Have Mercy

 "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions." Psalm 51:1

In Psalm 51, David shares his earnest request with God. "Blot out my transgressions." David acknowledges and is troubled by his sin. Knowing God's desire for truth and that God can make him know wisdom, David begs for not only the removal of sin, but for God to change his sorrow to joy and gladness. David needed God to restore the fellowship he once knew and the result would be David's praise and desire to teach others about God's ways.

Shame brought David to his knees. His love for God made him plead for mercy and forgiveness. His commitment to God gave him the desire to serve by telling others. And he submits to God's good pleasure.

"For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom." Psalm 51:3-6

Lord, I know that but for the shed blood of Christ, I would be no good. Even as I live daily, I am split between what my human desires are and what I desire in the spirit You made alive when You saved me. Thank you, for Your abundant mercy that is new every morning. Thank you that Christ's blood covers it all. Help me to never forget what You have done for me. My life is Yours. Do with it what You will.

Condemnation

 Luke 23:40 "...Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?" This said by one of the thieves that hung on the cross with Jesus to the other thief.

Condemnation/Krima (Greek) - a decision for or against a crime. Often used in reference to damnation:

Matthew 23:14 "Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hyprocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation."

Or judgment.

Matthew 7:2 "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged..."

Krisis (Greek), translated as condemnation, infers a decision often made by a tribunal. It implies justice and even divine law.

John 3:19 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."

Romans 8:1 "There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

"Condemnation" in the above verse is the Greek word "katakrima" and it means an adverse sentence or verdict.

Today, we often throw around "Do not judge" and neglect the actual meaning. Yes, we shouldn't judge, meaning to sentence a person, counting their action a crime.

However, we do need to use discernment. 

Hebrews 5:14 "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

Discern here is the Greek word "diakrisis". Did you notice that the last part of this word is the same as above in reference to the justice executed by a tribunal? The root of this word, however, is "diakrino"--a verb which means to separate, withdraw from. "Diakrisis" means an inclination to critically think.

We need to think critically about what is good and what is evil. If we go around, not judging (aka not discerning) we are unable to separate or withdraw from evil because we aren't evaluating.

Note that discernment here relates to actions. Judging is directed toward a person.

When a person uses discernment and then separates himself from those who do evil, his actions can convict others. That is when those from which he separates cry, "Judgmental Pharisee!"

The fact is, as Christians we need to live separate from the world. No, I don't mean we live in colonies and never interact with other people. However we should not partake in the things the world does that God calls evil, and should take care to not yoke ourselves to those who do things contrary to Scripture.

This is a hard truth. Are you prepared to let go of the world, the things your 'flesh' enjoys, in order to live a victorious life in Christ? We have victory already when we believe in Christ to salvation. We'll not lose our position as God's children. However, we can, through Christ, live free from the bondage of the world, of sin, of the flesh. That separation from the world enables us to live free from bondage. We can live after the Spirit, who will never call us to live contrary to the Bible, God's Holy Word.

And the key here, is to live after the Spirit. The fruit (note: not plural) is:

"...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance..." Galatians 5:22

If we are living after the Holy Spirit, i.e., if we are Spirit-controlled, we will exhibit all of the above list because it IS the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

The only person's opinion you need to concern yourself with is God's. Are you, at the moment you feel judged, living after the Spirit and exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit? God knows and time with Him will help you to know and to walk in confidence of His leading.

Nothing Secret

 "For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid that shall not be known and come abroad." Luke 8:17

In this era of technology this verse takes on a new meaning. Jesus said this after explaining the meaning of the parable of the sower to his disciples. In context, this verse is about receiving the word of God and sharing it. Interesting though, the manifesting of that 'secret' and that 'hidden thing' is not directly connected to the disciples...it implies the hand of God.

Years ago, the media raise the question of Mitt Romney's faith. His life made known to all.

Donald Trump’s life has also been laid bare before the media. And even what was hidden in Biden’s family has been made known. How much more will be made known to us about those we rub shoulders with on the Day of Judgment (Revelations 20:12)?

We must understand that God is in control. "...the powers that be are ordained of God." Romans 13:1b. God does have a plan.

Throughout history we can see the rise and fall of empires. In those empires existed people of faith. In the western world in particular, we can find born again believers. Not a century has passed that true Christians have not experienced some persecution. So it has been and will be in the 21st century.

I confess that as a parent I tend to worry whether my children (who are now adults) are ready to suffer. We do so much to protect them when they are young, shelter them from the world and from harm, with the intent of grounding them in a Biblical worldview.

We often talk about their faith being what will take them through those times. Yet, I’ve known people who made a profession of faith at one time and later encountered great difficulty. Then these people walked away from God, or created a new god based on what they want to believe. My heart mourns for them.

How then, should we walk in times of testing? What will the world see when we are stripped of all that we’ve thought of ourselves and perhaps even of God?

At the moments of deepest hurt, of greatest fear, of tremendous loss, we make choices. Those choices reveal (are “made manifest”) the depth (or lack thereof) of our love and faith in God. Do we love Him more than ‘these’? Do we love Him more than our comfort, more than our sense of justice, more than our pride, more than are need to be seen as worth something?

In times of testing, we may fail. But God promises to pick us up. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand." Psalm 37:23-24.

That is a promise we can cling to…but again, we must choose to do so.

On one hand, I want to keep 'bad' from touching my family. On the other hand, I realize that during the 'bad' God reveals Himself like no other time. Enduring hardship has far greater rewards than creating a false sense of security in riches and government or any of man's devices to make a perfect world free from suffering. But the choice is ours. Are we willing to see past the pain to the God who works through the pain?

I am so grateful for the value God has placed on me - value enough to sacrifice Himself for me. Does my life ‘manifest’ this to others? Is it ‘come abroad’?

A few faithful believe in the One True God, as He presents Himself in Scripture. Many people who claim to be Christians have developed their own god (just as the Mormon religion has - and please understand Mormonism is NOT Christianity) and those people pick and chose what they want to believe from the Bible. In essence, they have left God for a god of their own choosing--they've chosen lies instead of truth.

So what does this mean? The opportunity to be counted worthy to suffer for Christ is increasing. Acts 5:41 "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."

Some day each one of us will be faced with making a stand either for or against what we profess to believe. In that day, our secret doubts or secret faith will be made manifest. We will either be ready to face death (literally or figuratively) for our faith in Christ, or our lack of faith will be revealed.

Paul encouraged the Corinthians to watch, stand fast in the faith, be a man (be brave), and be strong. (I Corinthians 16:13).

How then, do we strengthen our faith?

• Choose to believe that the Bible is the final authority on all of life and search it for the answers to our questions (II Timothy 3:16-17).
• Choose to believe that the Bible is God speaking to us, and read and study it for the purpose of knowing Him better (John 5:39).
• Choose to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17).
• Choose to serve God by serving others (Galatians 5:13; Colossians 3:24).
• Choose to attend church - do not forsake the assembling of yourselves with other believers (Hebrews 10:25).
• Choose to stand fast against all opposition, whether from within or from without, setting your mind on things above and not on the things of this earth (I Thessalonians 3:8; Colossians 3:2).

We will be known by our words and actions and steadfast faith, and by how willing we are to suffer for the truth.

Is your faith manifested before others?

”Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” James 2:18

Increase Our Faith

 “And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.” Luke 17:5

Read Luke 17:1-10

This request came toward the end of Jesus’ ministry, at a time when He taught many lessons, addressing the crowds and His disciples. When the twelve disciples made this specific request, Jesus had just finished teaching about offenses and forgiveness.

Offenses will come, the Lord had said. Then, He gave them a pattern to follow, a pathway to reconciliation:

Trespass committed, trespasser rebuked, trespasser repents, trespasser receives forgiveness.

The apostles then ask the Lord to increase their faith. If they had more faith (perhaps they reasoned), they would not offend and forgiveness would be easier.

Jesus answered by telling them what faith can do. He gives them a picture, a hope, something to reach for, but He continues the lesson. He talks about service.

Faith and service are connected. James discusses this in his epistle (James 2:14-26).

The answer to the apostles’ request was to serve more and humbly accept it was only their duty to do so.

Faith can move much, and the example Jesus gives is of moving a sycamine tree. Such faith could even move the deeply rooted offense another might bring to you. Nonetheless, faith must be accompanied with (and derived from) humble service. The ability to forgive and to not offend evolves through serving God in a state of true humility (Luke 17:10).

Serving God in truth and in humility positions you to desire reconciliation over revenge. You recognize your own lowly state and inability to do more than mere duty. Thus you acknowledge you are no better than the one who offended you or trespassed against you. In that position, you have the ‘faith’ to forgive, and pull up the roots of bitterness often grown from taking offense.

Paul also addresses this in Romans 12:1-3:
 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."

Paul teaches the same lesson as Jesus: service, humility, faith.

Service to God with humility empowers a person to not only have faith, but to forgive those who do offend and to keep oneself from offending.

The service is to God.

The server’s heart recognizes his unworthiness, and therefore, is in a position to not take offense and not demand repentance from someone who sinned. Rather, it positions him as a loving equal, restoring and reconciling a broken relationship.

So, faith expressed and grown through humble service to God, and an understanding of our own unworthiness, enables us not only to forgive, but perhaps not take offense in the first place.

Is there anyone you need to forgive? Anyone whose forgiveness you need to request?
 

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive oursleves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  I John 1:-9

Love never Fails

"Charity never faileth:..." I Corinthians 13:8a

"Never" is an absolute. Not even at any time does true love (that is, God's love) ever fail. Think about it. Read John 3:16.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

God loved us. That love will not fail. He did what He said He would do and gave us the gift of eternal life, if we are willing to receive it.

Man's love isn't perfect. However, through Christ's sacrifice, we have access to that perfect love of God expressed in His gift of eternal life.

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." John 13:34

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15

God showed us His never failing love through Jesus Christ. Jesus told us to love one another as He loved them. Wow. Tall orders. Are you willing to die for your brother or sister in the Lord? Paul was.

"I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you." II Corinthians 7:3

We all make excuses to avoid pain or sacrificial service. "Oh, you mustn't suffer for Christ, you have a family to raise." "Oh, you must get your rest or you'll be too sick to go to work tomorrow. You know that paycheck you earn puts food on the table." "Let their own family take care of them. You have to take care of yourself."

All of these excuses do have some truth to them. We have a responsibility to our family. They are a priority. Sometimes you must put them ahead of the ministry. I see my children as my disciples. I must teach them and lead them by example. Oh. If I am to lead them by example, then I need to demonstrate a never failing love, a love for others, a willingness to sacrifice my own comfort for the spiritual, emotional and physical well-being of others.

I have a confession to make. In my flesh, I allow criticism--or words spoken in opposition to the ministry or hateful words--to make ground beef out of my heart. I'd like to say that my sorrow comes from my compassion for the other person who fails to understand and see God's truth or apply His commandments. Not initially. I am quite guilty of running for cover to lick my wounds. After a time, when the wounds heal, God often helps me see the condemning soul in a different light--to even take pity on such a person.

If love never fails, it won't be hindered by the lashing out of angry people or the 'well-meaning' soul who thinks you are crazy for serving God. Love will look at those people with compassion, with tenderness, with meekness (knowing how easy it is to be judgmental), and it will continue to faithfully to serve the Lord by following His example.

"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved." Matthew 10:22

 

Watching Cows

 Against the main gate heading to the pasture, I have a ‘step’ that I sit on when I’m watching my cows or updating records on my phone. With fall starting, and this being the second year of severe drought, we weaned several months earlier than normal which means I am spending more time ‘socializing’ with my cows and calves. 

Why?

Because weaned calves can be skittish and need to learn to trust me so I can handle them without one going through the fence. And for the cows, re-establishing our relationship so that they trust me, not only for any doctoring that may go on during the winter, but also so in the spring they’ll let me near their newborn calves.

I am a firm believer in gentle handling. Such handling does take time. Time taken during this season pays off when I have to load an animal in the trailer or treat an injured or sick animal later or tag and band a newborn calf. AND, it allows me to have cheap corral panels for my corrals. Since, the animals don’t feel threatened, they won’t try jumping or going through the fence. Yes, it happens.

Incidents of panicking cattle reduce tremendously when we both breed for quiet dispositions and train the animals to trust us.

In fact, I believe that this method of handling can be used in almost any situation. This spring, a cow giving birth both lost her calf and became temporarily paralyzed. I didn’t need to bring her into the corrals (wouldn’t have been physically capable of doing it), but treated her in the pasture, including massaging her back and hindquarters. She trusted me enough to let me take care of her. By the way, she recovered and within a few weeks traveled with the herd.

Recently, I listened to someone tell a story of how these ‘cowboys’ had to round up these wild cows that had gotten out. While no doubt a dangerous and stressful situation, I confess to shaking my head over how the 'cowboys' handled the cattle. True, I was a bit arrogant in thinking I would have handled things differently. In truth, on occasion, more aggressive handling gets the job done faster than slow and gentle. However, gentle handling, down with patience and kindness, can have better and safer result than ‘cowboying’ the animals into submission.

And please, no offense meant against cowboys. They have been my heroes all my life. But I use the term based on the picture the word conjures up, not on what is truth. I’ve learned a lot from true cattlemen who would call themselves cowboys but in no way behave as the media portrays them. (this of course is a rabbit trail).

I just finished my first ‘in corral bucket training’ with my calves. Basically, in the enclosed space of the corrals, I try to get the calves to eat out of the bucket at or near my feet. Some are always braver than others. It is a place to start, with the end goal being that a few (if not all) will allow me to scratch their back. The location of the corrals is important, because if I have to doctor or vaccinate or handle the herd, this is where it is done. Best the animals learn to trust me and work quietly in this area.

Watching these young animals learn to trust me reminded me of Romans 2:4:

“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

It got me to thinking about God's patience with me. I can be skittish like the calves, but when I go looking for the good things (like a calf will stretch out his neck and then his tongue to get a cube), I find Him. Yes, He’s in the power of a storm or in the ferocious fast flowing river, but He also meets me in the quiet moments, the cleft of the rock, or the stillness of the morning. There, I can reach out, even tentatively, and trust Him to give me what I need.

As a calf begins to learn that my hand holds a cube, and I’m not going to hurt him, he’ll become bolder. Eventually, he may become aggressive, butting me to get what he wants. This unacceptable behavior leads to the calf receiving a knock across the nose, i.e. a corrective action taken against him.

You know, I think sometimes God does the same thing. Sometimes, we get a little too selfish, demanding from God what we want and treating Him like He’s our servant rather than the Holy and Sovereign God He is.

God is an amazing God, kind and patient, and desiring to treat us with all kindness and gentleness. Nonetheless, He is to be revered and respected.

I am thankful for the example God gives me in my cattle. I learn so much from them.

“But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air and they shall tell thee:” Job 12:7

Where I Began

 I’ve enjoyed writing stories since my elementary school days. It wasn’t until my first year of university that I realized it was possible for me to be published. My English professor pulled me aside after reading a piece I wrote and told me I should seek publication. At that time, I had no idea how to go about it, but that simple word of encouragement spurred me to pursue a writing life.

I enjoy an active life. I don’t do well if I’m forced to sit for hours at a desk. I think that was part of my problem as a university student—I enjoyed doing things with my hands more than sitting in a lecture.

And yet, I have an unction to write. Mostly, I journal. Daily, I journal my devotional time (some of which makes its way into my newsletters). But I have also found I like to write stories. Seemed a reasonable pursuit, since my imagination (especially as a child) tends to lead me down all sorts of roads at all sorts of times—so much so that, I must confess, I have to be very careful before saying something to be sure that I’ve sorted out what is fact and what is just my imagination running wild. I hate to admit it, but it is true.

Interestingly, over a decade ago, I truly thought the only safe thing for me to write was story. I loved writing novels. Wrote several. Published one. 

Now, I find myself wanting to share what I’m learning. In truth, I’m not really wanting people to comment on what I write. Primarily because I believe what I believe and get very stressed when someone disagrees with me. Sad statement. Some people are given to enjoy debating and really aren’t offended when someone disagrees with them. And I’d like to think I’m one of those people. In fact, I have often tried to put that character on. But I just haven’t mastered it. My pride tends to just overflow like a big blob oozing out of its container. And quite frankly, I don’t like the smell or appearance of it, so I tuck it away and hide behind…well, I’m not really sure what I hide behind, I just know I hid behind something.

I guess you can take it or leave it. And for all my fear of people’s comments, I’m always receptive to people’s encouragement. And ya, I do appreciate it when people kindly speak the truth to me. I just have to poke at that nasty blob to get it back in its container.