Cedarbrook Devotionals

Spider Waiting

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle "Olli" Hedgepeth) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 18:00:00 +0000

"Wait patiently for the Lord, be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord." Psalm 27:14

It is 5:45 am. The sun has begun to soak the field with its warmth. I am sitting on the veranda watching as the grass turns a rich shade of green after the early morning grey has been washed away. At 5:15 am the birds had started their singing and squawking so by now they are in full swing. Nature is noisy in a quiet sort of way. As I am looking out and contemplating the field, I notice a lump of black just a few yards from the steps of the veranda. I lean forward in my chair. Sure enough. There is a big hairy tarantula sitting in the grass. He is so big that I have no problem making out the shape of his body and the position of his many legs. But he is just sitting there very still.

Oh well, I hear a flock of parrots passing overhead. They are incredibly loud and not at all pretty in their, umm, I don’t think I can call it a song. They just seem to like to let you know they are passing. I can see their green heads and yellow beaks as the beat their wings and fly towards the river. It is my time for devotions so I want to get back to my prayer time. As I go to lower my head, my eye once again catches the spider. He is in the same place and still not moving. What is he doing there? Why doesn’t he move? He must have some place to go. I find myself getting impatient for him. Get going. Move along. What can be keeping him in that same spot?

And then I remember the verse I had just read. Psalm 27:14 – “Wait patiently for the Lord, Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”

A tarantula in the middle of the field with birds flying overhead…….waiting.

A woman on the veranda with a crazy day ahead with so much to do and so many people depending on her………….waiting. Thank you, Lord!

Stick To The Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle "Olli" Hedgepeth) — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:20:00 +0000

"Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you." Exodus 25:8-9

When God spoke to Noah, he had a plan. His plan was to destroy the earth and every living thing. However, he saw that Noah was a righteous man. God told Noah that he would save him and his family. So he told Noah to build an ark. This is the important part: God told Noah exactly how to build this ark; type of wood, dimensions, the whole detailed plan.

When God was talking to Moses, he told him that he had a plan. He wanted to be among the people, so he wanted Moses to build an ark. It would be the Ark of the Covenant. God’s presence would dwell there. The important part once again, is that God told Moses exactly how to build it. He even told him how much stuff he would need to build it. He told him exactly what to do for each part down to the petals on the lampstand and the rings for the poles to carry the ark.

So we see that God always has a plan and with his plan he has instructions. God did not tell Noah, “Look, I want to save you and your family, so build yourself a boat and make sure that it floats and has plenty of room in it.” He didn’t tell Moses, “I want to be among my people, so come up with some kind of thing that will be carried around.”

I think that we mostly realize that God has a plan that he is inviting us to be a part of, however, we act as though we are the ones who have to come up with the way to carry out his plan. We use our “brains” to come up with something that will carry out what God has planned. But who can think up the things that God can? Noah and Moses listened to the Lord and heard HIS PLAN and HIS DIRECTIONS . I realize that when God reveals to us what he is about to do, we need to sit and listen to him for the directions he has for the execution of his plan. And his plan is always a good one. God also told Moses to make sure that he stuck to the plan. Sometimes God will tell us to do things that may seem weird or a little crazy. When we have spent time in prayer and allowed the Lord to reveal his directions to us, we have to stick to the plan and see where he leads.

The Purpose Of My Instruction

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle "Olli" Hedgepeth) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:52:00 +0000

The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. 1 Timothy 1:5

No matter what we do in life, purpose is very important. It also helps for our purpose to be clear. Sometimes I get very confused when I am aiming for a sort of hazy looking purpose. For instance, I am involved in children’s ministry. So what is my purpose. I can think of a lot of goals that I might have. I hope to have the best Bible lesson I can. I hope to teach the children a new song. But that is not my purpose.

1Timothy 1:5 “The purpose of my instruction(children’s ministry) is that all believers(children attending my ministry) would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart(right motives), a clear conscience(repentant), and genuine faith(obedient living).

This verse struck me as the purpose of my ministry. What do I want to teach these children? What am I hoping that they will learn? I need to teach them about a pure heart, what are their motives? They need to learn to examine themselves each day. Then I need to teach them to have a clear conscience. They need to learn to come to the Lord and repent- to take responsibility for their choices and actions and then ask the Lord for forgiveness. I have to teach them that genuine faith is acting in obedience to Jesus. They have to learn to live out what they believe in their everyday life. If I believe that Jesus will be with me, I have to be obedient and live the way he tells me to in the Bible.

These are the things that I need to be teaching the children I minister to. This is my purpose – to make disciples. Then they will be filled with the love of Jesus to reach out to everyone around them.

Reveal...Respond...Repent

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle "Olli" Hedgepeth) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:55:00 +0000

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:7-10

What exactly does it mean to humble yourself before God? As I was praying about this just this morning I felt that I got a good answer. Humbling ourselves is when we ask the Lord to bring to light all the darkness in our hearts. It is when we ask him to show us our true motives. It is when we ask him to reveal the shadows with us. This is a very humbling experience because the Lord will do it and he doesn’t miss anything that we have hidden within. However, when we pray for this to happen, we must have the correct response. In James 4:9 it says, “Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.” That is what repentance should look like. When the Lord reveals our hearts to us, there should be deep repentance. Even though you may not think that the issues God has revealed are such a big deal, if God has brought it to light after your prayer than it is something you have to repent of and deal with. Remember this is about being humble before God. Do not rationalize or excuse or even justify. Let humility rise up within you and repent. The issue in question may have more to do with someone else and your obedience could make all the difference! James 4:8 says, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.” Don’t let your loyalty be divided. Choose humility, choose Jesus.

Lay It Before the Lord- for His Glory

noreply@blogger.com (Danielle "Olli" Hedgepeth) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:48:00 +0000

Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: "O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.

"It is true, O Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone, fashioned by men's hands. Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God." 2 Kings 19:14-19

Hezekiah received a letter. It was a threat to him and his kingdom, but more than that, it was an insult to the living God. Hezekiah took the letter and then spread it before the Lord. Then Hezekiah prayed.

He didn't say, "Lord, save me, I don't want to die." He didn't reason out all the good things he had done so that God would spare him. Hezekiah merely pointed out to God that all the boasting in the letter was meaningless, because the gods that the Assyrians had destroyed were not gods at all but wood and stone fashioned by the hands of mere men.

And then Hezekiah prayed, "Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God."

I can't help but feel a little guilty. Do I pray like that in the face of trouble? Hezekiah didn't pray for a victory for himself. He didn't even make a plea for his people. Hezekiah was concerned only for the glory of the Lord and the establishing of God as the living God among all the nations.

Are we seeking and praying for God's glory to be revealed or are we only concerned with our own welfare or the welfare of our ministry or family. When trouble comes, do we lay it before the Lord and name it for what it is, the hollow threat of the enemy, and then pray that God will answer to bring his glory before everyone? We all must face our Sennacherib from time to time. Instead of giving in to desperation, we need to recognize the deception. Sennacherib boasted of destroying gods, but Hezekiah recognized that they were only man-made idols. After we see the truth of the situation we must ask the Lord to bring glory to himself in the midst of our situation.

Sennacherib's threat came to nothing that very night while Hezekiah slept in his bed!

Just Like A Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:41:00 +0000

“But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” Psalm 1:2-3

Trees are amazing. They live many years. They grow in all different sizes reaching up to the sunlight while sending roots below the ground to find nourishment. Trees offer shade from the heat and then shelter from the rain. They produce leaves and flowers, fruit and wood. They can be a home for a squirrel or offer a branch for a robin’s nest. When I was young I found great delight in climbing to the top of the tree in our yard. My brother and I spent many hours in the tree house we had built in a big old tree in the woods across the street. What peace there to sit beneath a sturdy oak to read a book or take a nap.

Trees are amazing. They live through the seasons, changing..changing..changing again and again. They are stark and lonely in the winter. Spring awakens the buds that bloom and flower throughout the summer. At last the trees burst forth into an amazing collage of color that stirs a song in my heart.

The Psalmist David says that when we delight in God’s word we are like these trees. How wonderful to be a tree that is planted by the Lord so that we can be strong and sturdy, a shade and a shelter, bring joy and peace and stir a song in the heart of others. All of this we are meant to be!

Search Me

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:56:00 +0000

"When you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent." Psalm 4:4b
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast
spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

As the day wears on, I find myself running low on energy - and
steadfastness. I make compromises and I let things slide by. I find
myself becoming more focused on myself and my own needs rather than the
needs of others. This also happens in our Christian walk. We start off
with a heart that is just wanting to please God and to do His will.
However, as the time goes on we begin to lose some of our
steadfastness. There is a compromise here and we let something slide by
there and all of a sudden we are more focused on ourselves than we are
on what the Lord is doing. We start thinking about our own needs and
rights rather than the Lord. Our attitude is no longer humble and our
motivation smacks of selfishness.
How did I end up here? This is the question we ask only when we are far
from where we started. Sometimes we don't even ask the question because
we don't see where we are. But the Bible provides us with good advice
to keep us from this condition.
Psalm 4:4 says, When you are on your beds, search your hearts and be
silent." There are three important steps to be taken here:
1. When you are on your beds - this implies that this is the time at the
end of the day when you have stopped working and are resting. You are
not busy.
2. Search your heart - the word used here is SEARCH- don't just skim
over the information. This is looking for something, an intentional effort.
3. And be silent - NO EXCUSES, NO RATIONALIZATIONS. Search your heart
and then accept responsibility for what you find there.
What are you looking for? We are looking at our attitudes and
motivations . God says in 1 Samuel that he is not interested in the
outward appearance, but rather he is looking at the heart. It should be
the same for our actions. God is not so concerned with what we do as he
is concerned with why we do it. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the
real attitudes and motivations that are in your heart. It may surprise
you to realize the truth about some of the things you believe or do.
But after we have searched and taken responsibility for what we find,
what then? Do we beat ourselves up for our wrong attitudes or selfish
motivation? Psalm 51:10 should be the cry of our heart after a night of
searching. "Create in me a pure heart, O Lord, and renew a steadfast
spirit within me." Each morning we need a new heart. Not just a band
aid on the heart of yesterday, but a whole new one, created and designed
for a new day. We need a heart that is free from the distractions or
the compromises of yesterday. Along with that, we need a renewed
steadfastness to stay the course and run the race! I recommend trying
this every day and you will experience the joy of a heart that is in
tune with God and his true purposes.

The Look of Love

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:41:00 +0000

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'" "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first." - Mark 10:17-31

This is the recounting of the visit of the rich young man. He comes to Jesus to find out what he must do to obtain eternal life. I noticed something in this passage that I had never really noticed before. In verse 21 it says that Jesus looked at him and loved him. What a precious scene that must have been. Here was a young man all excited and full of anticipation. He had been such a good boy and kept the commandments- probably a model pupil and son- and now he wanted to be assured of eternal life. He comes to Jesus full of excitement and anxious to find out whether he has already fulfilled the requirement or what he needs to add to his already impressive character. “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” Sometimes we ponder the fact that this young man walked away and we forget that Jesus loved him. I don’t believe that Jesus was angry with him or gave up on him. The young man could not make the right choice at that time – but I wonder if he ever forgot the look of love in Jesus’ eyes as he gave him his answer. I wonder how long that look called to his heart when he considered his wealth or saw a poor person walk past him. That look probably continued to work in his heart and maybe he finally was able to trust that love more than his own riches.
Do we ever give ourselves the opportunity to see that look on the face of Jesus? Do we come to him and speak with him? Do we allow him to show us where we are having problems with our spiritual growth? Most importantly do we give him the opportunity to reveal his love to us? What would a look of love be? A look of love would have to be inviting, vulnerable, unconditional and a feeling of desirability. As you read God’s word, think about how his look of love comes to you through his words. As you enjoy the world around you, see how those words speak out to you from nature. Jesus is looking at you with that same look of love. Let that look from Jesus draw you into a closer relationship with him each day.

My Lifelong Occupation

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:43:00 +0000

Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded
as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."- Mark 10:42-45
I have understood that as a follower of Jesus, I have to serve others. But I don’t think that I have always been clear on the point of serving as an occupation for the rest of my life. Am I willing to serve indefinitely or is it just something I am doing until my promotion comes through? I don’t find anywhere that there is a criterion or special qualifications to be moved up from the position of servant. Serving is to be the goal of our life not the means to our goal. Serving is not the step on the ladder to success in our Christian walk. I think that serving is the way we can glorify the Lord while we are here on earth. It is our worship. Serving is not something that we should be looking for a way out of. Servanthood is the very essence of our Christ-likeness. Without serving, without the heart of a servant we lose that aroma that attracts people to Jesus in us. The joy that we have in serving is what lifts us out of the circumstances in our lives and puts us in the mind of Christ. That is when we can truly find the peace in the midst of the storm.
Sometimes we need to stop for a minute and look at the motivation that drives us forward in the work we are doing. I used to think that missionaries in foreign countries were saints. They had to have such a servant’s heart to do what they do. Well, now that I am one of them, let me tell you something about that sainthood and servanthood. Everyone of us needs to take the time to make sure that we are serving. And that has to be the goal, just to serve. Motivation is a very strong force in our hearts. Serving and striving can get confused and so our motivation can also get confused. Striving is relentless, serving is tender. Am I willing to serve with no consideration of promotion, but rather with a heart full of the love of Christ as I serve those around me?

Calmness In Error

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:39:00 +0000

If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can
lay great errors to rest.- Ecclesiastes 10:4
My daughter has three large dogs and our neighbor has about one hundred sheep. Between them stands a barbed wire fence. The fence posts have been standing for quite a few years and lately some of them have not been standing, but rather leaning. When a fence post leans, it allows the barbed wire to be of a lower altitude than originally intended. The dogs appreciated the opportunity and jumped the fence to spend some time chasing the sheep in many different directions. There was bleating and barking and then a gun shot. Our neighbor was not at all pleased with the mayhem he witnessed in his pasture. The dogs came running back and immediately hid under the truck. Our neighbor came to the fence and called to me to come over. Our neighbor is well known for his violent temper. It was quite a distance from where I was standing to the fence. That provided me with a lot of thinking time. I was thinking to myself that I would let him have a piece of my mind before he shared his mind with me. After all, the fence is his responsibility and I was awfully tired of hearing those sheep all day and night. Halfway to the fence, my thoughts stopped short. The dogs had crossed the fence and were harassing his sheep. They had no right to be over there.
I approached the fence with a different view of things. Instead of getting all heated and upset, I apologized for the dogs. I promised to tie them up until we had completed the pen we were building. To my surprise, my neighbor looked surprised. I calmly explained to him that I had company and someone had untied the dogs by mistake. I reassured him that I would keep them away from his yard. My neighbor had started to say something, but then he hung his head for a moment. Then he looked at me and simply said that he would repair the fence. He thanked me for my efforts to keep the dogs from his yard.
I walked away from that fence with a real sense of “Jesus in me.” I also learned once again the valuable lesson of calmness. My friend who had been standing with me was amazed. She has only been saved two years. She kept saying over and over, “You were so calm.” Yes, I had been calm, once I let the Lord change my attitude. Because of that calmness, my neighbor responded to me differently and the whole situation was saved. Too many times we have a strike first attitude, but actually it is our calmness that can “lay great errors to rest.”

Vain Labor or Eternal Effect

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:56:00 +0000

"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stand guard in vain." - Psalm 127:1
The other day, I went to visit the Mayan ruins in San Ignacio, Belize. The name of this once great city is Cahal Peche. The name is not so splendid. It means the "Place of the Ticks". But the site does bring with it the memories of splendor. The situation is incredible. It sits, like all Mayan cities, atop a high elevation to give a view of all the surrounding countryside. I climbed a steep set of steps to the highest point in the city and from there you can see the next Mayan city ruins towards Benque, near the Guatemalan border. From this point they could send and receive signals. The layout of the city was practical and economic with space. There were different courtyards or plazas for a variety of purposes. The huge area in the center was the marketplace. This was accessible to the road leading up to the city from the countryside where the peasants lived in thatched houses. The dwellings within the city were all brick and stone. The residences were built along the inside walls of the city. The largest rooms were for the royal family. There was a building for government and commerce and plazas for cooking, washing, children and ball courts as well. The entire site was a well-planned, brilliantly engineered maze of steps and alleyways, rooms and open spaces. As I walked around I could only guess at the wonder that was once Cahal Peche. And yet, now before me, was a ruin, it's glory passed for many years, today a series of mounds overrun with jungle. Despite all the labor and careful planning of the builders, despite the diligence of the watchman, the Aztecs conquered the Mayans and the once great city of their civilization was left to ruin.
"In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for he grants sleep to those he loves." -Psalm 127:2
In the end we will find like the Mayans, our lives - our great and not -so-great accomplishments are all in the Lord's hands. No matter what we set out to do, whether, it is to build a great city or to be a good camp counselor, unless the Lord is in it, we labor in vain. Noble intentions and grand ideas will maybe have a passing effect, but when the Lord is the one who is building, when He is leading and guiding - the effect is eternal.

Missed Opportunities are Lost Opportunities

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:36:00 +0000

Then I said to you, "Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place." In spite of this, you did not trust in the LORD your God...But the LORD said to me, "Tell them, 'Do not go up and fight, because I will not be with you. You will be defeated by your enemies.' " So I told you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the LORD's command and in your arrogance you marched up into the hill country. - Deuteronomy 1:29-32, 42-43

The Israelites once again rebelled against the command of the Lord. Moses even told them that the Lord would fight for them as he had before their very eyes in Egypt. But they refused to go. Then they turned around and start with the, “Oh, We have sinned.” The Lord had originally told them to go after the Amorites. However since they did not go when he told them to, he now tells them not to go there. He tells the Israelites that he will not go before them anymore. They missed their chance. If they go, he says that they will be defeated. So the Israelites didn’t listen to God the first time, oh, my bad, so now they want to go, but God does not go ahead of them. They are defeated. Moses says that it was in their arrogance that they went up. In the dictionary arrogance is defined like this: overly convinced of one’s own importance; overbearingly proud.
Do we sometimes miss God’s plan because of disobedience and then decide that now we will fix it and do what he had told us. However, a missed opportunity or assignment is a lost opportunity or assignment. God does forgive when we repent of our disobedience, but we cannot just go busting out in our arrogance to the opportunity we lost. After repentance will come reassignment but that is only found in humility. We have to humble ourselves before the Lord and wait on him for redirection. Rebellion and disobedience have very real consequences. We think sometimes that God is just sitting around waiting for us to decide we will do something. The truth is that God expects obedience in his timing and when we rebel we lose. If we try to go on in our own strength we will be defeated. There is the danger then of rationalizing that maybe we were right to stall and should not have done this thing. Actually God was no longer in it because of our disobedience in the beginning.
What a responsibility to hear and respond when god directs. However if we miss it because of disobedience, we need to humble ourselves before the Lord in repentance and then wait for his next call.

No Shortcuts

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:54:00 +0000

This what the Lord says: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'" - Jeremiah 6:16
This verse reminds me of the "bread decision". Since forever people have been eating bread. It is an important part of so many cultural diets. Here in Belize, Central America we eat Creole bread, bun (a sweet bread), tortillas, and johnny cakes. The women wake up at 5:30 in the morning, when the sun is rising and begin to prepare the dough. When all the ingredients have been added and mixed together, they knead the dough and then cover it with a cloth to let it rest. Later they return, knead again and then shape it and put it in the oven. It bakes for a while, depending on the type of bread, giving off a most flavorful aroma. Creole bread is my favorite. It is made in a small loaf and a slice spread with mango jam is heavenly! Especially when Mrs. Kathlees from the other side of the village makes it. It melts in your mouth! Mrs. Kathleen is in her late seventies and has been making Creole bread since she was a small girl. She hasn't changed the process or the ingredients although the baking is done in a gas oven now, instead of over a wood fire. On the other hand, I will send someone to the shop for some pack bread to make some sandwiches for lunch. Usually by the time it gets to my house, it is a little squished, but mostly recognizable. Mango jam on pack bread satisfies my hunger somewhat, but not the way homemade bread does. However, pack bread is quick and easy. It is in the shop - already made, sliced and packaged for my convenience. It also has preservatives to make it last longer in my house. It requires a minimal amount of time or energy on my part.
Walking in the ancient paths doesn't mean just doing it the old fashioned way. It means doing it God's way and He never changes. It is the same old ingredients: salvation, obedience, humility. No additives or extra preservatives. Of course, we all like different ways of eating our bread - cheese, jam, butter or honey. The same way we all may worship differently - hymns, worship songs, drama and dance, lifting our hands or quiet reverence. But that's not a problem. It's how we travel this path ourselves. Are we following the ancient path, the one that leads to godly character and is of a flavor and substance that pleases God? Or have we taken the wrong crossroad and opted for the pack bread - quick and easy, full of extra additives that leads to a life that is uncommitted and shallow, full of compromise. This is a life that doesn't please God and doesn't please you either. We find rest for our souls when we take the ancient path and build a godly life with God's principals and no easy shortcuts.

God Will Rescue You

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:30:00 +0000

"'Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,' declares
the Lord." - Jeremiah 1:8
The Lord tells Jeremiah that he has set him apart and anointed him to be a prophet. He promises to give Jeremiah the words to speak and he promises to be with him. But the interesting part is that the Lord promises to rescue Jeremiah. He doesn't tell Jeremiah that he will keep him away from trouble. As a matter of fact, later in verse 19, the Lord tells Jeremiah that people will fight against him. But once again the Lord promises him that he will rescue him.
So many times in my life, I am faced with difficulty and opposition. Just a few weeks ago I was harassed by a gang of young boys. I was so frustrated and angry. But God gave me the strength I needed and I was able to hold my emotions and speak words that I know God wanted me to. As I cried afterward, I asked the Lord why this had to happen. The Lord showed me how he had rescued me. I had also learned a few lessons and I have since heard that some of those boys also learned a few things about God's love.
God does not promise us a problem-free life, but he does promise to be with us and to rescue us. We don't ever need to despair. No matter how difficult or impossible a situation may be, God will rescue you.

Fully Persuaded

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:52:00 +0000

"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." - Romans 4:20-21
These verses are talking about Abraham. God promised him not only a son in his old age, but He promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. When someone promises me something, I have a hard time believing that they will do it. How many times I have thought to myself, "When I see it, I'll believe it." I think especially today, we don't believe something unless it happens right now. Why is that? Because we are not "fully persuaded" that the person has the power or the ability to do what they have promised. So we wonder will they do what they said? Will they come through in the end? I mentioned to my husband that I wanted to read a particular book. He promised to give it to me for my birthday. At first I was happy and I looked forward to receiving it. But my birthday was a month away. After a week, I began to waver. What if he couldn't remember the title? Suppose he forgot, he is a very busy man. I was not "fully persuaded" that he could keep his promise. So I wondered if I should go and buy the book, just in case. That was a completely possible situation - Abraham had a totally impossible situation. Yet, Abraham knew that God had the power to do what He had promised. Are you fully persuaded that God has the power to do what He has promised? He has promised to wash away your sin, to take care of you, provide for you and to keep you close to Him. Do you find yourself wavering? Are you wondering if God can meet your needs?
When we waver, we do things in our own strength, just in case God shouldn't come through. We need to make sure we are "fully persuaded". The only way to do that is to read God's word and pray. The more we know Him, the more we will know His power and then we will be able to "not waver through unbelief." God wants to keep His promises to us, we just need to be "fully persuaded " - no doubts - that God has the power to do the impossible.

A Living Stone in a Spiritual House

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:47:00 +0000

You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." - 1 Peter 2:5

The idea of living stones being built into a spiritual house was always a bit of a vague illustration to me. My experience was usually wood houses, and everything is built so quickly. Now I am living Belize and in Silk Grass Village a good number of the homes are block houses. I can look out my window and see a large pile of cement blocks waiting to be built into a house.
The other day our neighbor began working on his house. First he prepared the ground, dug the small foundation and laid his plumb line. One by one, he put the blocks down, making sure each one fit. But the blocks were chipped and cracked. They didn't fit perfectly. He had to chop off some corners and smooth some edges.
As he worked, I wondered how this would all come together. I watched him begin to apply the mortar. It filled the spaces between the blocks and all the cracks as well. The mortar kept all the blocks together, holding to each other. With that mortar the walls began to look like one solid wall instead of the many separate blocks.
We are those blocks (stones) being built into a house. God has cleared the ground and dug the foundation. He has set the plumb line and is now putting the blocks or stones in place. We are those living stones. Each one of us is different - but each one has their place, and when the mortar is applied - every block fits perfectly. The Holy Spirit is the mortar to hold us all together. When we are living for the Lord, filled with the Holy Spirit, we become one - the living body of Christ. Maybe God is doing some chopping and smoothing in your life. Just remember, God is building his spiritual house and you are a living stone. Let the Holy Spirit bring you into unity as we become a solid wall.

Depending on One Who is Dependable

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:51:00 +0000

"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." - Psalm 68:19

When I pray, do I believe that God will answer my prayers, every day? Every morning when I wake up, I walk the dog, make breakfast and iron my daughter's school uniform. The dog does not have to wonder if she will get outside, my husband is not losing sleep over the question of whether or not he will have breakfast and my daughter awakes assured that her uniform is pressed and waiting for her. Each day my family depends on me. Each morning the dog comes to my bedside and licks my toes, not because she is concerned that I won't let her out, but rather because she knows I will. Each morning my husband sits down at the table, not to remind me that I need to make breakfast, but because he knows that I will serve breakfast. Each day my daughter washes up and prepares for school with the confidence that her uniform is pressed and ready. They all depend on me each day because I said I would do it each day and I have. How much confidence do we put in God whom the psalmist says "daily" bears our burdens? Do you wake up wondering if the Lord will walk with you today? Do you lose sleep because you are concerned if God will provide today? Are you anxious about the Lord's control in your life for the day ahead? Do you wonder if He has prepared your way? Remember, He is the Lord God, our Savior. If my family can depend on me each day, how much more can we depend on God each day. Each day He is waiting to walk with us, provide for us and take care of circumstances. It sounds so simple, but for many of us it is hard. It is our daily responsibility to turn our burdens over to the Lord and feel the rest that comes from trusting Him to do what He has promised.

Life-Giving Words

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:45:00 +0000

"They are not just idle words for you - they are your life." - Deuteronomy
32:47

Moses had just recited a song to the people of Israel proclaiming that the Lord would hold them accountable for following after false gods and forgetting their Rock and their Creator. Throughout the Bible we are warned time and again about disobedience and putting other gods before the true God. Unfortunately we read the words, we recite the words, we may even memorize the words, but they don't become our life. Just as God breathed life into Adam, He is wanting to breathe life into each of us. That life comes from His words and His words are not idle. They are full of life. And that life is ours if we choose it. So many times you hear people say that something is their "life". Golf is my life, shopping is my life, school is my life, my job is my life. They say that because that is what they have a passion for. They spend great amounts of time learning or doing those things. And those things begin to shape the person. However the person who does not have the same passion will think the words idle and meaningless; they will have no effect in their life. The Word of God should be our passion and our life. We should spend great amounts of time and energy reading and meditating on Scripture. And then as we become doers of the Word, we will see how it has shaped our lives into obedient children of God. The more time we spend with someone, the closer we get to them, we begin to recognize whether the words they speak are idle or active. We must draw close to God and then we will see the life-giving quality of His words.

I Am God

noreply@blogger.com (Linda) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:28:00 +0000

"For I am God, and not man." -Hosea 11:9

Such a small sentence says so much. I think we get into such a rut of looking at God as a "super human" instead of realizing that he is not a man at all - not a superman, not a really good man, not a talented man, not an understanding man, not a perfect man......No, He is God and God is a whole different being, an entirely different entity. With God, you are dealing with the incomprehensible. The concept of God goes beyond anything we can define. He is the Almighty, He was before us and He is after us. There are no limits to God, except that He cannot sin and cannot fail, and yet we see Him as a limited "good guy". We think that our finiteness can control his infiniteness. How ridiculous we must seem to Him and yet He loves us with such a perfect love, we can never fully understand it. We assign to Him the kind of love we know and then we believe that perfection means something a little bit better than that. But God's love is just that. It is the love of God - not man. It is so beyond any love we could even dream of or imagine. God is not Superman. He is the everlasting God. But you see, we cannot even understand the word everlasting, so how can we understand who God is. But that's it - we don't have to understand who He is, we only have to believe!