Psalm 147:16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.
Tag: wisdom
Motherless Mother Eve
A lot of people blame their mom’s for things. Whoever you are, you’ve likely done this. If you have not (out loud, at least) you have a friend or a sister or a cousin that talks a little or a lot about mom in this manner.
The original mother, Eve, the only motherless mother, couldn’t blame her reckless choice on her mom.
Of course, we, her descendants, blame Mother Eve for everything. And that’s okay. She did the wrong thing and the trajectory for all of us has been really horrible. If only….
But, she did. And here we go on. The choices we make effect our children. Ancient history tells us it’s true. Current days tell the same story.
My approach has been consistent with my own mom and with Mother Eve and I believe it’s allowed me more joy, less distress.
I’ve learned to take the teachable lessons from both women as gifts. The attributes of my mom, I try to flourish further and avoid the characteristic areas I viewed as lacking.
From Eve the lesson is big and I can’t live to give Glory to God if it’s overlooked and ignored. And, it’s so simple and clear. Eve was deceived. “Hath God really said……?” she knew God really said what He said.
Yet, Eve could forget it all in the midst of a false guide, a deceiver. This Mother’s Day let us remind ourselves that if God really said something, He really did say something and no one should have any power to convince you otherwise. Be equipped in the Word.
It’s Pride, Not the Word.
God tells us we have everything we need on His Word. Teacher, if you tell us that He told you, just you, something yesterday that He wanted you to tell us, that isn’t in His book, that’s your pride, not His Word.
It’s not love
If you’re not speaking what is written, you are not saving a soul and it’s not love. Please pull back your hand to another if you’re preaching something you or another designed; something not from God. The only time that can be compassionate is when you declare it, “not of God.” Misguiding the vulnerable under the guise of Jesus is treachery.
Churn Your Knowledge Into Love
Dear Daughters,
Mix your knowledge with your love. Search the scriptures to know of God and to examine yourself. Be humbled by the Word and apply it to your lives.
The author of Hebrews is resolute when speaking to Christians who may have been considering a departure from their faith, due in part to their immaturity. The force of the direct point could not reasonably be mistaken.
“There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers for so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. Hebrews 5: 11-14
Earlier in Hebrews (4:14), the listeners are asked to hold firmly to their faith. And it does follow that if you are to hold firmly to your faith, you should know what constitutes your faith. God seemed to have breathed into the Word here and elsewhere that, as followers of Christ, we need to have both the knowledge of the scripture and signs of life from the scripture. The two essentials are essential to one another.
That is, knowledge of the Word is fundamental but that knowledge without intent of application to one’s life is futile. The Bible isn’t intended to be read mechanically. When it is read without purpose, it becomes on equal plane with any secular subject. And even so, when studying a secular subject, let’s say… photography, you would be diminishing your experience if you didn’t mix your knowledge with function. It’s one thing to read about the technicalities and artistry of taking photographs. With certainty, you could dialogue about your understanding of the process but without a camera in hand and the actual act of making pictures, there will be limitations to your growth. Likewise, if you buy a camera but learn nothing about exposure settings and editing, your proficiency can remain dull.
Combine compassion and truth. Study the time Jesus engaged with the Samaritan woman at the well. There you will find an exemplary example of the blending of compassion and truth. At that time, also, Jesus made a profound offer. If we drink His water, we shall never thirst and we shall be sprung into everlasting life. How can we read something that compelling in a perfunctory way? Or, for that matter, how could we express our zeal for this life from God, life anew, without studying from where it was written?
Being a follower of Christ is not a mindless walk down Lollipop Lane. We must make time to examine ourselves and grow in the wisdom we have achieved through the study of the Word and apply, apply, apply.
In Romans 2:17 – 29, Paul speaks about the hypocrisy of having knowledge of the law and scripture but not living accordingly. He emphasizes that a change of heart produced by God’s spirit is above adherence to ceremony. It’s important to know scripture but unless it has taken root in your lives, it is a book on the coffee table.
Love,
Mom
Pam...No Asterisks 