No Controversy

-

Working here at Shiloh, while at times exhausting, is a peaceful place to plow away.  Each day the quiet calms a soul.  All you hear, except for the honking of a goose, the tweeting of a bird, or the low rumble of a boat engine, are the thoughts that ramble through your brain.  Continually, I find myself saying, "Take every thought captive."

"We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."  2 Corinthians 10:5

Left to its own accord, my mind can race to negative thoughts in solitude.

Paul expresses what happens to those teaching anything except the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ.
"...he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain." 1 Timothy 6:3-5

The "teaching" scenario I'm going to share started with my mind returning to the recent Kentucky Derby and the controversy causing the fastest horse to be disqualified.  (God just used the experience of that race as a starting point of His great lesson for me.)

As I scraped and sanded away, the thought came to me. "I hate controversy."

My heart was saddened by all the negative thoughts that kept popping up. Thoughts people who had hurt me or others.  I knew what I really needed was a big dose of praise music, but I was too tired to get my phone and plug in. God had a plan.

While in 2 Corinthians 10 recalling the verse on taking thoughts captive, Paul's dissertation on bragging, caught my attention as well.  I share this past week's experience to brag about what God does for us and encourage you to find that quiet place engage with Him.

Oh, that we would linger with Him more often and allow Him to work in and through us.

"We won't dare compare ourselves with those who think so much of themselves. But they are foolish to compare themselves with themselves.  We won't brag about something we don't have a right to brag about.  We will only brag about the work that God has sent us to do, and you are a part of that work...
But I hope that as you become stronger in your faith, we will be able to reach many more of the people around you.  That has always been our goal."  2 Corinthians 10:12-13, 15

To be continued...

Popular posts from this blog

She Fought the Good Fight

-
Image
February 27 Bible Gateway's verse yesterday was: This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him . 1 John 4:9 A fitting verse for the day my everyday friend, soul sister, monster of the faith and mischievous partner in crime, Kaye, left this world behind and headed to her heavenly home. My husband was able to be by her bedside and said he knew she heard the words of our faith that he shared. Her sweet daughter held the phone up to her ear so I could say good-bye and the brightest single star you have ever seen shown through my bedroom window as she exited this earth! Yesterday, my heart literally ached so badly that I told the Lord, "Take me too!" Wouldn't she have been surprised if I had snuck up on her in heaven and said, "Thought you were going somewhere without me, did ya." When we received the call she was ready to go, I called out to the Lord for comfort and He led me to the Bible Gat...
Read more

Toe Sucking

-
Image
June 13 If I keep my eyes on God, I won't trip over my own feet. Psalm 25:12 …or allow them to be sucked off by carp!  For as long as I've been on this lake (49 years) we've gone to feed the carp at various marinas.   I have a bag of old bread waiting to be tossed to the carp tomorrow by our grandchildren!   There's a new adventure at a couple of the marinas.  Toe sucking!   For 25 cents you can buy a small scoop of peanut butter to go on your toes. Then the carp suck it off!   I just got a pedicure, so I have an excuse not to participate! What we do need to participate in is keeping our feet on the paths the Lord sets before us. Give careful though to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Proverbs 4:26 
Read more

Remember Your Story

-
Image
Our oldest granddaughter made this bouquet and hand painted card for me.💖 Nothing touches our lives that God doesn't allow.  He has a plan and a purpose, sometimes far into the future, that can be used for His glory. (Jeremiah 29:11) Flash back 40 years and I approached life's downs with an "I can't believe this is happening." and truth be told "How can I fix it?" attitude.   Now that I am older and wiser I see that God truly works all things together for good for those who are called according to His purpose.  (Romans 8:28) I thank God for the stroke 8 years ago and how it mellowed me out (okay some of you are laughing, but it really did). And honestly,  I like getting old. Sure, there are regrets, but there is also value in being able to pass along the wisdom learned from those regrets. God CAN use everything for His good. Mentoring moments are what I feel called to at this stage of life.  Working on a talk for a women's retreat weekend, I came ac...
Read more