Legalism


Legalism is oftentimes an insulting label given to someone who seeks to raise the standard and is given by a person who would rather lower the standard. What always did not make sense to me, is that those who hide behind "your legalist" or "that's legalism" are quite unlearned in the Bible. The Bible itself, is a LEGAL document! LOL. God likes legalism evidently because he chose to use the courtroom setting, with him being the judge.......Jesus as our advocate and we are the accused. So I don't really mind when others say my beliefs are legalist, I say thank you! I choose to set high standards as God has laid out in his word. I choose to be separate from the world and all its idealism's and thinking. I'm not career-minded, I'm God-minded! There has to be a standard and lines drawn. If God said these things ought not be so, then they OUGHT NOT BE SO!

I like what one man said "Raise the Bar!" Keep reaching higher, not lower.....quit trying to cut corners and do it God's way! Someone should be able to spot you out of a crowd of people because you are different, you are separate from the world. There is a line.......its high time to stop the "blurring of the lines." (Oh and by the way I have a devotional I'm working on with that title)

Here is some more on this topic by David Cloud:

"All too often, any kind of preaching about clothing has become an oddity, and embarrassment, or a type of 'legalism'. The resistance of the rock & roll culture to such preaching is so pervasive that many pastors have decided to ignore the matter of dress, thus the battle is lost simply because the ground is abandoned.

Yet if ever there were a time when preachers need to warn their people about clothing issues, it is today. Modern society is drenched with indecency. A Vogue fashion show would make ancient Corinth blush. Standards of morality are not to be left to the pew. Surely it is the obligation of the preacher to set forth these things. Has God not spoken on this issue? We know that holiness is a matter of the heart, but is it not a matter of the body, as well? What man has ever lusted after a woman's heart? How, then, can we ignore these parts of Scripture and refuse to preach them boldly and uncompromisingly? That is what the New Evangelical does. There are some things he will not preach, and separation is one of them. But the Bible speaks as much about moral separation as it does ecclesiastical separation. The faithful Bible believing preacher cannot ignore either.

Those who are crying 'legalism' today are hypocrites in this matter. They decry the old-time preacher for the lines he draws, but they, too, draw lines for clothing. Will they allow a woman to teach Sunday School class in a bikini? No, and there are other types of attire they do not allow. They draw lines; they have some sort of standards. And if it is right to draw a line in clothing, it is wise to draw the line after the Bible's principles rather than the world's.
Let's make a clear difference between ourselves and the world. Let's not be afraid of being a 'peculiar people, zealous of good works'. Let's stand in the old paths. Those who are giving up high, plain standards of holiness in dress and moving closer and closer to the fashions of the world should remember that the world is moving farther and farther from God's word."
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Learning Through the Heat of Our Battles

Have you ever been in the "heat" of the battle and everything in you just wants to RUN? It would be so easy to just "run" away from it all, from all your problems and the battle. But that isn't winning the battle! God didn't make us soldiers for nothing, we have to fight and be brave against ALL EVIL!

Thank God we can learn something through our trials, experiences and the "heat" of our battles. I've learned so much through experiences and hard times in my life. I used to think it wasn't fair and the "why me?" but I got over that years ago once I saw how it actually was turned to my benefit that I went through such things. It has molded me and made me who I am today. It has helped me mature and see through the fallacies of others. All the things I saw in my experiences have turned into some of the most useful tools in my Christian life.
So no matter how hot the "heat" of your battle is.....God can cool it down and you can learn from it when its all said and done. Isn't it funny how when our HUGE battle is over that it looks so small?
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The Fern and the Bamboo


One day I decided to quit.... I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality..... I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me... "Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light.

I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo".

He said. "In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.
In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.

He said. "Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant.

But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."

He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots. I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you. Don't compare yourself to others."

He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern, yet, they both make the forest Beautiful.”

"Your time will come," God said to me. " You will rise high!"

"How high should I rise?" I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.

"As high as it can?" I questioned.

"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."

Author Unknown
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A Crown to Your Husband

Proverbs 12:4
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

Proverbs 31:11
The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

What do these Scriptures portray a Godly wife to be? A "crown" to her husband? Did you realize that you have the opportunity to be a crown for your husband? Either a crown of honor or a crown of thorns!! With our lips, our actions and our attitudes we can be a crown that honors him and builds him up, sparkling with the radiance of many precious jewels or we can be a crown that is painful, sharp, tears him down and offers only shame.

Many women complain that their husbands refuse to be the spiritual leaders in the home. This may be true, but I would have to wonder if these dear ladies are truly and honestly willing to humbly submit, removing the "crown" from their own prideful head and sacrificially becoming a crown of honor for their husband's. It's difficult to become a crown for my husband if I'm too busy polishing the large and heavy crown of pride on my own selfish head!

Psalm 141:3
Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

Have you ever had a visit with a couple where the husband was trying to tell a story and the wife rolled her eyes and corrected her husband every few minutes? "No, it was 4:00 NOT 6:00." "No, THAT is NOT how it happened!" "They don't want to hear you ramble on and on about THAT, get to the point!" "Why do you always say that, that's not true!" Don't you just wince? If it brings you pain just witnessing the scene, imagine the pain and damage it brings to the husband and his ability to properly lead that family! Those were extreme examples, but I have seen it happen many, many times and sadly I have been guilty of it, to some degree myself!

"The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her...." Oh what a joy for a wife to know that her husband safely trusts in her. How about you? Does your husband know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that when you have a friend over for coffee, all the words of your mouth will be edifying and honoring towards him? Does he know that when he invites others to his home, that you will honor and respect him while visiting with other families? Does he *trust* you to be graceful when he makes a mistake or stumbles over his words or is he nervous and in constant fear of your public ridicule if he accidentally ends his sentence in a preposition!

Sisters, we are designed to be a helper to our husbands. If you had an important project to complete, would you appreciate a helper that "delayed" your work, one that continually tried to be the boss, or that undermined your leadership with sarcasm or suspicion? You would most likely rather do the job ALONE! Could this be why many marriages have difficulties with "oneness?" Wouldn't it bring much glory and honor to the Lord if we could repent of any selfish pride that we've allowed into our lives? I pray that we may purpose in our hearts right now, to obey God and to submit respectfully to our husbands, to honor him and allow God to transform us into a beautiful crown that fits perfectly on our own husbands' head!

Author Unknown
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You Tell on Yourself



You tell on yourself by the friends you seek,
By the very manner in which you speak,
By the way you employ your leisure time,
By the use you make of dollar and dime.

You tell what you are by the things you wear,
By the spirit in which you burdens bear,
By the kind of things at which you laugh,
By the records you play on the phonograph.

You tell what you are by the way you walk,
By the things of which you delight to talk,
By the manner in which you bear defeat,
By so simple a thing as how you eat.

By the books you choose from the well-filled shelf:
In these ways and more, you tell on yourself.

Author Unknown
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Gossip Part 1

I have been conducting an INTENSE study on gossip and that it entails for months now. I have been doing this because the tongue (especially for women) is a part of my body I wish to control more of. Here is an article about the tongue that I posted a while back that would do much good to read again. I have been reading just about everything I can get my hands on about gossip. I'm still reading lol......but it is yielding wonderful things in my life as understanding gossip and all that it entails brings forth knowledge to prevent it in my life.

I've been having a lot of time alone lately and it has allowed me to study more and ask my husband questions about things I don't understand (which the Bible instructs wives to do!). I realized in my time alone, how many idle words I had spoken when in conversation with others......to just fill the space of small talk. Then when I next had interaction with someone after spending time praying a guard about my tongue.....I have found that I'm more cautious of my words and my ears! It has yielded the effect I had hoped for.....carefulness.

Here is a great quote from Charles Spurgeon on the topic:
Don’t be the Devil’s bellows any longer to blow up the fires of strife. Leave off setting people by the ears. If you do not cut off a bit of your tongues, at least season them with the salt of grace. Praise God more and blame neighbors less. Any goose can cackle; any fly can find out a sore place; any empty barrel can give forth sound; any brier can tear a man’s flesh. No flies will go down your throat if you keep your mouth shut and no evil speaking will come up. Think much, but say little; be quick at work and slow at talk; and above all, ask the great Lord to set a watch over your lips.
This is what I did.......I asked the Lord to set a watch upon my lips and a guard on my tongue. It had occurred to me some months ago, that I wasn't taking much consideration for my words. Words can do a great deal of damage to others and they can also do a great deal of good.

However, I had not been praying over my conversations with others and found myself in a distressed state. I had let others tell me things about others......gossip! I had thought to myself, well I can't correct them I'm not their pastor....BUT when it causes me to sin by mere listening (see this article) then I must withdraw myself from the conversation because I will not be a partaker in another person's sin! (1 Timothy 5:22)

Also, being around those type of people who have nothing better to do than talk about others and how bad they are......I came to the realization that their evil ways were rubbing off on me because I began to look at others in disdain! You just can't have fellowship with those that continue in sin, especially gossip. Once you withdraw yourself from their company, you will soon find that YOU will be the topic they choose to speak evil about to others. The tongue is EVIL.
Do you have complete control of your tongue?? I will be the first to say that I know I did not and I have taken steps to ensure a guard about my tongue.

If the picture is too small for you to read, here are the verses:
James 3:4-6
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
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Spiritual Eagles


A preacher in my church preached this message last year, and I took some of what he preached and some of my own thoughts and put them together.
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
He spoke on the warm air currents and thermals on which the eagle finds to help them soar, so they don't have to keep flapping their wings frantically. I never really studied much on birds and so I read a little about it when I got home and found this:
For help soaring, the American bald eagle uses thermals. Thermals are currents of hot air and updrafts created by the terrain. Soaring is done with little wing flapping, which helps an eagle to conserve energy. An eagle accomplishes long flights by climbing high in currents of warm air, and then glide down to catch the next currents of warm air, in which the process is repeated.
  • Taken from thinkquest
We see in the scripture above that it says those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. That word strength also meaning power. Next it says mount "up" with wings as eagles. The hebrew definition for up is to go up, ascend or climb. It is almost interchangeable with soar, which means also to ascend and rise up. So just as the eagle uses those thermals to soar, we as Christians can be "spiritual eagles" and soar on Christ's power! Meaning that Christ's power is our thermals, what keeps us soaring. He ends the verse saying "they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

I've seen lately in my own life I have let things get me down and I was frantically flapping my wings, so to speak, and not soaring. The message really touched my heart and caused me to want to mount up as a spiritual eagle in Christ. I want to soar! I don't want a mediocre experience in God. All I have to do is wait upon the Lord!

That reminds me of a message that another associate Pastor preached, about "Waiting on God." Sometimes it is hard to wait. But thanks be unto God, God is always on time!

So to encourage others, I can say let us do as the message was preached today: Let us be "Spiritual Eagles!" Let us soar on Christ's power!
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My Homemade Salsa

I just created this recipe today and it is the BEST salsa I've ever tasted and I'm not kidding! Hubby loved it and my daughter also!

  • 2 tomatoes
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1T lemon juice
  • pepper
  • salt
  • 1T Mrs Dash Extra Spicy seasoning

Bring water to boil in a pan. Add tomatoes (whole) and chopped onion and boil for about 5 minutes. Drain. Remove peel from tomatoes and cut off top and bottom parts. Put tomatoes in bowl and mash. Now add the tomatoes, onions, lemon juice, pepper, salt and Mrs Dash seasonings in a blender and blend on low for just 1 minute.

Refrigerate...it will thicken within 30 minutes! Enjoy!
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The Peace of God

Philippians 4:9
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Oh wonderful peace! Having the peace of God surpasses anything that this world has to offer! We all have felt what it feels like to have failed God, to have sinned and it is so terrible to not feel the peace of God. OH.... but when we repent and let God's mercy pour over us, the peace comes! Knowing that everything is right between you and God brings the greatest peace you can experience.

Peace:
  • a state of national tranquillity
  • exemption from the rage and havoc of war
  • peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord
  • security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous)
  • of the Messiah's peace
  • the way that leads to peace (salvation)
  • of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is
The verse goes on to say that this peace of God, "passeth all understanding." Meaning the peace of God can go overtop and rise above our feelings, our thoughts of perceiving or mode of thinking.

At the end of the verse it says "shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ." What does keep mean? Simply put it means here to guard or protect.

So this peace of God is going overtop and rising above our thinking/feelings and perceptions and guarding and protecting our hearts and minds! Through whom? JESUS!
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Our Legacy

Father,

Help me take an honest look at what legacy I'm leaving behind.

Will anyone be different because of the way I've lived my life?

Will anyone be closer to you because of the way I've used my time?

Will someone have eternal life because I've introduced them to Jesus?

Will anyone have hope because of seeing Jesus in me?

Father, the older I get (and the more loved ones who leave this life)the more I realize how short my time is.

I don't want to waste this precious life You've given me.

I know I will stand before You someday and will be accountable for how I used the time You gave me.

I don't want to wait for someday. Show me now, while I still have time to readjust my priorities.

Is too much of my time spent on collecting things that won't even be a thought a hundred years from now?

Do I waste hours on needless worry, guilt and fear?

Am I listening too much to the temptations of this world or do I recognize them quickly and move on?

What portions of my day are spent on loving You, on serving others in Your love, or on myself?

Am I spiritually balanced?

Will you be pleased with the way I'mspending my life?

Am I keeping my focus on You?

Help my legacy be a life which points to a joyful life with You, so it will last long after everyone has forgotten who I am.

Author Unknown
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