The Cost of Integrity. Part 1

You can't preach Christ crucified, if you are first not willing to live it.
 

What does it mean to have integrity? Yes, God does know what is in our hearts. But we do not know what is in each other's hearts until we see their action and hear their words. One can say they are a Christian; but if their actions do not back up their words, doubt makes itself known in our heart. And, yet, Christ Himself reminds us not to judge another until we have first searched our hearts and removed that which is the same in ourselves before we confront the one we doubt.

So, we ask ourselves, “Am I living in integrity? Am I practicing what I preach? Am I walking the talk?” My spirit says 'Yes.' My body says 'No'. Probably because having a life-changing chronic illness, with which I am at peace with now, continues to affect decisions I make regarding my life.

My faith has been questioned by people who 'mean well'. This phrase is totally oxymoronic. Usually people who mean well, don't. Sometimes people say really stupid things to me. One of these phrases is “if you push yourself you will get better.” When I push myself, not only do I not get better, I seldom make it out of bed. Thank God we have a dog who can't let herself out; or in. And I have to get out of bed and meet her needs. But then a hot shower massage and I'm almost alive again.

 

 

Some people tell me that if I eat right or stop eating different foods or change my diet in some unsatisfactory way, that I will get better. You have no idea how my dietary habits have changed. When I worked, I ate. I needed to eat to keep up with the amount of energy my body was expending. We had a snack drawer at work. I helped stock it. When I was able to exercise, I ran. That was fun. Now, I can barely walk. Don't tell me to eat right and I will be okay. I seldom eat. It is not a spiritual fast; it is a 'I am not hungry' fast. I feel full all the time. And sometimes, lately, eating makes me nauseous.

Don't question my faith. Don't criticize me for lacking faith to be healed. I have faith that God will heal me in His time. And just because His time is not your time does not mean I will not be healed. Nor that I am lacking in the 'faith in God' department. God I trust. You? You in general I don't trust. People must prove themselves to each other that trust might be manifested in their relationships with each other.

 

Though there were times when I doubted my abilities to function at all, now I know that God is m Strength and in Him I can do all the things which He calls me to do. It is not my abilities that are called on, it is my willingness and obedience to serve Him as He sees fit that are important. When God wants me to do something, I do it. Now. Times past, before I knew God as I know Him now, I did not walk the talk. Now, I do. And, while God is my Judge, He is also my Friend. Now. And I am not lonely any more. Nor am I alone.

Do I have enough integrity-based actions in my life to question yours? Hm. I don't know. But I do know that on this part of this journey I travel in the life in which God has placed me, God will reveal to me where I lack. Maybe through you I will learn a lesson. Or not. Maybe you will learn a lesson through me.

 

Don't tell me “it's all in your head”. You want me to tell you that the next time you fall down or can't get organized? Being this sick is not “all in my head”. It does however originate in my brain. My brain is broken. It does not function the way it is supposed to. And while it is only in the last few years that I personally have noticed the tremors in my hands and my mouth, I have been made to understand that signs of this showed up in my childhood; just not this obvious.

It took God a long time to make me. It may take a while to fix me. But until then, I will continue to seek Him out in His Word and speak with Him in my silences, that He may show me and reveal to me what He wants me to do. Like this newsletter of my studies.

I questioned someone's integrity recently and The Holy Spirit confronted me and asked if I was living a life of integrity. Can I preach Christ crucified, if I am sick or unable to do the things I wish I could do? Yes. I am. I can. And, now, I am tired again. And thirsty. I am usually more thirsty than hungry. No, I do not have diabetes; I have been tested and cleared on that account.

I have been tested for MS, Lupus, ALS and Parkinson's: all cleared. I do have FM )Fibromyalgia, OsteoArthritis and an un-named polymyositis illness, which is causing the tremors, muscle spasms, speech and motor skills to deteriorate. This link at the Mayo Clinic will help you to understand what I go through and why I cannot push myself to get better. I have faith and I live a life of integrity the best I can. I am reliable to a point. When I just cannot do it, I will tell you so. And when I get angry, it will be because The Spirit is grieved and come against in me. So, while this may seem to be an unusual Bible Study, God's Word will be accomplished in it. For He is working on me even as we speak. 

 

I have severe Osteoporosis and now have been placed on Boniva indefinitely. The infusion which may have helped me has been denied by our insurance company. It costs a couple thousand $$, so I can see why they would turn it down. Maybe after I been on this new one and there is no change, maybe they will pay for it. No faith in the insurance company either.

And, while my knees wobble, my faith in God does not. God knows my heart and God knows your heart. So, I am sorry for questioning your integrity. You can work it out with God. You're okay in my book.

 

 I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. Though this verse is found in Philippians 4:13, I encourage you to read the whole chapter. It is not lengthy, but it does apply here. :)

I am overcoming the attack on my body by the illness and by well-meaning individuals. Don't wonder if you are one of them. It doesn't matter any more. What does matter is: are you right with Christ in your heart? Do you want to live a life of integrity and know that God is pleased with you? You could start here, by repeating this simple prayer and reading it aloud, as I did while I wrote it. Why did I read it aloud as I wrote it? To reaffirm my faith in Christ and to bless you:

 

"Oh Lord, although I feel unworthy of Your love for me, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I repent and turn away from those things which dishonor and displease You. Come, live in my heart; I give You control of my life. Help me to be more like You. Help me to grow in Your Word and in Your Way for I know that I need You now more than ever before. Make me to know Your wills for my life. Teach me, Lord, for I am hungry for You and thirsty for

Your Love. Thank You Lord Jesus, for saving me; for dying for me; for rising from the dead and showing me that, I too, can overcome death through You.

Lord God, be my God. Be my glory. Be my Strength. Be my Hope. Direct my steps in Your paths of Righteousness for Your Name's sake. Guide me in Your Word that I may become the person You see in me. Father, thank You for calling me, for calling my name. In Jesus' Name. Amen. "

It is that easy to become a child of God. And if you meant it when you said it, now you, too, are a part of God's family. Welcome Home.

 

 

The Oil & The Box

  

 There are two stories in our Bible about two different women who anointed Jesus. One of the women is unknown, but sinner, for He forgives her sins when she anoints Him; the other woman is Mary of Bethany, Martha and Lazarus' sister. Both times the gift is costly. Both times they offer the gift because of the love in their hearts for their Teacher, their Rabbi, their Savior. Both women give us examples of how to approach Jesus.

Scripture references for Mary of Bethany are Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8 all of which take place at Simon the leper's home in Bethany. The other Scripture reference in Luke 7:36-50 takes place at Simon the Pharisee's home in Galilee.
Two different men, two different homes, two different women, two different scenes, two different intentions, two different receptions.


Though the first man is referred to as Simon the leper, because he has a home within city limits of Bethany, we know that he is no longer a leper and become aware that it is Jesus who has healed him. Simon would always give Jesus a warm welcome in his home. As we who are healed by Christ,also receive Him warmly into not only our hearts, but into our lives and in essence our homes, for this is where we live the life we have offered Christ.

The second man is Simon the Pharisee, who was perhaps one of the Pharisees in the previous verses who had rejected the lessons they were hearing from Jesus. Though he recognized Jesus as a knowledgeable Teacher, in his heart he questioned Jesus' wisdom in allowing this woman to touch him (Luke 7:39). My Bible cross-references verse 37 with Luke 8:2, referring to this second woman as Mary Magdalene, who had been possessed by seven devils, but was now delivered. The pain of this torment would have caused her to cry out, hurt herself and be considered unclean by all who came into contact with here. Nevertheless, no one offered her help until Jesus came to her rescue and healed her illnessess and called out the evil spirits within her. Now, she faithfully, along with other women in the city, ministered to Jesus' needs. And at this time, one year before His crucifixion, this anointing in Galilee was an act of worship.

Her heart healed, her mind clear, her sins forgiven her, Mary of Galilee purchases an alabaster jar filled with nard, spikenard or cassia as it was referred to. Weeping, not crying out, but weeping silently she enters Simon the Pharisee's home carrying this alabaster offering. Tears running down her face, she kneels at Jesus' feet, while He rests at the dinner table. As she bows her head over His feet, her hair tumbles down around Him and she just reaches out and uses the strands of her hair to dry His feet: feet which were dirty from all His journeying but are now clean from her tears. Opening the alabaster perfume jar, she begins to anoint His feet with it.

After this, He continued His journey into villages and cities, preaching the gospel. Usually on foot. His feet were rested and comforted. Our Bibles tell us that the feet of they who preach the gospel are beautiful. Here is Jesus, preaching the gospel, and we know that His feet are indeed beautiful. He walked in most of these places. Though the wheel had been invented, it was used for carts and chariots and He had neither. Sometimes He was able to use boats to get from one piece of land to another, but mostly He walked. On His feet were sandals, strips of leather fastened together both on the foot and up the ankle. Useful for protection from the heat on the surface of the ground, but not to keep the elements or the dust off.

I tell you all this as a preamble to this: you and I are both the oil and the box. In the New Testament, in 1 Corinthians 3:16 we are asked "Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God lives in you?" When we accept the grace of God and receive His forgiveness on our sins, and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God who reigns forever, Jesus lives in us through The Holy Spirit. We become God's temple, God's house.

We become strong and holy through sanctification and submission to God's will for our lives. And God has many wills for our lives. The primary will of God is for all to be saved. Salvation is #1 on the list of God's will for our life. Sanctification is #2; for the Bible tells us God says, "Be holy, for IAM holy." And in Matthew, resting comfortably in the middle of The Beatitudes sits this verse, Bless are the pure in heart for they shall see God." We all want to see God. And we all will. But only some of us will live. For to see God when a person is not holy is to see death. As we begin our new life in Christ, we enter the sanctification process and work our way to becoming a vessel of honor to God. We learn to be more Christ-like, not only for ourselves, but also towards others.

 Verse 13 says "Every man's work shall be made manifest, meaning revealed,: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." What we have done for Jesus is our oil. The more we offer of ourselves to Christ, the more we surrender ourselves to God's will, the greater our sacrifice of self is evident. For we will have surrendered our all to Jesus, He who surrendered His all to us and gave of Himself everything He had. That is the oil we pour out on Jesus' feet, when we kneel before Him. Everything that is of great cost to us, is of great worth to Jesus. What sacrifices must we make to be closer to God? What must we surrender to God willingly that there would be more of Jesus in us and less of us in us? For each one of us it will be something of personal value, even if it is not of a monetary value itself, the cost to us will be evident and criticized by others.

After all, that is what happened when both women offered their costly purchases to Jesus. Mary of Bethany purchased an alabaster flask of sweet perfume, one pound of spikenard equivalent to a year's wages, to anoint Jesus with. This anointing took place six days prior (John 12:1) to His crucifixion. This was in preparation for His burial (John 12:7). But Judas Iscariot protested this anointing, because he wanted the money to go into the group's treasury, of which he was in charge. Though he decried that the money could have been used for the poor, in actuality he took from the funds as he needed it, not as the poor needed it. Mary Magdalene's actions were condemned by the homeowner, Simon the Pharisee, because she was a wicked sinner who had the audacity to touch the Prophet's feet.

Mary, Lazarus and Martha's sister, was preparing The Lamb for sacrifice. Are you prepared to sacrifice to The Lamb? Have you brought your offering to the altar with clean heart, clean hands and a clear conscience? Do your actions towards the people in your life, even the passersby, whom we seldom meet but once or twice, render your offering invalid? Or can you, after searching your heart and your mind, willingly and knowingly, submit your offering to God and be prepared to receive what God has for you when you do so?

Will what you have done for Jesus make it through the fire and stand with you? Or will you stand alone having had your actions burn up completely in the fire of God? I can only answer for myself. I do not need to know your answers but you do.

The oil, the sweet perfume, which was stored in the alabaster box was kept pure and untainted because of the alabaster's ability to maintain that which was stored within it. It was a heavy decorative stone, precious, costly, rare and strong. Are you able to maintain that which is, or will be, stored in you? The seal on the alabaster box was made of wax; this prevented the perfume's aroma from leaving the box. A reminder to us that the seal is temporary. That by which we have been sealed will be removed at that time when God opens our boxes and pours out our offering before Him, in His presence, in His holy fire. SO, I ask you again, are you ready? Will you be ready?

We had an amazing altar service this past Sunday morning. And while, I was in the Spirit, I was given another song, which is simply titled: The Oil.

 

we are the oil

we are one

we were picked

we were chosen

to be crushed

to be broken

we are the oil

we will be poured out

on the Son

onto His head

like a crown

we lay here

on the Son

pouring onto

His garments

running down His face

down His shoulders

onto His feet

His beautiful feet

we are mingled

with her tears

she cried on the Son

for she is broken

she is broken

like the alabaster box

where we lay

with her tears

and with her hair

she washes His

beautiful

beautiful feet

 

we are the oil

we are one

we were picked

we were chosen

to be crushed

to be broken

for this purpose

our work is done

our work is done

and we are one

in the Son

 

 

The Color of Worship ~ Emerald Green

The deep end of the ocean; so deep you cannot touch bottom and breathe through your mouth at the same time. So deep you would need to be carried, if you could not swim. So deep, that even if you could swim, you would not be able to float for a long period of time without aid or assistance.

This is the depth of worship we enter when we near the throne of glory, wherein God reigns. This is the color of divine hope and future promise.

Here it is that the angel of the Lord carried Ezekiel (Ezekiel 47:1-5). There is an emerald rainbow around the throne of God in heaven (Revelation 4:3; Ezekiel 1:28). A brightly shining emerald rainbow encircles the whole throne, which appeared 'like unto a sapphire' (Ezekiel 1:26; Ezekiel 10:1). Have you ever seen a whole rainbow, not just the half bow? It is a complete circle. It has no beginning and no end which can be seen by the physical eye.

Take me deeper, Lord. Bring me so close to you that I cannot touch bottom unless You carry me. Bring me so close to Your face that You breathe on me, through me, over me. The scent of Your breath and Your very being are drawing me close to You. Let me bury myself in Your love. I crave a deeper walk with Your, Lord. Carry me. I will let You carry me. You raise me up with Your strength. You lift me with Your arms. You hold my hands in Yours. My heart belongs to You. My life belongs to You.

You are holy, Lord. And I long to be holy that I may be in Your presence forever and ever. I surrender my body a living sacrifice every day of my life, all day long and into the night. I am Yours and You are mine.

John 20:19-23

What is the purpose of the Holy Spirit? What is His job? The Father is God the Creator. The Son, is God the Redeemer. But who is this Holy Spirit? He is God the Re-Creator.

The Holy Spirit is God working on the inside of us, doing the work of the transformation. You see, God doesn't just tell us what He wants us to be. That's the work of the Father.

He doesn't show what He wants us to be. That's the work of the Jesus, the Son. God actually gets inside of us; starts making us into what He wants us to be. That's the work of the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 11:2 is a prophetic verse of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and reveals to us the working of the Holy Spirit. "...and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord." We see in this verse that the Holy Spirit's job is to instill us with WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, COUNSEL, MIGHT, KNOWLEDGE AND FEAR of the LORD. That's a might big job description right there. And only one person in the trinity gets to do it: Holy Spirit.

Now, you and I may be going through some tough times right now. Do you feel as if God is far away right now? Well, He isn't. Luke 4:1 lets us know that "..And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness...". Wow. Do you realize what this means? Right after His water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit LED Him into the wilderness. Why? To do battle with the enemy and overcome the temptations and obstacles Satan lays before us.

We are taunted, mocked, discredited; offered power, glory and fame. The devil wants us to believe that he is greater than God and do more for us than our God can. BUT GOD, through the Holy Spirit, shows us how to overcome, to battle and win, these minor pitfalls. Jesus was able to make it through each battle, each temptation, because the Holy Spirit was with Him. It is through the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit that Scripture which we read and study, is brought to mind to rebuke Satan. God's Word reveals the devil to be the liar and manipulator he really is.

In Luke 4:3 Satan tempted Jesus with hunger. "turn this stone into bread". Luke 4:5-7 Christ is tempted with power "worship me and I will give you everything you see" Luke 4:9 "jump" Prove yourself and that your God is who He says He is.

Christ made it through the wilderness because He had the Holy Spirit with Him. Jesus showed us by example that when we have the Holy Spirit on us, working in us, that we, too, can make it through the wilderness. You and I are not going to make it through any wilderness journey without Him. If you have not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, now is the time to ask God for it.

"O, Lord, I need Your Holy Spirit to come into my life, to give me power to live the life which You have ordained for me. Endow me, Lord, with the wisdom, the understanding, the knowledge and the fear of the Lord, that I may live a life that glorifies God. Fill me, use me, teach me all of Your ways that Your Name would be glorified and Your kingdom increased. I need You, Lord. Now more than ever before, more everyday, I need Your Holy Spirit living in me. Teaching me every second of my day to walk in the power of Your Word, changing me "from glory to glory"; advancing in spiritual knowledge of how to overcome every little satanic arrow that is flung in my direction. O Lord, I recognize that I am nothing without You; that with You revealing more and more of Yourself to me every second of my life through the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit I am able to walk in humility and grace. Baptize me." Amen

Living A Worthy Life

Aim High. Personal satisfaction and gain are not even close to what God has in store for you. Crucifying the "self" made man or woman opens the Door for Resurrecting the you God wants you to be: Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from here on we should not serve sin.

Every lesson we learn has been to make us aware of our possibilities as Christian Adults. To open our eyes and our hands, enabling us to see and use the spiritual gifts from God, to advance His kingdom while we are on this earth. We discover uncharted territory by looking inward, resolving to tame the wilderness of ego, ignorance and apathy.

We remove our mask. Open our heart. Join hands with each other. We are ready to live a life worthy of our calling. Because we KNOW who we are. Nothing constrains us; no one can stop us. But, what is our calling?

First, when we "put on Christ" we are not imitating Him, we are "clothing" ourselves.Clothing means to take on the characteristics, virtues and intentions of the One referred to; and, so, to become like that Person. Our soul is in union with His! Joined together. Romans 13:14 But you put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. We are the new Transformers!

Second, we are called to the blessing of salvation. We are called out of the human race into the body of Christ, the church. Colossians 3:15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, because you are called to be one body; and you be thankful. We are called to be the temple of God. 1 Corinthians 3:16 Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. Metamorphosis is transforming from one level to another level. A caterpillar cannot fly unless he is a butterfly, and then he is no longer a caterpillar. He has metamorphosed into the new body which is created for him. Holiness is an ongoing calling that never ceases until this fleshly body ceases. A life worth living bears fruit in due time.

I'm The Source

Isaiah 26:3 God will keep me in perfect peace, for my mind is stayed on Him: because I trust in Him.

So, if I am not in perfect peace, it is because my mind is not focused on the things of God.

We cannot be blaming our lack of personal discipline on the people factor in our lives. Those grating personalities within our sphere are there to sand us, to whittle our arrogance and self-sufficiency.

When, not if, cause it's a given, someone bad-mouths you, puts you down, or just plain slanders you, don't take it to heart. Don't let that seed take root. Kill it with love. Love that person into the Kingdom of God. Don't let your mind dwell on the bad things. Just praise the Lord!

Not everyone we know will be likable, but we need to remember that we should have the mind of Christ in us, enabling us to see each person with unconditional love. He's not asking you to trust that person(s), or believe what they are saying, just love and accept. In the same way in which Christ loves and accepts you and me.

Now, how do I stay in perfect peace? Is there some magical solution? Does God just throw a bone in my direction and I am totally relaxed? Not hardly. But, He does give me directions on how to reach perfect peace. It is, after all, a state of mind, which transforms itself into a way of life.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

So, just what is pure? What is lovely? What is of good report? What has virtue? What, or who, deserves our praise? Who or what is in our thoughts? What occupies our time so much that we fail to recognize the deterioration going on in our minds? We cannot blame society for what is ultimately our responsibility.

Jesus says we will be held accountable for our actions: 1 Corinthians 4:2, 11, 12 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the off-scouring of all things unto this day.

Wow, even in the early church the Christians were treated like trash (the filth of the world). They never had rights in the community. Our actions are based on our thoughts. If we are continually angry at another, perhaps there is unforgiveness on our part. If we are addicted to something, like shopping or eating, perhaps we are making up for a lack we remember but no longer have.

Our memories are filtered at best. They go through the sands of time and the hands of God (when we let Him) and become grainy and distorted. Give these remembrances to God. Without the bungee cord attached. Cause if you don't let go, God can't heal you. If you cannot forgive, God cannot forgive you.

Matthew 25:21,23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of the Lord.

We will not hear these words from our Lord and Savior if we are not faithful in the little things. But to me, this is not a little thing. To have sanity and peace of mind is a basic necessity in life. It's right up there with oxygen to breathe and water to drink.

I'm the source of all my anxieties, frets,worries and discombobulations. But GOD, is the Source of all my relief. His Word, His Way, His Love.

God Can't Use Me Because..........

You Think God Can't Use You?

ABRAHAM was too old

ISAAC was a daydreamer

JACOB was a liar

MOSES had a speech impediment

RAHAB was a prostitute

JEREMIAH & TIMOTHY were too young

DAVID had an affair & was a murderer

HOSEA married a prostitute

JONAH ran from God

NAOMI was a widow

JOB went bankrupt

JOHN the BAPTIST ate bugs

PETER denied knowing Christ, more than once

The DISCIPLES fell asleep while praying

ZACCHEUS was too small

TIMOTHY had an ulcer

LYDIA was wealthy

LUKE was a doctor

ESTHER was royalty

MATTHEW collected taxes

SARAH was past her prime

THOMAS never had enough faith

MARY was a virgin

PAUL killed Christians

and

LAZARUS was dead!

Now, what's your problem with serving God?

The Cry of the Seed

Where there is life, there is growth.

Where there is growth, there is suffering.

Where there is suffering, there is pain.

Where there is pain, there is love.

As the seed begins to germinate, it pushes it's way out of the pod in two directions. The root begins to push against the pod from the inside, frantic to get out and into the ground. The ground waits for the root to enter and take hold. This gives the seed a chance to flourish and not diminish.

The sprout pushes its way through the pod and reaches for the above ground level. It seeks sunlight, air and moisture. Not without interference either.

As the seed germinates, its cries are heard by many. The insect community comes to see if perhaps this seed can be of use to them. The worms leave trace nutrients around it, giving it sustenance as it grows. The first little sprout appears above ground and many rush to either feed off of it or neutralize its growth before its barely begun.

But the seed obeys its Creator and keeps on growing, regardless of what may come. It rejoices to be of use by its Creator. And God is glorified by the seed's obedience and desire to grow.

The first leaf unfolds on the stem, the first petal wraps itself around the pollen bed; each petal thereafter wrapping around the first and so on. The rays of the Son shine upon the petals and the flower blossoms and opens. The seeds of the next generation are now available for the bees, the birds and the ants to harvest and spread across the gardens.

The seed is successful. But not without hardship. Not without pain. Not without suffering. But always with Love.

Psalm 1:1-3

"Blessed (happy, content) is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law does he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper."

Well, yes, this appears to be quite a bit to take in at first. But we need to remember that when God says, "O taste and see that the Lord is good", that 'taste' means exactly what it says. When we try to bite into God's Word, we don't get to savor the full flavor. We tend to choke on what we read or hear; refusing to swallow and not being able to digest the wonderful poetry that is God's written Word.

Taste, roll around on the tongue, savor every delightful bit of. You know how you get brain-freeze when you bite the top of the ice cream cone instead of licking it? Well, same application here. Only this time we get heart-freeze when we force ourselves to speed through verses instead of taking the time to understand them.

Walk not in the counsel of the ungodly: Don't take to heart the words of people who are not born again, Holy Spirit filled, humble servants of God. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. As long as my delight is in God's law, God's Word, God's way, God's will. As long as I remain as close to my Redeemer as I can get every single day, words should not be able to affect me. But, somehow they do. People I love have killed me off with their words. I have been hated and left for dead. So many reminders from God's Word just popped into my head. You and I have a target on us. It's not on our backs; it is on our hearts.

When people we love abuse our trust and our love, we tend to retreat instead of advance. These are the gates of hell and we need to advance and retrieve these people from the swinging doors of hell. When we retreat, depression sets in. Why? Because we have forgotten our Word. Or perhaps not quite understood it. A baby does not leave the womb walking and talking. He leaves it crying and screaming. When we see ourselves as babes in Christ, we see how little we really do know and understand. Maturity comes with time; growth in the Word of God, the Love of Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit, is gradual and not instantaneous. We do not live a drive-thru existence here. We sit at Jesus' feet and hear Him speak words of restoration, words of healing, words of unconditional love, words of forgiveness.

Stand not in the way of sinners. We are not here to judge. We are not here to block the sinners' path to righteousness. We are not here to fellowship with darkness. Our relationship with Christ should cause the people around us to hunger and thirst for righteousness, not run the other way. Matthew 5:13 says "we are the salt of the earth" and verse 14 says "we are the light of the world". They should be thirsty for a relationship with Jesus Christ. They should see a difference in us that makes them want that difference, too. The verse goes on to say that "a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid." The love of Jesus within us should cause darkness to run and hide, leaving the people we are sharing our lives with open to the redeeming grace of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Sit not in the seat of the scornful. Mockers, blasphemers, scoundrels. Wickedness in both high and low places. We sit on thrones in the presence of God. And someday we will reign over many, if we are good and faithful servants. We walk in the counsel of the Holy Spirit, in the path of righteousness, where God's Word is a Lamp to guide our feet and a Light along our path. Walk is an active verb; it requires motion and activity on our parts.

When we read the Word of God, we need to remember that He is speaking directly to each and every one of us as if there was only one of us. I try to apply each verse that is brought to my attention by the direction of the Holy Spirit to myself. So, then, I end up reading the Bible like this:

Blessed am I when I walk not in the counsel of the ungodly (the foolish, the wicked, the rebellious).Blessed am I when I stand not in the way of sinners. Blessed am I when I do not sit with the scornful, nor align myself with them.

My delight is in the law of the Lord; in His law do I meditate day and night.

I am like a tree planted by the rivers of water, I bring forth my fruit in due season; my leaf shall not wither (I am ever green and growing); and whatsoever I do (for the glory of God and none other) shall prosper.

Amen.