Restoration, Refresh, and Repair

"He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake " 

~ Psalm 23:3

restoreth =refresh, repair

As I read this I begin to think of furniture/building restoration.

When someone restores furniture or a building, they often have to tear apart first. They must get back down to the "bones" of the piece. From there, they can rebuild.

It might take sanding off layers of paint, or ripping out drywall and getting to the studs, or reinforcing a weak floor. None of those things are easy, but they are necessary to redeem the integrity of the piece and make it sound and beautiful

God does the same with us. Sometimes He needs to sand off the layers of lies we have believed or the sin we have allowed to take over like mold. Sometimes He needs to rip out things we thought were important so they can be replaced by better things. Sometimes we need to be reminded of truth to reinforce a weak soul. These are paths we may not want to go down, but He leads us down them so we can be restored. He will receive the glory for our restoration! We care His craftmanship!

Will you allow God to restore/refresh/repair your soul?

Discipline, Guide, and Protect

 Psalms 23:4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

It doesn't matter where we are in life, God is always with us. We might literally be in a very dangerous place, or it may be that we are mentally in a bad place, either way, God is with us.

Psalm 27 asks who should we be afraid of if God is with us. 

Psalms 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

 Should we even fear our own thoughts?

God is our strength and guide. The purpose of the rod and staff is for discipline, guidance, and protection. God's ways are all those for us. His commands are not meant to make life hard for us, but to protect and guide us and when needed, discipline us. We should take comfort in the knowledge that God loves us enough to desire to do all that for us. Just as our children know that we love them by giving them guidelines and limits, so must we feel towards God.

Paths of Righteousness

 Psalms 23:3

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

At first glance, one gets the impression that "restoreth" mean a refreshing. While that may be the case here, it is important to look at how God restores our souls.

When we look at the original Hebrew and the meaning of the word, we see that it means to turn back to God, to repent, to come back to a dying relationship. We have a tendency to wander, but God draws us back to Him!

He leads us down the right paths-the paths that lead to Him and the blessing He has for us. When we follow Him and His commands, we can't go wrong. At times it may seem like we are going on the wrong path because it isn't the way everyone else is going, but God's paths always lead to righteousness and His blessings!

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

 Proverbs 25:15 KJV

By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

When I was young, I was taught a rhyme to say to myself (and sometimes others) when they would say mean things.

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

Even though I would say this, I never truly believed it. Words can hurt and sometimes for many years. They can break us even if they are said gently. Words have power. Use them wisely.

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

 

Proverbs 24:27 KJV

Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

Today I would like to view this scripture in light of marriage. Before one can be ready to build their house (ie: get married), they must know who they are in Christ. If you are dealing with any issues emotionally or spiritually, deal with those before trying to move on where those issues can affect others.

Still Waters

 Psalms 23:2

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Green pastures give the idea of abundance and complete provision. I find it interesting that it is a place where God "makes" us lie down. Why wouldn't it be something we wanted to do?

Still waters give a feeling of peace and tranquility. I learned something interesting about sheep and water that really helps bring understanding to this part of the verse.

Sheep can not drink from rough waters. Their nostrils are so close to their mouth that the water would choke them if it was bubbling up when they tried to drink. Still waters is a necessity.

In the same way, peace is a necessity for us. God is gracious enough to pour His peace on us. When we follow Him, we can experience true peace.

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

 

 Proverbs 23:13 KJV

Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

It is our job as parents to discipline our children. It is up to us to correct bad behavior. Sometimes that may mean spanking, but it does not mean to cause harm. When we do it, it is our goal to turn them from the  bad road they are on. We want them to experience God's best for them.

Psalm 23

In his commentary of Psalm 23, Matthew Henry wrote of verse one:

I shall be supplied with whatever I need, and if I have not every thing I desire, I may conclude it is either not fit for me or not good for me, or I shall have it in due time.

Oh, that I would have this perspective! Many times I have acted as a spoiled brat when I didn't get what I wanted, when I wanted it. Oh, Father, forgive me for all those times!

I should rest in knowing that God is a good shepherd and will take care of all I need, when I need it. I can rest in His perfect timing and perfect provisions. I can have peace that when I don't get something I desire, that there is good reason for it.

The Lord is my Shepherd

 Psalms 23:1 KJV

<<A Psalm of David.>> The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

At first read, one would see this as not wanting a shepherd-a guide, a protector, a provider. This understanding fits  how people usually are. We want to be in control. We want to be independent. We want to say we did something on our own.

Another rendering is that with the Lord as our Shepherd, we shall never be in want of anything because He provides and takes care of all. This understanding also fits as it follows God's character.

No matter which way you choose to understand this scripture, both are true.

For far too long, I have lived believing the first and fighting against God wanting to protect me, provide for me, and take care of me. 

God led me to Psalm 23 at the beginning of this month and although I have read it every day and am working on memorizing it, I have decided to dig in and look closely at each verse. I know there is much here that I miss with just reading it and not studying it.

Unity and Peace

 Ephesians 4:1-6 KJV

1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

As I read this passage, I was struck by how much Christians are not living this way. My biggest stressors during all this covid mess is the disunity among the nation and how Christians are treating one another. 

We are to walk worthy of being called Christ followers. This means we are to walk as Chirst would have walked. 

We are to humble ourselves, be gentle and have patience as we endure (and help others endure) these hard times.

We are called to be in unity and peace. Yet, it doesn't seem like God's people are even striving for unity. Have we forgotten what we are called to do?

Why I Haven't Been Posting

Isla Grace Josephine joined our family nine days after her due date on July 18th at 7:58 pm! She was 9 lbs 7 oz and 22" long.

We were able to experience another wonderful home water birth. I truly believe Plexus supplements helped me have another great experience.

As some of you know, I started Plexus during my pregnancy with Gordon and it was the best pregnancy since my first few. Well, this pregnancy went well, too. What was an even better benefit this time is that the labor went better than the last few. With the last two I had more bleeding than before, but this time it was back to normal. Also, active labor was only 3 hours long and I only had to push a few times. Recovery is going better, too!😁 Gordon was smaller than the two previous him and Isla was even smaller!

I am sure this is because of my Plexus supplements. I feel so much better overall and love that I had such a great labor and delivery at my age.🥰

Plexus is still offering wholesale pricing for an entire year for only $9.95! Also, because I am so happy with how well my delivery went, I will be giving a free gift to the first three that decide to start their own journey to better health with me!😊

Forgetting What is Behind

Philippians 3:13-14 KJV

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

How do we forget what is behind and move on? It seems like Satan is good at bringing up the past. It is hard to move on when there are constant reminders of past sins.

Don't Faint

"[M]en ought always to pray, and not to faint." ~ Luke 18:1b

Luke 18:1-8 tells us the parable of the widow and judge. The judge did not fear God, therefore, he would not serve justice for the widow. However, the widow did not give up! The widow continued to go to him and seek justice. The judge finally served justice because the widow did not relent and it was the only way to get her to stop.

I think we can glean much from this for our current life circumstances. There is no question that some of us in America live under unjust governors and political leaders. Let us not give up! May be be relentless in seeking truth and justice. God has given us rights and we must stand for those rights!

Sin Comes in the Waiting

Genesis 12:4 KJV

So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

Genesis 15:1-6 KJV

1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. 2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Genesis 17:1 KJV 

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

Genesis 17:21 KJV

But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

I had been thinking about the story of Abraham so I opened my Bible and started reading to refresh my memory.

Abraham was 75 years old when God first told Him that He would make him a great nation. God then reminded Abraham years later of that promise. Then, ten years after God first told him taht He would bless him with children, Abraham and Sarah had felt they had waited long enough and he took Hagar so that he may have a child. Another ten years passed before Sarah conceived and had Isaac.

Now Abraham had believed God every time He said that He would make him a great nation, so why didn't he wait on His timing?

You see, sin often comes in the waiting.

We get impatient with God's timing. We think we need it now-or at least sooner than He is providing it. We try to take things into our own hands and it almost always causes grief and turmoil. Not only did Sarah end up sending Hagar and Ishmael away due to strife of having them around, but Ishmael's seed and Issac's seed have been fighting ever since.

When we are praying for something, we should also be praying that god strengthens us to wait on His timing. We know that His plans, His timing, is best, yet we still get impatient.

I think that after 40 years of trying to push my timing on His plans that I finally have my eyes opened enough to pray more for strength in waiting than for the desire itself. I am tired of the negative consequences. I am tired of the sin of not waiting leading to more sin. That first sin usually starts with a "small" disobedience, but it leads to larger and larger sins (if we don't catch ourselves and confess and repent right away).

Do you find that sin comes in the waiting? Do you pray for strength to wait on His timing?

Isaiah 60:22b 

I the LORD will hasten it in his time.

Change Begins with Us

Joel 2:12-13 KJV

12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

There is much evil in our world today. There is much unrest and division in the USA. There are many people calling for change.

Change IS needed; however, people are looking elsewhere for change. Change needs to begin in our own hearts!

Each individual person needs to start with themselves. When people are right with God and strong in faith, then we will have strong marriages and families. When we have strong marriages and families, we will have strong communities. When we have strong communities, we will have strong counties. With strong counties, we will have strong states. And then, with strong states, we can have a strong nation.

It all begins with us! Turn to God. Seek Him. Check you heart!

Walk Worthy

1 Thessalonians 2:12

That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

We are called to walk worthy of God. What exactly does that mean?

Well, from reading scripture, we know it means following His commands. However, does that mean just following His commands sometimes? No! We are to live in a way that we would not be ashamed if others knew. We should not have to put on a show in front of some people. We should not fear embarrassment that others would discover a thought, word, or deed we have done.

Yes, we are sinners, but we must be ready to confess our sins and not hide them. We are to strive for perfection/holiness because that is what we are called to achieve.

1 Peter 1:12-16 KJV

12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

May we all strive to walk worthy of God. May we all strive to follow His commands at all times. May we live a life that is not full of shame and embarrassment at our actions. May we confess our sins to God and others.

Honest with God

Luke 22:42-43 KJV

42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

Most people have a hard time being honest with God about their feelings. We are either ashamed of them or think God doesn't care about or feelings and only our obedience. Here we see that He does want to hear.

Christ was honest with His father about how he was feeling. The key though is He didn't whine and complain. He simply stated His feelings and then acknowledged that God's will was great than His feelings. Christ transitioned from full honesty to full faith.

Do you see what happened next? God sent an angel to strengthen Him. The Father didn't scold Christ for His honesty; He strengthened Him for what was to come.

We need to be fully honest with God. We need to not only be honest, but we need to accept that God may call us to do something against our feelings and that is okay because if He calls us to something, He will strengthen us to do it!

Walk in Them

Ephesians 2:10 

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We've looked at this verse not too long ago, but I would like to look at it in a different way today. Before we focused on the fact that God created us. Today, I would like to focus on the word, "walk".

What are we to walk in?

      The good works that God before hath ordained.

How are we to know what those good works are?

      By reading and studying the Bible.

One clue we can gather from the verses around this one is that most likely the good works will look different than the world around us. We are to walk in these good works after we have received new life through Christ Jesus.

Walked on Water

Matthew 14:29 KJV 

And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

"walked on the water"

I find this so amazing. How exciting it would be to walk on water!

What is deeper, however, is more amaing.

It took great faith on Peter's part to walk on the water. When he took his eyes off his Lord, he began to sink.

This poses a great lesson for us. We must keep our eyes on Christ. We can not let oursleves get distracted by the things of this world. Focus on Christ and always walk toward Him.

Walk in the Way

Isaiah 30:21 KJV

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

"This is the way, walk ye in it." (emphasis mine)

God's Word tells us exactly how we should walk. All we need to do is pay attention and follow His commands.

What I find interesting is that the voice is heard from behind, not in front of us. Most leaders lead from the front, but God doesn't always lead that way. He leads by guiding us gently. He leads even though we turn from the right or the left and are niether in front or behind Him. No matter where we are, we can hear His voice if we listen. He never leaves us; He is always there.