He got between the Israelites and those which sought to harm them. He shed light on His own people while leaving their enemies in darkness.

What does that tell us about the character of God?

Skip ahead to Jesus. He intervened too. He got between all of humanity and sin. He took on all of our sin and death. His intervention guarantees eternal life for those of us who accept Him. He was willing to get in between us and the one who seeks to harm us.

Just like God provided light for the Israelites on that fateful night, Jesus provides everlasting light to those of us who believe. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12b

Here we see that word follow again.

So, what can we learn from these Old Testament and New Testament readings telling of events over fifteen hundred years apart?

The love of God for His people never changes. He guides us. He wants us to follow. He fights for us when we are pursued by evil of some sort. He loves us so much that He sent His son to get in between us and sin for good. We all matter to Him.

So, whatever may be pursuing you today, self-doubt, pain, anger, financial woes, addiction, whatever it may be, keep in mind that when you worship the God who parted the Red Sea, the God who gently guides you, the God who provides light in the darkness and intervenes for His people, you will overcome.

Maybe you needed reminding.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

I’m currently following along with an online Bible study on the website #shereadstruth. It’s about the life of Moses and his part in the deliverance of the Israelites. One day last week, I read the passage, in Exodus, chapter five, where Moses asked Pharaoh to let the people go and not only did he refuse, he made their work more difficult.

They already had to make bricks, but now they were forced to find their own straw, yet do the same amount of work. Of course, they couldn’t keep up and then they were punished for it. The Israelites, in turn, got very angry at Moses for causing their newest misery.

I’ve always wondered why God would allow that to happen. They were already slaves. He was sending Moses to lead them out. Why didn’t He intervene, when Pharaoh decided to make a bad situation worse?

The writer for that day’s post pointed out that slavery had become the norm for the Israelites. She said that although it was a miserable way of life, they had become comfortable with it. God wanted to make it truly unbearable for them before He led them to something new.

Her point has swirled around in my mind for several days. I always love those Facebook quotes that say things like, “When God closes a door, don’t try to go back through it.” They always speak to me.

I know I have definitely been in situations where some aspect of my life was miserable, but the misery that I knew at the time, was what I had become used to. I was perfectly willing to stay in my misery instead of closing the door and starting on a new path. The unknown was scary.

Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation?

I have also found that when I really began to earnestly pray about my miserable situation, that things often did seem to get worse before they got better.

Was that perhaps because God wanted me, like the Israelites, to embrace the fact that He had a better plan and that my own circumstances at that moment, could never again be an option? Was it because He wanted me to accept with all of my heart, that when He closed that door, that I was to leave it locked for good?

Have you ever experienced this phenomenon?

I have always believed that God has a plan. I have also not always sought His will as I made decisions. Those decisions sometimes created a mess for me. Yet, our faithful Father, was always there to lead me out, at times more quickly than others.

These days, I bathe my major decisions in lots of prayer and regular Bible reading. I would like to think I’m getting better at listening.

The account of God getting ready to lead the Israelites out of bondage and towards the Promised Land reminded me of God’s faithfulness even when we can’t see it in the moment. I sometimes need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂