tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16293242227554345202024-02-19T08:27:03.033-05:00Dirty Dishes Devotions: For Real WomenKim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-14734916823634608032018-08-01T11:05:00.000-04:002018-08-01T11:05:08.795-04:00Getting Wisdom Takes Action"My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." Proverbs 2:1-5<br />
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Who else wishes getting Wisdom would be easy? I thought all I had to do was ask for it. Well, I do, but I have to give my attention; incline my heart; call out, raising my voice; and seek and search for it to find it. That seems like a lot more work that I expected.<br />
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We live in a world full of opinions, human wisdom. We hear and see it in all sorts of places from our TV screens, computer screens, newspaper pages, schools and universities, and even from pulpits. There are so many, well-meaning, slightly distorted words out there that are claimed to be wisdom, but there are not. They are full of half-truths and even flat out lies, and we are assaulted with them on a daily basis. So it'll take action to give my attention to true Wisdom. The other voices will not go away, so I must pay attention to the real Voice of Wisdom.<br />
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More worrisome that the outside voices, is my heart. It wants to have more of God and be more like Him, but I also wants what I wants. My heart can be stubborn, selfish, and willful. God must increase in me so those things decrease. Less of them can help my heart incline to understanding, but they don't have to be completely gone. If I needed to wait for then, I would never get Wisdom. I can pray that God will help my heart to lean more and more toward Him and toward understanding.<br />
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Thankfully, God doesn't expect me, or you, to be perfect, or to live in such a way to be isolated from all other influences. He knows there will always be other voices, images, and even our own hearts to distract us. He asks us to look and pay attention, and we don't need to be perfect to do that.<br />
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<br />Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-88135510740751936662018-07-29T06:13:00.000-04:002018-07-29T08:07:29.840-04:00She Warned Us"Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefor they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices." Proverbs 1:29-31<br />
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"I told you so!" Have you ever used those words, or a paraphrase of them? If you haven't, I'm sure that you've heard them. As a teacher, I let me students sit on chairs, stability balls, cushions, etc. so they are comfortable and ready to learn. But I warn them of the ways not to sit on them. Don't tilt back on two legs of the chair, or forward. Don't try to sit crossed leg on the ball. Don't sit for too long with your legs bent under you on the cushion. Why do I tell them these things? Because every year someone falls. I have the student will tilted forward on two legs of the chair an end up with his chin hitting the desk when the legs didn't hold him. I've had the stability ball daredevils who try contortionists positions on the ball, just to have it roll out from under them. There is always at least one, who sat too long with their legs bent who complains of the pain of trying to get the blood flowing and the creaks out of their legs. Listen, I've had kids fall out of the chairs for no apparent reasons. It seemed that gravity just gave them an extra pull to make everyone first react with shock and then to give us a good laugh. Almost all of these instances end with something like, "you should have believed me when I told you that would happen."<br />
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Wisdom has promised a, "I told you so!" to those who refuse to listen. In the verses preceding these that calamity will fall on them and they will call for her but won't find her. Remember, she hasn't quietly stood off to the side and said, "now, I don't think that is a good idea." No, she calls out in the street and tells anyone who has the fear of the Lord, to listen, turn from their ways, and they will have knowledge and become wise.<br />
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At some point, I had to just watch the kid sit up on his toes with the chair tilted on two, or even one leg, and let him or her fall. Why? Not because I am mean or get any thrill from watching them cause themselves injury, but rather because some won't learn not to until they do and feel the consequences of trying to defy gravity. We can't continue to try to defy Wisdom and expect no consequences. She has called out, warned them to listen, but at some point people need to eat the fruit of doing things their own way.<br />
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The decision for us is simple, but not easy. It's simple because Wisdom is telling us what is good and right. All we have to do is listen. It is not easy, because hers is not the only voice we hear. There is our own voices of pride and doubt that we listen to. There is the voice of others who think they are wise, or know they are foolish and don't care. We hear them too. Satan would like nothing better than for us to listen to him and his lies. He would much rather see us left to our own devices. It's not easy to listen and follow the words of Wisdom, because of the other voices we hear. My prayer is that God will help me to know His voice, whether it's the still small voice or the one calling in the streets. Help me to distinguish between the thoughts of what I want and what He is directing me to do. Help me to ignore the fear. Help me stop second, and third, and sometimes more, guessing what I heard that came from Wisdom. Let me choose to fear the Lord, and listen and have His spirit poured out to me.Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-87763345963691540942018-07-28T06:42:00.001-04:002018-07-28T06:42:28.111-04:00Wisdom is No Shy, Timid Girl in the Corner"Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 'How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words know to you.' " Proverbs 1:20-23<br />
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Wisdom isn't a still small voice. Wisdom isn't aloof. Wisdom isn't evasive. She cried out in a raise voice. She goes to the streets and cries out. We know that Jesus often speaks to us in a "still small voice", but Wisdom seems to be the opposite. She is begging someone to listen, someone to take head of her words.<br />
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Honestly, I've read these verses many times, but the reminder that He is a still small voice, always made me think it would difficult to hear, but here we are being told, "nope, I am yelling it in the streets!"<br />
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So how do I know that the voice I hear is Wisdom and not just my simpleness? Verse 23 gives me a clue: turn at my reproof. In my own knowledge I am rarely wrong. I think my thoughts and ideas are right and good. I just plow ahead, whistle while I work, and wave at my neighbor as Wisdom shakes her head and calls out to me. She tells me that my way is not the right one. She tells to turn to her when she shows me the error of my thinking. She will pour out her spirit on me and make her words know to me. I won't have to just keep moving along, wondering if I going the right way or doing the right thing. She makes it known.<br />
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But even though she is calling out in the streets, most don't hear her. There are many simple ones, who just love being simple. I choose to not be simple. I choose to listen for her voice. I choose to listen and turn from my simple ways. Will I get stuck in my simpleness sometimes? Yes. Will I miss hearing Wisdom calling? Yes. Even though my simple might be showing, Wisdom, the Holy Spirit continues to guide and speak, and eventually, hopefully, I will listen and know what is being spoken to me.<br />
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<i>Disclaimer: In case you are wondering if you missed a post, you didn't. I wish I had all insight and could write about every verse in Proverbs, but I'm certainly do not have that. I can only write about the ones that He reveals to me at this time. </i>Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-35419893139928889432018-07-27T06:19:00.000-04:002018-07-27T06:19:43.610-04:00Do I Really Need to Listen to Them?"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendent for your neck." Proverbs 1:7-9<br />
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When I read these verses, I always think, "what if the parents are fools?" I work in a field where I see wise parents, but also a considerable number of foolish ones. Turn on the news and you'll hear stories of parents who do unwise things with and to their children, criminal things, unthinkable things. So should those children follow the words of Proverbs 1:8 and 9? As a child, will one even know if there parents' instruction and teaching are wise or not? That leads me to think about one of the commandments, "honor thy father and mother". Once again, I wonder how to do this when a parent or both parents aren't good people and it's hard to honor that which is not good.<br />
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The only answer I have is found in verse 7, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." Our earthy parents will let us down; they will give bad instruction; and some will not be worthy of being listened to or honored. But God will always be there and gives us His instructions. He tells us to honor them, regardless of if they are terrible. He already knows every bad parent who lived, lives, and will live. We have to find a way to honor them anyway. We can listen to them, but check the Word to see if what they instruct is right. God knows that some children will have to follow their parents' instruction or risk serious punishment. I believe it grieves His heart to have any child or adult treated badly, but He does promise reward for faithfulness. He looks at our hearts and He knows the child who doesn't want to follow their parents' way, but as a child, he or she has little choice in the matter.<br />
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Not all parents are horrible, of course, but they are human and make mistakes. We still need to listen and hope that God shows them the error of their thinking. Parents who fear the Lord, will listen to Him, and they will hopefully come to a point where they realize the error of their instruction and speak to their children about it. I have no children of my own, but as I work with them. There is not many things more powerful than to apologize to them. There have been times when I have done the wrong thing, either purposely or unintentionally, and I have realized it and apologized. It's like a weight is lifted off of me and my students. They always accept, at least verbally they do, and I notice they become more aware of when they need to apologize to others. I take my role as an influential adult in their lives very seriously.<br />
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If you are a parent, make sure that your instruction lines up with God's Word, so you don't steer your children wrong. All of us our some one's child, even if you didn't know your parent, forgive the mistakes they made raising you, the bad advice given, and find ways to honor them in your heart.<br />
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<br />Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-48097864085475341742018-07-25T06:58:00.000-04:002018-07-25T06:58:16.153-04:00The Beginning of WisdomI have taken a bit of a journey over the last 10 or so months, of going straight through books of the Bible and posting a paragraph or so at a time on Facebook. It was election time, and my news feed was full of negative posts, comments, videos, and memes, and it was getting to a point of not wanting to even go on there. Then, I felt the Lord speak into my heart and tell me to post His Word. I started in Romans and finished the New Testament. I made only two or three comments throughout. It wasn't to be about me and my thoughts, but just His Word speaking. Many people like the posts or make comments, but even more tell me in person "thank you" for posting Scripture each day. So I continue to do that. Right now it's about halfway through John. Did you know that each of the books of the Gospel were written to different audiences? Well, John was written to those who were not part of the Jewish faith, ones who knew little or anything of the One True God. That's why I chose that Gospel to share first, because many of my Facebook friends are not believers. All this to say, that I have badly neglected blogging during this time. I knew that I would, because I felt then and now, that that needed to be my focus. Yet, I have come to a place where I need to be refreshed and even though I read and post Scripture daily, I need some dig into time. I need some wisdom, so I thought that I would do my devotions right here through the book of Proverbs. I hope that whoever reads these devotions gains the wisdom that you search for too.<br />
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"To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth-Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles." Proverbs 1:2-6<br />
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How many nights have I laid awake worrying over a decision or regretting a choice? I can't even begin to count! In those moments, of tossing and turning, I feel like the least wise person who has ever lived. I can't get passed the worry of making the wrong decision or the worry of the results of making poor decisions. The cats hate me because I'm disturbing their sleep with my kicking the covers off and pulling them back on; my turning from one side to the others; and my sighs and groans. Usually they go right back to sleep while I lay there wide awake. I am sure that I am not the only one.<br />
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At some point during my worrying gymnastics routine, a name pops into my head. Jesus. It's like a light bulb goes off, again, that His name can calm me and help me to listen to Wisdom. My mind starts to rest, although there is usually a kick start or two of over thinking before I truly let His name flow over my worry and regret. In those moments, I often think, "I need more time with You. I need more time in Your Word." I don't think those because I'll have no decisions that may cause me to worry. Rather, I think it because I know that when I do I'll remember more quickly that He is with me, even when I make a bad choice.<br />
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The introduction to the book of Proverbs sums it all up. 31 chapters were written to help the reader understand words of insight; to receive instructions, to hear and increase in learning; to obtain guidance; and to understand the words of the wise. There doesn't feel like there are a lot of Solomons anymore, but we don't need them. They are nice to have around, someone to ask advice from or just to listen to like the crowds listened to Jesus. We don't need them because when we accepted Christ, we got the direct connect to Wisdom, the Holy Spirit. Sometimes He speaks directly into our hearts and minds and other times He uses Scripture to penetrate into us. Sometimes He uses the few Solomons to speak to us the Truth of Wisdom. Pastors and preachers and priests are great, but they aren't all Solomons. If that was true than Solomon wouldn't have been needed at all, as the Jews had plenty of priests. Seek out those who speak Wisdom and if you find no person, no worry, because the Holy Spirit was sent to bring us comfort and wisdom.<br />
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I look forward to journeying through the book of Proverbs and hope to become wiser as I do so.Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-208376406114361022017-07-31T06:52:00.001-04:002017-07-31T06:52:32.853-04:00Everything Bitter is Sweet"One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet." Proverbs 27:7<br />
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This verse has been rolling around in my mind for the last few days. Well, the second part has. The verse is about food, but that's not where my thoughts have been taking it. I'm not sure this post should even be a devotional, but here it goes.<br />
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The World is hungry! It seeks satisfaction for that hunger, so it will try everything. Money or at least pursuing money seems sweet, but ultimately it doesn't satisfy that hunger Recognition feels good for it's "fifteen minutes of fame" but it;s fleeting, so it doesn't satisfy. Some fame lasts longer, but with that fame comes a loss of privacy, of just being yourself. How can it be sweet to have your every bad hair day spread across the Internet. That certainly isn't sweet. Sex with anyone may seem like freedom, but since it is constantly seeking more sounds more like bondage than freedom. How about good things like friends. Friends are good right? In this social media society where Internet friend counts are so important, one has to wonder how many friends will it take to make it sweet enough? Friends can be great, don't misunderstand, but the lust for more friends, even people you barely know is unfulfilling. Then there are real life friends, as opposed to just Facebook friends. Do these people bring out the best in you or corrupt you? If they bring out the best, that is sweet, but if they don't it usually leads to trouble.The World is always seeking.<br />
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We, Christians, use the words "The World" a lot. Put as I was mulling over this verse I realized that I tend to forget the obvious fact that "The World" is people, individuals. People all around us are seeking to fill their hunger. As I sit at red lights, I often look at the others around me. I've caught cars full of people, who aren't saying a word to each other, and looking sullen. I've seen people wipe tears fro their eyes. I've seen the weary and the worried. I often will send up a quick prayer for them. I'm amazed at the fact that I know only a brief moment in their lives, but God knows them intimately. He knows if they are just having a bad day, or if their heart is eating bitter things in the hope that it will sweeten their lives. The World is full of people who know that the things they use to fill their hunger are really bitter, but it's better than nothing. The World is also full of people who seek and seek and seek but are never satisfied. Both these groups need to be filled. They need to know what truly is sweet, or rather Who is.<br />
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As Christians we do not need to stand on street corners declaring the Lord, but sometimes He will ask us to. Billy Sunday, one of the influential Christians of the early 20th century was converted by listening to the gospel being preached on a street corner. If the Lord, wishes you to speak on a street corner, then do it. You don't know how many Billy Sundays will hear and find the only One that satisfies that hunger. Living our daily lives brings people to Christ as well. It might only feel like seeds being sown, with someone else harvesting, but these seeds are needed to help fill the hunger. Show people what it means to be filled with something truly sweet. Stop complaining, stop gossiping, and stop publicly worrying about everything. (Yes, ask for prayer from others, but watch how much worry you show to those who are seeking.) Don't seek the things you know don't bring the filling. Seek Him and others will see that, wonder, and hopefully seek out you to find out how you are being made full.<br />
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The World is hunger. People are starving for true satisfaction for their hunger. Listen to how God wants you to show them the One who satisfies that longing. Then follow Him into the way that He wants you to show them Him. Whether it's preaching to the masses or preaching their your everyday words and actions, lets point them to the One who is truly satisfies.Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-77386999386604391772017-07-25T07:08:00.000-04:002017-07-25T07:08:34.223-04:00Heaping Coals"If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will be heaping coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you." Proverbs 25:21-22<br />
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For the longest time I couldn't understand why heaping coals on someone's head was seen as a good thing. There is nothing in my experience that says, "place some hot, burning stones on someone and they'll be happy". It just seemed to be one of those confusing Scriptures that I would never really understand. Then it was explained to me, the history behind the words.<br />
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Many people of that day were travelers, whether temporary ones who were traveling for festivals; caravans that brought goods from one far away place to another; or nomads who moved with their flocks for greener grasses. It took a long time to get anywhere, and nightly camps needed to be set up. One thing that they did was carry hot coals from the previous night's fire with them to make the process go more quickly. In the morning, they would take some coals and place them in a container, and someone carried this upon their head. Another way that people would need such coals, was if their fire went out at home. People would bank their fires until they need to start a new one. This would keep the coals hot enough to start a new fire when needed each day. Sometimes a fire would go out, and they would go to a neighbor to request a coal to start their fire. The coal was placed in a box, basket, or pottery and carried in a similar way on one's head.<br />
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When someone needed coals, it was a kindness to place some of your coals into their box. It's equivalent to feeding the needy, as this proverb states, because it was life giving. Someone needed food or water, a true neighbor would share. But these verses aren't about being neighborly. These verses are talking about your enemy. If the one who is mean to you, ridicules you, or abandoned you is in need we are to give to meet their need. That's a different story! Why should I give to someone who has caused me grief or shame? Why should I give to someone who would never give to me? Because we are told to. That doesn't make it easy. It's one of the hardest things we are asked to do. Sometimes I have no idea how to give to my enemy, so I pray that God will heap coals upon their heads. He knows what they need, and when I pray that I believe He will provide what that person needs. I do not pray those words easily. They are usually pushed out through gritted teeth, at least in the beginning. As I continue to pray for my enemies I find it easier to ask that God provides for them, and even if they still see me as their enemy I see them less and less as mine.<br />
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Feeding, or giving drink, or heaping burning coals, or praying for my enemies I think is more about me than it is about them. Yes, it gives them what they need. It is also me letting go of my hurt or my anger and giving something undeserved to someone else. Hopefully it will have a changing effect on them, but I can't know for sure that it will. However, I do know that it will have a changing effect on me.<br />
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Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-27779566570823658932017-06-30T06:14:00.001-04:002017-06-30T06:14:34.465-04:00But I Want To Know Now!"And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority." Acts 1:7<br />
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Imagine a toddler having a complete meltdown: red faced, snot dripping down and mixing with tears, arms and legs flailing. Yup, I feel just like that sometimes. I want it now, whatever the it may be. I might not literally throw myself to the floor and hold my breath until I turn purple, but inside I can have a serious tantrum when I feel like God is making me wait for an unreasonable amount of time.<br />
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Anyone else been there?<br />
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Just like a toddler grows in maturity, and hopefully the tantrums less until they stop, I need to grow spiritually until the ones in me stop. Since God isn't required to tell me when anything is going to happen, the tantrum is pointless and exhausting. My flailing about and screaming isn't going to change anything. My tears will be counted, but they aren't going to get me my way. So what should I do?<br />
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Rest. Be still. Know that He is God. When it is the time or season that He has appointed it will happen. I can't hurry it up or even slow down it's coming. God will do it when He has it planned to be. Does that make it easy to wait? Not necessarily. But does it make it possible to wait? Yes!Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-88842898130850012312017-06-23T06:15:00.000-04:002017-06-23T06:15:06.463-04:00I Don't Get It, But I'm In Pretty Good Company"But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and that they did not grasp what was said." Luke 18:34<br />
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The they in this verse is the disciples. There are many verses in the New Testament just like this one. Jesus spoke and the disciples cocked their heads to the side like a confused puppy. They often talked among themselves about how they were confused. Sometimes they would ask questions and other times Jesus would tell them He knew they were confused.<br />
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When I was young and heard about these twelve confused followers I thought they must have been dumb. I pictured a bunch of grown men huddled around, cocking their heads to the side and scratching it with perplexed looks on their faces. The image I created would make me laugh. Little did I know back then, but I'm more often than not a confused disciple too.<br />
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God hasn't changed. He still shows us a part of what He is doing, but not all. Most times I walk through life with just enough light shining to show me the next step. I wonder what He is doing or why He is doing things a particular way. I spent plenty of time with my head cocked to the side, scratching at that spot, and being confused. This confusion I feel makes me have to listen more carefully, watch more perspective, and rely more on Him.<br />
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What would happen if He did show us everything clearly? I know me well enough that I would run ahead and skip some steps. I would end up bungling His plans. I would also take pride in what I know, like somehow I am so smart. I would be puffed up, let me ego soar, and think myself like God. I would do exactly what satan told Eve in the Garden. "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:5 Too much knowledge leads me to believe I am like God. I'm not. None of us are like God, no matter how many people think they are. He shows us just enough to help us walk the next step or two, but the rest we have to trust Him for. We have to believe that He does indeed have a plan for our lives, and that he will lead us there.<br />
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I no longer look at those confused disciples and wonder how they couldn't figure it out. I know realize I have something that they didn't. I can read the next chapter of their lives. I can see what Jesus did. I know their outcome. There is no finished novel about my life that I can reference and understand. I need to walk the path that He has set before me, dimly lit as it may be, but with trust even in my most confused moments.Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-8182408901598642132017-06-21T06:30:00.002-04:002017-06-21T06:31:22.950-04:00He Hate Me"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:18-19<br />
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Do you remember the XFL? If you have no idea what I'm talking about then God spared you the truly awful experience of watching indoor football meets the World Wrestling Federation. It was a concept to have a league that played during the NFL's off-season. It was truly awful, and thankfully only lasted one season. Players could have just about anything put on their jerseys for their name, therefor one man chose "He Hate Me" as his name. He explained that he choose the name because when he would win the other team would hate him. He also stated that if the coach put someone in to play besides him it was because "he hate me". Um, or maybe he was just giving the other guy playing time? Part of him wanted to people to hate him, i.e. the other team after he beat them, and part of him believed people hated him because they didn't chose him.<br />
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If the world hates you there is no doubt as to why. It hates you because you reflect Him who lives in you. Jesus is telling His disciples that the world will hate them, and that it's okay because they hate Him too. Earlier in this chapter He tells them that He chose them. In this verse He goes further and explains that they were chose to be out of the world. We aren't hated by the world because we beat them at a game, or because they didn't pick us. Rather we are hated because God picked us.<br />
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I hesitate writing this next part, but here it goes anyway. Too many Christians in today's culture want to be loved more than they want to love. They want to be relevant. Isn't there even a Christian magazine called that? They want to be accepted, so they accept everything. They are tolerant. They don't wear the jersey "He Hate Me" but rather the one that states "I'll Accept Everything So The World Will Love Me". And do you know who rejoices as Christians find themselves loved more by the world? Satan. He doesn't want to see Christians as not being of this world, but rather as embracers of everything in this world, no matter how unholy it may be.<br />
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God called us to be in the world, but not of it. (John 17:16) We have been told to embrace what is holy, and yes to love others. Not accept sin. Jesus told the woman thrown at His feet to go and sin no ore after He showed her the love of forgiveness. By the Law, she should have been stoned to death, but He showed love to her and spared her, but He also told her to go and sin no more. Somehow I doubt she was ever in another man's bed again. She experienced His love and, hopefully, listened to His words and stop her sinful way.<br />
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When God speaks into my life to reveal sin, it hurts. Not because He is being mean, but because I feel awful. I see the sin and how unholy it is and know He could choose to cast me away. But His love is two-fold in that it exposed the sin to me and it forgave me. I can't just get up out of the dirt at His feet and go and continue that sin. I experienced His forgiveness, His love, so how could I possibly.<br />
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No I am not God, and I can't offer forgiveness of sin. But I can speak Truth into the lives of those around me who are acting of the world. They may hate me, the verse above tells me that. But they may also hear the Truth and be set free. They may feel the love and forgiveness of God and go and sin no more. We Christians, need to stop trying to live in this world by being of it, but rather live in this world by being of His Kingdom. We will be hated by those who hate Him. But I would rather be hated by them than not belong separated from the world and with Him. <br />
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<br />Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-73686587360373137162017-06-20T06:54:00.002-04:002017-06-20T06:54:58.368-04:00"But I Chose You""You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go an bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." John 15:16<br />
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I felt have heart-stinging pain of rejection. I believe everyone has experienced rejection in some form or another, whether it was from a business deal; or in a friendship; or the rejection of a parent. All of us know what it's like not to be chosen. We weren't picked to play the game at recess. We were mocked for a physical difference that was out of our control. We come from the "wrong" side of the tracks. Our clothes aren't cool enough, or our family isn't good enough. Our skin is too dark or too light. And there are those times when rejection comes and we can't even figure out why.<br />
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I am a teacher of 5th graders. This is the year when drama seems to start for many children. I have witnessed students single out and exclude a child for no obvious reason. I have watched children change who they are to try to be included, accepted, chosen by others. How sad that they become someone else in order to be chosen.<br />
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What I love about this verse, what sends my heart soaring, is that He chose me! Nothing in this chapter explains my qualifications for being chosen by Jesus. Nowhere does it state that I was good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, or come from the good side of town to be chosen by Him. Jesus just says "but I chose you"! He picked me! Not only did He pick me but He appointed me to bear fruit. He picked me to do the most intimate thing, that is to abide in Him. He doesn't say now that I've picked you, you must do X,Y, and Z to remain in Me. No, He says He chose me and appointed me to bear fruit. The fruit that grows because I get to abide in Him.<br />
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Will I mess up? Yes! Am I still chosen? Yes! Will I need to have pruning done in my life? Oh, yes! Does that mean I have to work, to strive, to stay in Him? No, I just need to abide. When I enter my house, I can sit down on my couch and just be home. I can enter into any room and just be there. There is nothing I need to do to remain there. I think abiding in Him is the same. We get to come in and be apart of who Jesus is, and we don't have to do anything to be let in or to remain. We couldn't do anything to force our way in, He had to choose us!<br />
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No matter who else didn't or doesn't choose you, rest in the assurance and love and peace of knowing that He chose you!Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-16216823946284622482017-06-19T06:14:00.001-04:002017-06-19T06:14:39.234-04:00Necessary Fruit Analysis"If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned." John 15:6<br />
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"You will know them by their fruits..." Matthew 7:16 a<br />
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Often times the portion of Matthew 7:16 comes to me mind, both directed at me and others. Every once and awhile someone I know professes their faith in God, and yes, I start to analysis their fruit. In Matthew 7, Jesus is warning people to beware of false prophets. It's this chapter that we get the saying, "wolf in sheep's clothing" from, because they exist. So often we are told not to judge; people pull out the "judge not, that you be not judged" verse as their weapon of choice, which is the first verse of this chapter in Matthew. Please read, carefully, the entire chapter to see that you aren't told not to judge at all!<br />
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Sorry, I digress! Jesus goes on in Matthew 7 to talk about the fruit, how you can't get bad fruit from a good tree. So I wonder about the fruit that others produce. Is it good? Can I tell if they are really part of the Vine or do I suspect that they are just claiming branch-hood. Then I wonder if the lack of fruit I might see is actually one of those branches in their lives that needs to be pruned. Let's face it, we all have things in our lives, branches. that need pruning.<br />
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The verse from John is not about pruning though. It is about branch removal. If we produce no fruit that is evidence that we abide in Him, then we are cut off and thrown into the fire. God gives us many chance, Just check out the lives of those He called faithful and you'll see he gave them many! Yet there comes a point where one's not abiding in Him results in separation from God. Once the branch is burned it doesn't become a branch again. You can be pruned and produce even better fruit, but you can't be cut off and produce any.<br />
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I wonder if there is anything that I do or say that shows fruit from abiding in Him more than not. I am definitely in that "needs-some-pruning" group. I wonder if others see too much bruised fruit in my life. I want people to know me by good fruit. Too often I get caught up in me and produce selfish fruit. That is one negative fruit I am know I produce. Mind you, God has pruned some of it away, I hope more is pruned than not, but I know some is still there. I don't want people to see selfish fruit when they look at me and my life. I want the to see fruit that is evident that I am part of the Vine.<br />
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We are part of the they in Matthew 7. We need to look at our own fruit to make sure that what is being produced is evidence of abiding in Him and not evidence of being a sheep in wolf's clothing. This makes me want to abide more deeply. I want to be known by the fruit of God.Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-44388206730788776552017-06-18T05:59:00.001-04:002017-06-18T05:59:35.512-04:00Fruitful or Fruitless?"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:5<br />
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Ever feel like nothing you try works? Like you can barely function? I've been there, and ore than once. I'm sure most people have. Then of course, there are the times, although they seem less frequent, where everything I touch just works better. Being honest, I usually get pretty cocky when the latter happens and blame the former on God. But I have it backwards.<br />
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During those times when nothing seems to go right, it may be because I'm doing things in my own power. Trying to grab fruit from other sources, and they are bruised or rotten. It's not God's fault that I'm not producing, because I'm also not abiding. I need to abide in Him to produce the fruit.<br />
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When I'm feeling all important and proud of myself, I need to stop! Those mountain top experiences aren't because I'm such a great climber, and besides I'm scared of climbing (not of heights but of falling). I didn't get myself up there, and I can't keep myself producing either. It came from abiding in Him, but look how quickly I made it about me! Not only do I need to abide in Him, but I need to live in gratefulness to Him.<br />
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The Bible also makes it clear that there is a time for everything, including a time to reap and a time to sow. Abiding in Christ does not mean there will always be an abundant amount of fruit. Sometimes the fruit must go to seed, bud, and flower before it is fruit again. Just because you feel fruitless doesn't mean you aren't abiding in Christ. There is a difference in abiding and waiting for fruit, and trying to produce fruit in your own power. The key to knowing the difference? Contemplate who you are abiding in, in Christ you'll find peace and in yourself you'll finding striving.<br />
<br />Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-77868183910541401472017-06-17T05:06:00.000-04:002017-06-17T05:06:11.166-04:00Abiding in the Vine"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." John 15:4<br />
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Do you ever feel dull, bland, um fruitless? I do! There are times when I just have such a blah feeling about myself, a bored feeling. I'm not talking about self-esteem, but rather that I'm producing anything of value. It's almost always a surprise to me when I get in that state, that I'm even like that. Then I start to think, "when was the last time I spent any real time in the Word or in prayer?"<br />
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I don't know about anybody else, but there are too many times when I just go through the motions of reading the Bible. There are times when my prayers are nothing more than a "thank you for the day" and "I would like....". Then there are also those times when I have to stop and think about when was the last time I even read my Bible or prayed sincerely. Honestly, these times come far too often.<br />
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Yet, the fruitless feelings that I experience are unpleasant, they are good because they remind me that I need to abide in Him. They draw my back to the Word and back into prayer. This happened recently, and as I opened my Bible I found myself staring down at the words of John 15. Honestly, I haven't been able to move on to chapter 16 yet. I keep rereading the words of John 15, especially this section about the branches and the vine. God is trying to speak something into me through this chapter, something deeper than the obviousness of the words.<br />
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Let God draw you to His Word, to a particular section. Let Him speak something deep inside of you based and abide in Him there. He has different words for each of us, and words for us in different seasons of our lives. Abide in Him and find out what Word He is developing in you, what Word He is revealing to you, what Word He is equipping you through. Be the branch that abides in Him.Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-70980228331019791902017-06-16T07:36:00.001-04:002017-06-16T09:01:07.158-04:00Branch Pruning"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit." John 15:2<br />
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When I am going through a tough time in my life, I feel those shears. You know the ones that are cutting you deeply, and you wonder if you'll make it through. Things that matter to me are removed. It feels like everything I love or hold dear is being removed from me life. I've called out to God on more than one occasion in pain and anger asking why He is hurting me like this. Sometimes satan has even whispered in my ear that God is cutting me off.<br />
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The truth is that He is pruning me. If you've ever pruned a plant you know that sometimes you have to cut off some growth that is old and weak and sometimes you have to cut off something that appears to be healthy. I have azaleas and one year my largest azalea did not blossom. There were hundreds, maybe even a thousand buds looking like they were ready to bloom at anytime, but they never did. The other azaleas bloomed, although honestly not as well as the year before, but this one's buds went from bright pink to brown and died. I was honestly, very upset. I couldn't understand what had happened! So I started to research.<br />
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As I read about azaleas, I learned about pruning them. I had yet to prune these magnificent bushes, and had no idea how to go about it. It turns out that y large azalea bush was in desperate need of some pruning! I read about what to cut, which turned out to be old steams as well as those that had just finished flowering. I went out with my pruning tools and started to chop away at the bush. When I finished, I moved on to the others and trimmed them as well. Then I had to wait.<br />
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The following Spring I would know if my pruning would pay off or not. Sure enough hundreds of buds appeared on the big azalea. Soon the glorious bright pink blossoms burst forth all over the bush. As my other azaleas budded and bloomed the same thing happened, red, white, and light pink blooms filled up the bushes. The pruning had worked.<br />
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When God prunes us, it hurts! It feels like He takes the good with the bad as He chops and tosses away. It feels like we are left small and lacking. What we don't see is that we are shaped better, without these off shoots or dead branches. Then after a time of healing we start to notice that we have new things budding in our lives. We get excited as we watch those buds open and display a beautiful bloom. Many times we are so caught up in the newness, we forget that there ever was a tie of pruning, a time of removal of something that we were used to or something that appeared good. We may forget, but God remembers how He shaped us, and sees that it is good.<br />
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Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-38446494590199865472016-06-15T05:10:00.000-04:002016-06-15T06:33:28.843-04:00Dry Ground<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;">"For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever." Joshua 4:23-23.</span></div>
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These verses struck me as I read them this morning. As they walked through the Jordan they had to see the waters piled up, ready to overflow the banks again, and be at least somewhat afraid. Only Joshua and Caleb crossed over the Red Sea and had seen this miracle before. I wonder if they focused mostly on the water around them or the length of land between the two shores. I can put myself in this situation, and I know that I would be terrified that the water would crash back down on me. Did they even notice the dry ground?<br />
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I think about my own life and all that God does in the midst of waters that want to surge around me, or I spend time looking at how far away something I want is from me. I don't spend that much time noticing that as I walk through, my feet don't get stuck and I don't stumble. I don't notice that He has made the path dry for me.</div>
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I wonder if the bigger miracle was the dry ground, that was easy for those thousands of Israelites to walk over on, rather than the stopped up waves of the river. I know I tend to focus on the "big" miracle, like the stopped water, but walking on ground that should be muddy and isn't is pretty big too.</div>
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Lord, help me to notice and appreciate the dry ground that You have made my feet to walk on.</div>
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Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-37528939298233491952016-01-31T17:27:00.001-05:002016-06-15T05:11:47.881-04:00Shaking"And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness." Acts 4:31<br />
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I am fascinated by the people of the Early Church. Some of them actually knew Jesus when He was on Earth. Some died for being a follower. One notable one even persecuted them before becoming one of them. They shared with each other; the poo; and the orphans and widows. Although I am sure their faith was as shaky as any of us today, they had so much faith that when they prayed things shook.<br />
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This verse doesn't even say that they were afraid when the shaking happened. It says that were filled with the Holy Spirit and not just spoke the word of God with boldness, but continued to speak with boldness. These people in the face of ridicule and even persecution spoke the word of God boldly.<br />
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If you look earlier in the chapter you can see that Peter and John were in trouble with the priests had told them to stop teaching in the name of Jesus. When they were let go they went straight to their people and told them what happened. Then lifted up their voices to God and told Him about all who were against Him and them. They didn't ask Him to take away the threats against them. Nope they asked Him to help them speak more boldly.<br />
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I know in my life that when things are shaking around me or when others are attacking me I want it to go away. How many times have I thought, "if that person would just go away." Instead I need to pray that God would help me to speak boldly, to live boldly. In a world that seems to be more and more taken in by the deception of satan, and one in which Christians put down and ridicule other Christians, there needs to be a people who will speak boldly and pray that God helps them continue to speak boldly.<br />
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Do you want to be one of them?Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-39058980036401269002015-08-05T15:34:00.001-04:002015-08-05T15:34:59.481-04:00Look Up!"That he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly placed, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all." Ephesians 1:20-23<br />
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I had trouble trimming these verses down to just a bit, so I went with all of this! :)<br />
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When I read Ephesians 1 the other day the end of the chapter caught my attention. I reread and reread it. Above, under, and over stuck out to me. One powerful thought came with these words: Look Up!<br />
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Starting with over, Christ is put as the head over all things to the church. God placed Him there. Too often we try to move Him. We don't like what He says, so we paraphrase it to the point of contradicting it. Some people argue things like, "Christ didn't say..." but He is the Word, so yes He say it. We try to put our own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs over what the church says and does, but we need to put yourselves in the right spot, under His authority. If it doesn't fall under His authority than we need to reconsider if it should be part of us, the church.<br />
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Moving on to under. All things are put under His feet. What sort of things are under His feet? Well, number one: satan! He tries to acts as if he has free reign, and sometimes it seems like he does, but in reality he doesn't. Imagine placing your foot on someone's stomach or back. What is he able to do? He can probably wiggle some and can move his arms and legs, but he isn't able to move much. What can he touch? He can only touch what is immediately around him. Now imagine satan under Christ feet. I'm sure he squirms a lot, reaches out at whoever is nearby. I guess that means we should just stay away from him.<br />
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Finally, Christ is not just above all rule, authority, power, and dominion, but He is far above. None of those things are even close to Him. They have to look way up to see Him. We need to take ours eyes off of the rules, authorities, powers, and dominions in this world and in the spiritual realm and put them on Him.<br />
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When we look up we take our eyes off our own selfishness, opinions, and issues; off of satan; and rulers, authorities, powers, and dominions. We can't see them anymore; all we can see is Him. So look up!<br />
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Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-8610603137488956192015-06-30T21:37:00.000-04:002015-06-30T21:37:29.978-04:00Darkness Over the EarthIt has been over a year since I have written one of these. I have missed it, yet haven't really felt like I had anything to offer. Recently I asked God what to read in the Bible, and He simply stated to start at the beginning. I think that's where I should start here as well. No, I will not be writing about each verse from the beginning, but will focus on ones that God wants me to.<br />
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"The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God wash hovering over the face of the waters."<br />
Genesis 1:2<br />
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How many times have I read this verse? I have never before even thought about it much. This time when I read it the word "darkness" jumped right out at me. I realized that the darkness was already here. God didn't create darkness. Since I believe that God created everything that blew my mind a little. But then I thought about the fact that God didn't create evil. He didn't create sin. He didn't create mosquitoes and wasps. Okay, so He did create them, but I wonder why!<br />
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With this realization I needed to study the words of the verse to hopefully understand it better. The earth means the earth, but it wasn't formed yet. Like it says "without form and void" That means it was empty, wasteland. I do wonder what that must have looked like.<br />
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Darkness is interesting. It was covering the the surface of the deep. As far as I can tell from Strong's is that the deep is water. Which makes sense since in verse 6 He separates the water from the water. So this darkness is covering the a watery, empty earth.<br />
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God hovers over it. Here I thought it meant He was just over it. No, it means that He was cherishing it. The Lord was looking at this vastly earth and He was loving it. It makes me think of another time when He loved the world. "For God sol loved the world that He gave His only Son,that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John :16.<br />
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That's the end of this little verse, but, at least for me, one that is full of so much. I'm sure there is so much more it as well.<br />
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<br />Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-64636701785702230772014-06-22T14:59:00.002-04:002014-06-22T14:59:56.287-04:00Proverbs 1:3"To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, <b>to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity</b>; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth - let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."<br />
Proverbs 1:2-7<br />
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Continuing through the reason for the book of Proverbs with verse three.<br />
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"To receive instruction in wise dealings" I looked up "receive" in Strong's and there are 28 meanings! Wow! Unfortunately, it didn't specifically say which meaning matched this verse. But still, 28 meanings! Wise means prudence or good sense. Interestingly the word dealing is actually the same Hebrew word for wise, sakal. I guess using the same word in a row must be significant. Part of the purpose of the book of Proverbs is for us to get instruction in how to act with prudence or good sense. It seems like one phrase I hear more and more is common sense, as in someone has not shown common sense. This book helps us not just gain common sense but rather godly sense. I think that Proverbs should become required reading in schools!<br />
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"Righteousness, justice, and equity" The funny thing about these three words, is that when I looked them up they seemed to mean each other. So if repeating a word twice must be significant, then having three words that mean almost the same thing must really be significant. Righteousness means justice and rightness. Justice means just, right, act of deciding a case (court). Equity means evenness, uprightness, level. Do you see the similarity of these three words? This book gives us instruction that will help us showing justice; being even; and acting rightly.<br />
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This verse might be a short one, but it is packed full of such great things. I want to gain a godly knowledge in regards to good sense, rightness, justice, and being even. I can think that I have these things in my own strength. There are plenty of people who believe they have good sense, rightness, justice, and act evenly but God has a whole book in the Bible to instruct us in how to do these and be these. It makes me think of the verse "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart." from guess where - Proverbs 21:2. We need instruction, I need instruction, in how to be and do what is really right. So thankful that God has provided this instruction!<br />
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Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-80592183759094562642014-06-20T19:33:00.002-04:002014-06-22T14:22:10.297-04:00Proverbs 1:2"<b>To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight</b>, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth - let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."<br />
Proverbs 1:2-7<br />
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Proverbs 1:2-6 is sort of like the blurb on the back of a book. I pick up a book and turn it over to find out what it's about. Instead of the back of a book this is how the book of Proverbs starts. I don't know about anyone else, but if I read this on the back of a book I would buy it!<br />
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"To know wisdom and instruction" This means to discern what is wisdom and admonition or discipline. Okay, not really liking admonition or discipline. The book of Proverbs explains that they go hand-in-hand with wisdom though. I mess up as much as anyone else and I need to be admonished. I need to discern to know what is true admonishment and discipline and what isn't. Satan would rather beat me up and make me feel shame and failure. It is important for me to discern what is real admonishment and what isn't.<br />
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"To understand words of insight" These words of insight are sayings. To understand them means to be acquainted with them. That means to have personal knowledge of them. As a teacher, I teach my students many examples of figurative language. The idioms or adages or metaphors that they understand best are the ones that they have used themselves. We need to become as familiar with the sayings of Proverbs.<br />
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Wow, this is just verse two. If the reason for the book ended at verse two I would still want to read it. I would like to know what is real wisdom and discipline, and I want to become so familiar with wisdom saying that my life would be full of wisdom. The next post will continue by examining verse three.<br />
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<br />Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-25462267884745244552014-04-20T07:33:00.000-04:002014-04-20T07:33:02.680-04:00Not In Words But In Power"For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk about in power."<br />
1 Corinthians 4:20<br />
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I was reading 1 Corinthians 4 today and this little verse jumped off the page at me. In context, there were some in the church of Corinth that were arrogant and talking themselves into a sense of power. Paul was reminding them that it isn't about talking one's self up or even talking God up, but rather it is the power of God.<br />
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This verse has stirred up something, I might need to mediate more upon it and ask God for more wisdom concerning it, but I think it might be the original wording to a popular phrase we use. "Actions speak louder than words." Without getting too specific, because it isn't my place to, I am going to relate a story to you that I think goes along with this.<br />
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About a week ago, a friend of mine shared great news. As she shared, I was having a very hard time and, honestly, was repeating a lie of the enemy in my mind. The lie was so overwhelming and my emotional state was so poor at that moment, I had to retreat. Literally! I got up and walked away. I made some feeble excuse, better known as not the whole truth, and away I went in tears. Which spoke louder to her, my words or my actions? Well, my actions. Did my actions speak what I intended? No! My actions were completely wrapped up in the swirling lie and my emotional state not in her news, but that wasn't the powerful statement that she knew. All she knew is that I was leaving her in the moment of great joy and it hurt her.<br />
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She and I have since talked. I explained what was really going on. She told me how she felt in the moment. I apologized. Great, right? Well, it's a good start. Yup, just a start. Because it isn't about talk it's about action. Now, some might think I have missed the whole point of the above Scripture. I know that the verse is talking about the kingdom of God, but as His follower, his heir, am I not apart of His kingdom too? Do I not have a responsibility to respond in the power of the Holy Spirit and not just in my own words or supposed power? Yes. My words should reflect that He is in me. As well, my actions should reflect the power of the Holy Spirit in me.<br />
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Therefor, when God spoke to me and told me that as nice as my words were to her, it wasn't enough, I knew I need to do something specific. Is my own pain still a part of all of this? Yes! I still have a heart desire longing that is a part of me, and many times that longing feels painful. Does that pain run smack dab into her great news? Yes, it does. I will not deny the pain is still there. She knows it is and understands it in a way most people never could. Even though it is still there I need to act in the power of Christ. I don't want to give anything away, because she doesn't know yet, but God gave me an action that I hope will speak much more loudly than my previous actions, which were not directed at her but were fully wrapped up in me. Also, this action will speak more powerfully that any words of support or encouragement that I could give her, at least I believe it will.<br />
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So many times we talk.We talk and talk and talk. I think maybe we need to shut up a bit more and act out more from the power that He has placed within each of His followers. We need to act in the power of the Holy Spirit. He's in us! I guess it's time to shut up and time to start acting up!<br />
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<br />Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-29177215750313274682014-04-19T16:18:00.000-04:002014-04-19T16:21:43.636-04:00Death Brings Life"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."<br />
John 12:24<br />
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Death is a scary word. When I think of death I think of pain. I know there can be painless death, but I guess when I think of death I don't think painless. Pain is not something most people enjoy. We have whole stores dedicated to stopping pain and a health industry that tries to relieve pain and stop death. Even with medical breakthroughs death comes to each of us.<br />
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I think about the seed mentioned in this verse. Seeds are buried into dirt and they die! But when they die something amazing happens. Life! The seed breaks and growth comes out of it. That growth continues and breaks the surface of the soil and reaches toward the light. Water and light causes the new life to grow up. Weeding and fertilizing helps it grow up to become the plant that the seed was intended to be. Then that plant can bear fruit.<br />
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Now, this verse really isn't taking about seeds that go into the ground, but rather about seeds in us. There are ugly seeds, let's face it most seeds aren't particularly pretty, that are placed in us and in order for them to bear fruit they must die. The death of the seed usually is painful. I'm not sure how long it takes an actual seed to die, but the death process of our seeds can feel so long. Then it starts to grow. It is striving to get out of the soil of us and reaching for the Light. This striving involves growing up right there the soil, pushing aside dirt as it heads up. This part of the process is painful as well. Moving and shifting, and even breaking through dirt clumps in us. Then it breaks the surface. Ouch, that hurts! That breaking through process seems like it must be the last painful part, but then comes the pruning and plucking of the fruit.<br />
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Although the whole process is painful it brings further life. That life helps us, but it also can be used to feed and nourish others. If the fruit isn't picked then it will just rot on the plant. I certainly don't want to have gone through the whole death and growth process to just have my fruit die. I may not enjoy the pain of the fruit being plucked, but it is much better than just having what Christ has grown in me go to waste.<br />
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What's the point of this whole post? Well, I guess it really is a reminder to me that the whole process is worth every ounce of pain, even when that pain feels unbearable. Sometimes I want the dying to end. Sometimes I want to shifting inside me to end. Sometimes I want the breaking out to end. Sometimes I want to keep my fruit all to myself. Even though I feel this way sometimes I truly do want to continue to grow and that means dying, growing, and reaping.<br />
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<br />Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-60552484669459019062014-04-17T09:46:00.001-04:002014-04-17T09:50:14.199-04:00Hope"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. "<br />
Romans 15:13<br />
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Can I just say that I am feeling hopeless right now? Well, I guess I can since I just did. I also know that I'm not the only one! Why do I feel hopeless? Honestly, because I am not looking to the only One who brings hope. I am too busy looking at my circumstances, my pain, my wants, and my desires. I am too busy looking at what isn't there and not at Who is there.<br />
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God didn't breathe life into Scripture and say, "now, that I've said this it'll be easy to follow." The Scripture is full of verses of struggle, of human weakness, of fear, of sorrow. Yet for every struggle there are verses that speak of hope and peace. For verses that speak of our weakness we are reminded that His power works through our weakness. For every fear He says "fear not". For every sorrow He reminds us that weeping only lasts for a night, even though that night can feel so very long.<br />
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This verse doesn't say that hope and joy and peace are automatic. Paul asks that we may be filled with all joy and peace. Not just joy, but all joy. Not just peace even, but peace in believing. Have you ever not felt peace while trying to believe? I have, actually I do right now! This verse is set up like an if...then statement. If you are filled with all joy and peace in believing, then the power of the Holy Spirit may abound in hope. We have to have the first part, the filling of God's joy and peace, in order to have the hope that the Holy Spirit has the power to work in us. He is in us, that happened already, but with God's joy and peace filling us up He can go to work giving us abounding hope.<br />
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I have a choice. I can keep my eyes on me and my circumstances, or I can choose to ask for the God of hope to fill me with all joy and peace in believing. Once I make that choice I guarantee one of two outcomes. If I choose me then I stifle the power of the Holy Spirit to give me abounding hope. If I choose to turn to God and ask for this joy and peace, then I open up the flood gates for the Holy Spirit's power to make me abound in hope. It seems like an easy choice, it really does, but the truth is I choose me more than Him. It isn't always easy to choose His way. It costs part of me, a yucky part, to choose Him. That isn't easy, but hopefully it becomes easier for me to do that. I have to give up and give Him control to do what He wills in me. I have to make this choice daily. Once again, I will not say it is easy, and I will not say I choose it every time, because I don't. But the choice is always there.<br />
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<br />Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1629324222755434520.post-63578267658111955642014-03-06T18:26:00.000-05:002014-03-06T18:26:09.824-05:00Psalm 139:1"To the Choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O Lord, you have searched me and know me!" Psalm 139:1<br />
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I am on a verse by verse journey through Psalm 139. It is a chapter so full of gems that I feel it needs to be done this way.<br />
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This verse says He has searched us. It would seem that the all knowing God wouldn't need to do any searching, but He does anyway. The word search here means so much more than He just looked at us. It actually means that He digs as for treasure. Wow! Do you know what that means? It means that He has placed in each of us treasure. That is an awesome enough though in itself, but it's not just that we have treasure in us. He searches for it. He digs it out.<br />
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Of course, if He has to dig it out it's probably deep down there. We probably have no idea what the treasure is in us. And with digging comes show shifting of dirt. It is great to know there is treasure within us, but it is humbling to know He has to do some work in us to get it out in the open.<br />
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Then there is that little phrase "know me". You may be thinking, like I did, of course He does. But it is more than just He knows us, but that He understands us. Each of us is complicated by the personalities we have, the pains we have felt, the wounds we have, the joys we have experienced, and those treasures in us, to just name a few aspects that complicate us. However, He understands all of what makes us, us. He isn't scared off by any part of us. Instead of being scared off He actually digs deeper into us for the treasure.<br />
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He longs for us to truly know Him. He longs for us to truly know us for the wonderful creations He has made. How do we know? Well the Bible is full of verses that tell us so, and He even had an entire chapter of Psalms written to tell us how much He wants us to know that.<br />
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<br />Kim Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00127931489470375586noreply@blogger.com1