Teddy Bears, Stratford on Avon It is located at Sheep Street by Kenneth Allen
Good morning, beloved,
I’m getting a late start today! 🙂 I have a daughter building table tent for her new blessing bears from our neighbor across the street, a son drawing himself a bath, a son sleeping in, a son on his way to a retreat and husband trying to pretend to sleep in. ;0) I’m infused with His love today and He has been teaching me a lot about His love these past few days. The more I pour out of myself, the more of Himself He can pour in..the absence of self makes it possible to have Him in abundance. The Spirit’s guidance in abundance, the Lord‘s love overflowing…now, earth comes in let me tell you.
My Goldendoodle, Starburst, or as I call her, Starry (sometimes or dork dog), has decided that counters are her next frontier. I have decided that is NOT a good next step. And it is bringing my knees to the earth. I am worshiping and I fall to earth as she carries food up to me in a room I’m working in. ARGH! Stomp. Her eyes get that fearful look and oh, mercy, I’m not good at that. I think she must practice that look in a mirror for my benefit. She has me wrapped around her paw, Joshua is convinced. 😉
Starburst is on the bottom, my parents dog, Sammy is snuggling on top. 🙂
Well, anyway, this has just been one of those crushing weeks of stress for me financially and in that, the Lord has asked me to give out of my abundance. And it has resulted in such blessing for our family, such feeding for our souls…this week turned my life upside down. Now I’m just praying as I look at my bookshelves, how can I bless people with the abundance You have given me? Who needs off my shelves? If it is collecting dust, then it needs to be read..maybe not given away but surely given to be read. And I have started praying to that end, and as I have organized this time, I have noticed doubles of books..God is teaching me to take my eyes off myself. When I consume myself with our stress, oh man, I am consumed. I cannot see past myself. Not good.
Well, now we are looking into a new word in the New Testament:
Gentleness, Meekness and here’s the definition: mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness. It must be clearly understood, therefore, that the meekness manifested by the Lord and commended to the believer is the fruit of power. The common assumption is that when a man is meek it is because he cannot help himself; but the Lord was ‘meek’ because he had the infinite resources of God at His command. Described negatively, meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest; it is equanimity of spirit that is neither elated nor cast down, simply because it is not occupied with self at all.
So let’s start in on the different verses for this word:
1 Corinthians 4:21 Now which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of correction, or with love and in a spirit of gentleness?
2 Corinthians 10:1 Now I myself, Paul, beseech you, by the gentleness and consideration of Christ [Himself; I] who [am] lowly enough [so they say] when among you face to face, but bold (fearless and outspoken) to you when [I am] absent from you!
Galatians 5:23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore andreinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.
Ephesians 4:2 Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another.
Colossians 3:12 Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].
1 Timothy 6: 11 But as for you, O man of God, flee from all these things; aim at and pursue righteousness (right standing with God and true goodness), godliness (which is the loving fear of God and being Christlike), faith, love, steadfastness (patience), and gentleness of heart.
2 Timothy 2:25 He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth [that they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge it],
Titus 3:2 To slander or abuse or speak evil of no one, to avoid being contentious, to be forbearing (yielding, gentle, and conciliatory), and to show unqualified courtesy toward everybody.
James 1:21 So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls.
James 3:13 Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his [good] works with the [unobtrusive] humility [which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom.]
1 Peter 3: 15 But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.
As stated in Philippians 2 Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:], remembering what He said in Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.
Friends, we need to keep on learning from the Savior, keeping our eyes on Him..looking, leaning, learning and establishing ourselves in Him and Him alone..His yoke is easy, His burden is light..
We have much to think about today, don’t we? Pray on, pray on.
Related articles
- Memorization Scripture – Galatians 5:22-23 (cfnprblog.org)
- A Case for Meekness (saintlysages.wordpress.com)
- The Meek Win (genesisone.wordpress.com)
- Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (spendomai.com)
- Are You Living Each Day As If It’s Your Last? (inspirationalchristiansfortoday.com)
- Gentleness vs Harshness (graceandgritforlivinglife.wordpress.com)
2 Comments
Cara, beloved daughter: very moving today esp. Sammy snuggling with Star. I urge you to see today and the last few days as a lesson–God knows your mom and I have had to learn a lot of them in raising children. I look at your four kids, and TIm’s three, and the young family with four down the street and think, we made the decision not to have more children for reasons that seemed good at the time. Still, I can’t help but wonder if we should have had more. I think a lot of the decision had to do with the fact that my parents struggled my whole life with four kids and their wretched financial decisions. We didn’t know the Lord in those days.
Daddy, you know that God planned your days, He planned your kids and He has planned your grandkids. He has blessed you sevenfold, right? Look at your beautiful grandkids..I think that your life is a testimony to God’s grace, Dad. And your life needs to be lived in today. His grace is for today. Not to look back and wonder but to look to today and know that you have grandkids who think the world revolves around you. 🙂 When are we going to hang around with Grandpa? You know the Lord now and your Grandkids know the Lord..and He is blessing the work of your hands. Much love, Cara