We have had a bunch of rain (that’s a technical term, FYI) and the skies have been gray and gloomy. If you have been reading these little posts for awhile then you know I feed the little birds around here. I began to notice that the birds would come around, sit on the feeders, but the food wasn’t being eaten. I realized, upon further research, the food was rotten. Water had seeped in and mold entered. Dang it. So after cleaning, drying, and getting new food, we have again become a safe place for the little birds.
This whole process took me a few days to diagnose and treat. The water and mold seeped in at some point, but I didn’t see it until opening the feeders. It was a gradual decay that took the food.
My last few posts have been focused on setting our faces to the Lord. Keeping our minds and hearts centered on him. What about when we have slowly stopped the habits that help us to set our faces? It can be slow and gradual or it can be abrupt, but all of a sudden, our distance from our Heavenly Father can be felt.
We step out of the habit of starting our day with the Lord. We get busy and forget to think on the Lord during our day. It could be more than this. It could be a pattern of sin that we do not want to let go. Choices we make to allow our tongue to loosen. And all of a sudden, we spot the mold in the food. We realize that our focus has trailed off.
“Take care, brothers and sisters, that there not be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to trust and rely on the Lord, a heart] that turns away from the living God. But continually encourage one another every day, as long as it is called “Today” [and there is an opportunity], so that none of you will be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [its cleverness, delusive glamour, and sophistication]. For we [believers] have become partakers of Christ [sharing in all that the Messiah has for us], if only we hold firm our newborn confidence [which originally led us to Him] until the end,”
Hebrews 3:12-14 AMP
I want to insulate this passage for you. Make it easier to read. However, that isn’t the purpose of this post today. Notice and care for the edges of mold that have crept in. Take care of the sin that turns away from our living God. The comfort and care of the presence of Jesus is here to welcome you back. Encourage one another in this.
If you have bought a lie that your circumstances prove there is no God, allow these words to remind you. We serve a living God who is at work always. If you have bought the lie that God does not care, remind yourself today of the truth of God’s word.
“Therefore, since [these His] children share in flesh and blood [the physical nature of mankind], He Himself in a similar manner also shared in the same [physical nature, but without sin], so that through [experiencing] death He might make powerless (ineffective, impotent) him who had the power of death—that is, the devil— and [that He] might free all those who through [the haunting] fear of death were held in slavery throughout their lives. For, as we all know, He (Christ) does not take hold of [the fallen] angels [to give them a helping hand], but He does take hold of [the fallen] descendants of Abraham [extending to them His hand of deliverance]. [Is 41:8, 9] Therefore, it was essential that He had to be made like His brothers (mankind) in every respect, so that He might [by experience] become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things related to God, to make atonement (propitiation) for the people’s sins [thereby wiping away the sin, satisfying divine justice, and providing a way of reconciliation between God and mankind]. Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.”
Hebrews 2:14-18 AMP
Jesus Christ was flesh and blood, human, yet without sin. He came to make sin and death powerless We have freedom. Oh, friends, that sentence: “that He] might free all those who through [the haunting] fear of death were held in slavery throughout their lives.” I know vividly when I first discovered this passage. It was a time of great fear and anxiety, but rather than taking this to my Lord, held on. Reading this, that Jesus not only died for our sins, but rescues us from the haunting fear of death that has consumed our thoughts, day in and day out. We hardly recognize the weight of fear until we turn and give this fully to the Lord.
Joshua has full time work now. It is not his dream job or dream hours, but he is again busy and working. Ever since he got this job, I have realized with every turn how I have held onto the fear. Slowly, I have understood. Until you do not have, you do not understand. I deal with people nearly every day that do not have insurance or are under insured. We have not had insurance for many months now, I have new understanding of this situation. I have compassion from this perspective.
God uses the circumstances of our lives for his glory.
“Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil. [Prov 8:13]”
Proverbs 3:5-7 AMP
This was part of my reading this morning, and it is so well known to all. This time when I read it, this phrase jumped right out to me. “In all your ways know Him.” As I move through my day, the more I know and rely on his presence, the more I know him. Even when the puppy makes a mess, or pain is with every step or you fill in the blank. In all my ways, all your ways, reader, set your face. Trust the Lord today. Let us keep turning our faces to him. Draw us to your side, Lord.
This post took a couple of days and today we have sunshine. It is beautiful to watch the darkness slowly fade away and the beauty of the sun radiates over the earth. Whether the clouds cover the sun or it is bright and beautiful, God’s presence is still here and with us. Say His name.
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