He Knows You Knew

Proverbs 24:11-12 - Each time I read these verses, I'm convicted to my core.  Lord, help me to live this out.

NIV -
Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
If you say, "But we knew nothing about this,"
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?


NKJV -
Deliver those who are drawn toward death,
And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.
If you say, "Surely we did not know this,"
Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?
He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?
And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?


NLT -
Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die;
save them as they stagger to their death.
Don't excuse yourself by saying, "Look, we didn't know."
For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.
He who guards your soul knows you knew.
He will repay all people as their actions deserve.


The Message -
Rescue the perishing;
don't hesitate to step in and help.
If you say, "Hey, that's none of my business,"
will that get you off the hook?
Someone is watching you closely, you know--
Someone not impressed with weak excuses.


CEV -
Don't fail to rescue those who are doomed to die.
Don't say, "I didn't know it!"
God can read your mind.
He watches each of us and knows our thoughts.
And God will pay us back for what we do.

Overlook an Offense

Something happened a few days ago that I wasn't happy about, and I wanted to come out swinging--verbally, of course. However, I bit my tongue and didn't say a word, motivated by this verse:

A man's wisdom gives him patience;

it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

~ Proverbs 19:11

The funny thing is, after a few hours, I wasn't offended any more. All the heat went out of my blood, my anger was completely gone, I realized full well that the person wasn't trying to offend me or make my life more difficult, and I was SO glad that I had not let my emotions control my mouth, saying words that I would regret later.

It really was a glorious thing to overlook an offense.

Wounds from a Friend

In a conversation with a friend recently, I was complaining (mildly, I thought) about a situation in my life and was admitting how my natural response is childish--about the level of a two year-old, really. She quickly said, "Oh, don't do that. Don't have that tantrum."

As soon as she said that, my thoughts ran in two directions. First, "she doesn't understand because she doesn't have a similar situation in her life," but second, "she's right, absolutely right."

Despite my agreement with her, yesterday when I had to deal with the situation, I found myself thinking (more than once, truth be told), "But I want to have this tantrum." And although I didn't physically stamp my foot like an independence-exerting toddler, I did on the inside. In those moments, her words echoed in my ears, calling me higher, urging me to grow towards maturity. "Don't have that tantrum!"

And then the voice of Wisdom called:

Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

~ Proverbs 27:6

I don't think this particular friend will ever read this; but regardless, thank you, friend, for speaking truth into my life. Thank you for wounding me. Thank you for contributing to my growth in the Lord. I know I can trust you, and that means so much to me.

Every Word of God

At the Defending the Faith conference...

Ken Ham mentioned these verses:

Every word of God proves true.

He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.

Do not add to his words,

or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.

~ Proverbs 30:5-6

Left to Himself

Proverbs 29:15 -

A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. (KJV)

A child left to himself disgraces his mother. (NIV)

~ Do you say, "Just a minute," to a child wanting your attention?

~ Do the minutes run into many more than just one?

~ Do you have a passion for something besides your children? In other words, is there a hobby, work, or other interest that holds you more than your children do?

~ Do you have a quiet child, perhaps one that everyone else speaks for, that you haven't bothered to take aside and get to know? This child is being left to himself.

~ Do your children spend many hours in their rooms, alone, without interaction from you or their father?

~ Is your child being "left to himself" as he spends hours in school or preschool?

* Be the mother your children need. You do not have to "do it all." Neither a spotless home nor a perfect school is required. Focus on the priorities: God first, family next, personal interests last. Put time with God first in your day, then breakfast, then school or child time. After your duties, personal activities come next, or--on some days--not at all. However, a mom who puts "first things first" will usually have extra time for self and interests. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Gal. 6:7).

~ Lorraine Curry,

from Easy Homeschooling Companion

I've heard mention in a few places about the growing "epidemic," so to speak, of mothers who neglect their children because they're wrapped up in the computer: blogging, doing FaceBook, Twittering, etc. These words from Lorraine Curry were a good reminder to me to guard myself in this way. The first two questions she asked were particularly challenging to me because I feel like I'm *always* getting interrupted by someone, and I do have to sometimes answer with a "just a minute." But I know there are too many times when I could pause and give my child the attention he needs at that moment, but I'm simply too selfish to do so. I need to be more vigilant to sow love and attention into my children now--when they're young and want my attention!

Gravel

My manna for today is here.

The Fear of the Lord

Yesterday at a ladies' brunch at church, the speaker, Sylvia, spoke on fear; and during part of her talk, she contrasted a healthy fear of the Lord with unhealthy fear of other things. She read these verses:

He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress,

and for his children it will be a refuge.

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,

turning a man from the snares of death.

~ Proverbs 14:26-27 (NIV)

These verses came back to my mind last evening as we dealt with a snake on our property; and in the midst of my own fear, I saw terror in Josiah, David, and Tobin. I saw clearly the challenge to, even in the midst of such a frightful situation, point them to God, help them to fear (respect) Him, and find their security in His character. I need to learn to do this more and more, too; and I pray that as I grow in this, my sons will as well. My fear of the Lord can be a refuge for my children!

But I have a choice. Who will I fear? Either I fear the Lord, or I fear everything else.

In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence.

~ Proverbs 14:26a (KJV)

Tossing Peanuts to Behemoths

God makes most plain how he feels about the animal kingdom in a magnificent address found at the end of Job. Look closely and you will notice a common thread in the specimens held up for Job's edification: a lioness, a mountain goat, a rogue donkey, an ostrich, a stallion, a hawk, an eagle, a raven, and a behemoth. Wildness is God's underlying message to Job, the one trait this menagerie all share...Most wildlife writing focuses on these vanishing [Yancey previously mentioned some endangered species] animals themselves, but I find myself wondering about the ultimate impact on us. What else, besides that innate appreciation for wildness, have we lost? Could distaste for authority, or even a loss of God-awareness, derive in part from this atrophied sense? God's mere mention of the animals struck a chord of awe in Job; what about us, who grow up tossing peanuts across the moat to the behemoths and leviathans?

~ Philip Yancey

Look at the behemoth, which I made along with you...

Can anyone capture him by the eyes,

or trap him and pierce his nose?

Can you pull in the leviathan with a fishhook

or tie down his tongue with a rope?

~ Job 40:15,24 and 41:1

I could have--and wanted to--include many more verses from the last few chapters of Job. Actually, just read the last 5 chapters of the book. They're all good.

Chapter 38 begins with God answering Job out of the storm. He rips into Job and puts him in his place most convincingly, finally saying in 40:2, "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!"

The text continues: "Then Job answered the Lord: 'I am unworthy--how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer--twice, but I will say no more'."

But then--I love this--God doesn't say, "Oh, OK, Job. Thanks for repenting and seeing it my way. Here, let me give you a hug." Oh, no. God continues to cut him down to size by saying, "Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God's, and can your voice thunder like his?" and on and on and on. He doesn't let Job off easy, but He continues the conversation with him until Job is completely and permanently humbled and blown away by the glory and majesty and power of God.

Finally in chapter 42, Job reaches the point of saying, "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." He was a changed man.

God's treatment of Job reminds me of Proverbs 3:11-12 (which is quoted in Hebrews 12):

My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline

and do not resent his rebuke,

because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

as a father the son he delights in.

The end of the book of Job shows us God's delight in Job. God accepts his prayer on behalf of his friends, God makes him prosperous again and gives him twice as much as he had before, God blesses him with 10 children, and most of all, God says to Eliphaz, "You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has." High praise coming from the mouth of the Almighty!