Sunday Writings......7/31/16

Good morning...
I went to visit a friend last weekend. The visit did not go well and on top of it I forgot my hearing aids  there. So today my husband and I had to drive for ninety minutes to go back to get my "ears."  It turned out to be a God thing that we went. The visit was a good one, and, without much conversation about it, our relationship got onto a more even keel.
      
Hope your Sabbath is a good one.

God bless from
Corinne



The Devotional component in the Sunday Writings of Women's Focus Ministries is titled, "CONTRADICTIONS" and was written by Jan Andersen.  The theme of this devotional is how sometimes things seem to be contradictory in the Bible, or in our lives, but upon further inspection when taken in context they actually are not in contradiction.  Jan wrote, "We are that contradiction in terms, saints and sinners at the same time."  Read on to see how that is actually not a contradiction in terms.

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  Today's Devotional   

"CONTRADICTIONS"

written by

Jan Andersen

"Do not love the world or anything in the world.   If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 

Certainly that is not in the Bible, is it?  Wouldn't that contradict other parts of the Bible?  If "the world" means other people, God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16 NIV).  And there are at least 19 places in the Bible that tell us to love one another.  If "the world" means the earth God created, man was placed in the Garden of Eden to lovingly care for the creation of God.  Either way, it seems we SHOULD love the world.

This is one small example of why we should not take things said out of context.  The above quote IS from the Bible, and it does not contradict those other verses in the Bible.  The above quote continues:

"... For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."  1 John 2:15-17 (NIV).

In context we can see that "the world" in this case means the world of sin, including sinning with our bodies, sinning in our thoughts, and prideful boasting about ourselves and our possessions.  That would be in contradiction to living according to the Spirit.  But these verses are not in contradiction to the rest of the Bible once we read the whole section.

Taking things out of context and misusing them to our own advantage is in itself sinful.  We see a lot of that happening in the world today, such as in the political arena - both the politicians and the people who elect them.  We listen to one side describe the other, and they seem in complete contradiction at times.  We all have that tendency within us - twisting the facts, telling "little white lies," glorifying the good parts to our advantage and leaving out the bad, etc.  As followers of Christ that would be in contradiction to our Godly life.  However, as humans that is our tendency.  We are that contradiction in terms, saints and sinners at the same time.  We are constantly bombarded by temptations, cravings, lusts and the like, and the enticement to justify them, and sometimes we succumb.  But no matter what we have done, how bad we believe it to have been, or how many times we fall into it, God is there to forgive us and to help us through it.  Because of our human nature we are sinners; because of our faith and forgiveness in Christ we are saints - the ultimate contradiction if not understood in context! 

Dear Father in heaven, creator of the earth and all that is in it, help us to be faithful caretakers of your creation and to love one another.  Help us to be in the world to serve you as your witnesses, but to not be of the world and its sinfulness.  Thank you for your forgiveness for when we do falter and fall into sin, and for helping us every step of the way back.  Keep us faithful in your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

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    Jewish Proverbs and Quotes on Parenting   

Special Connection

“A mother understands what a child does not say,” according to a Jewish Proverb. There is a

special connection with a child a mother has, and she knows ahead of time what her child needs. There is a partnership that goes on here, too. It is not just for the parents to connect. Children need to honor their parents as well. The Lord told Moses:  "Speak to all the community of the Children of Israel, and say to them–‘You shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy. A man shall revere his mother and his father and observe my Sabbaths; I am Adonai your God.’” Also, God was not done with what He wanted children to do: “Honor your father and your mother so that your days will be lengthened on the land Adonai your God gave to you.” This takes time to build, and it is fine if there were mistakes made, we’re a work in progress, both kids and parents. In the end a mother already understands what her child needs a head of time. However, as they grow older, the little one needs to learn to honor her parents.

Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/love-family/parenting/galleries/jewish-proverbs-and-quotes-on-parenting.aspx?=2#HmyuBm2qspjbg3pi.99

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   Snippets of Spiritual Insights  from Beverley   

I wrote this one year ago today. I love how the Lord encourages us. I love how He leads us to "streams" in the desert. How He makes us a "path" in the wilderness. A steady place to set our feet. In the midst of an unsteady world. I love how His heart never despairs. How it never tires. Even as ours are failing.

🎋 These last five years have been the hardest ones of my life. They've been filled with loss and "sorrow upon sorrow". I read something yesterday that said, "Sadness is not being able to phone your Mom." To which my broken heart cried out:

"Or your Sister. Or that one Friend who always understood. That one whose love touched your heart like no one else's. Ever had. Or ever will. Sometimes the grief all runs together. Then the anger rises.

Because anger is only pain dressed up in its 'I got this' outfit. Till the 'outfit' comes off. And joins you in a crumpled heap on the floor. And then. When you reach around for the hand of the one. The one whom you need to help you up. You realize. Another loss was too much. To risk. So you'd pushed them all away."

That is where I ended. Last night.

\This is where the Lord began. This morning. "Until. You feel My hand" says the Lord. "Scooping you up. There is warmth. Grace. Kindness. Love and understanding. In My hands. I have never left you. I never will. I Am unlike any other. My mercies are new. Every morning. My love is steadfast. And true. My love isn't dependent on your behavior. Nor is it conditional. It is always a safe place to lay your head. And share your heart."

Thank you Lord. For your truth. For your gentleness. For being the same. Yesterday. Today. And forever. For You alone bring peace to this torn and troubled heart. So I will trust in You. I will turn my heart. Once again. Towards the Heavens. And declare. That it's in You alone that I place. My hope. My trust. My life. All that has been. Up until now. And all. That will ever be.

Written by

beverley a napier...(c)

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   Today's Inspiring Graphic   

I'm not afraid of the world,
because my Dad is always with me.
So there is no need not fear.

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Prayers are lifted up daily for 

you by the Devotional Writers 

and the Monthly Writing Staff

of Women's Focus Ministries.

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