Tag Archives: Sin

Receiving Correction

  By Rachel | March 26, 2012 - 2:09 pm | Random
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Humility

A memory came to mind while I was driving my daughter to school…

I am driving my grandparents to Culver’s to eat lunch.  They lived in a suburb north of Chicago, so there is a lot of traffic, but I was used to it so I am relaxed and comfortable at the wheel.  We run another errand or two while we are out.  When we get back, my Grandfather starts to talk to me about my driving.  He was critiquing my driving skills and has found some things he thinks I should do differently.

I was hurt and a little offended.  I have always considered myself a safe and cautious driver.  I proceeded to talk to my parents about what my Grandpa said, and then to my aunts, and then to the rest of my family.  I got pretty heated in my defense of myself in some of those conversations.

I look back on that now, and feel rather embarrassed by my behavior.  However, I see clearly a struggle that still plagues me today.  My pride gets in the way of me accepting correction.  My Grandfather was a man of God, he loved me, and most importantly he is my elder.  I should have listened to his counsel and said, “Yes, Sir,” and then just gone on and taken the advice and then kept silent about it.

Why is it so hard to accept correction?  Even from friends or family?  Even when we know that someone is right- why is it so hard to just admit it?

Proverbs 8:12-14

12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
   I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
   I hate pride and arrogance,
   evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
   I have insight, I have power.

Proverbs 11:2-3

2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

Proverbs 13:10

10 Where there is strife, there is pride,
but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

Proverbs 14:2-3

2 Whoever fears the LORD walks uprightly,
but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

3 A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,
but the lips of the wise protect them.

Bright

I made several prideful mistakes in my conduct.  As the verses above say, I lashed out in pride, I talked to everyone but my Grandpa about the fact that I found his censure of me unfair.

And instead of letting it go, I kept feeding my feelings of pride and hurt by continuing to bring up the issue again and again.

Proverbs 16:16-24

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
   to get insight rather than silver!

 17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
   those who guard their ways preserve their lives.

 18 Pride goes before destruction,
   a haughty spirit before a fall.

 19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
   than to share plunder with the proud.

 20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
   and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.

 21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
   and gracious words promote instruction.

 22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,
   but folly brings punishment to fools.

 23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,
   and their lips promote instruction.

 24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,
   sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

I believe there is much that we can learn by examining past mistakes- and humbly seeking the Lord’s help to change those areas where sin has a foothold.

So as I remember this season of my life, I pray that God would continue to mold me into His image- to clothe me with humility and strip away my pride- so that I may be a more effective witness for Him.

 

 

Preparation for the Soul

  By Rachel | February 29, 2012 - 7:59 pm | Thoughts for the Day
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Spade in soil

I was digging to plant my first Azalea a few days ago, and I got to thinking about how our spiritual lives are in many ways similar to the work that I do when preparing to plant a shrub.

To make sure that the plant is healthy and does well in the location where you have planted it, you need to give it the right kind of soil to grow.  Each plant is unique- so you have to pay attention to the particular conditions that really help that plant to be healthy.

We need healthy soil to be planted in- I like to look at this as our home life- what we do with our time during the day- what we are putting into our brains, what we are thinking about?  How much time do you spend focused on God and eternal things and how much time either escaping or focusing on things of this world?

You have to dig a big hole, usually two to three times the size of the plant ball that you are planting, and it is good to dig a hole twice as deep.
Preparing the Soil

How deep is your foundation?  Do you have basic knowledge and understanding of God’s Word?  When you feel tempted or discouraged, or stressed- do you have passages of Scripture that you look to for comfort? Do you spend time in prayer- or do you head to the fridge, television, video games, or alcohol to escape?  (This was very convicting for me- we talked about this at BSF last week)

Sometimes you have to remove rocks or take out a lot of the native soil because the plant needs a different mix to provide better drainage or to help encourage the roots to reach down deeper for water.

What do you need to take out of your life?  What is lingering in the soil of your soul, keeping you from continuing to grow closer to Christ?  What secret sin are you unwilling to let go of???

When you water the plant, you water for long periods, letting the water soak down deep, encouraging the roots to extend downward rather than staying close to the surface of the ground.

Do you have a solid root system?  Does your faith run deep, not easily shaken by life circumstances?  How do you respond when bad things happen to people?  How do you handle the doubts in your life- are you confident in the promises of Scripture?

Do you know the promises that we can claim as children of God?  Can you list some of the attributes of God’s character and point to places in Scripture that support your list?

A thick layer of mulch is necessary to keep the plant cool and to help hold moisture in the soil and keep weeds at bay.

What weeds have taken over in your soil?  Are there things that choke you daily and discourage you- do you feel like you are fighting a losing battle?

Do you use Scripture to combat those areas of weakness in your life?  Do you pray when hard times come or you lose your temper and say something that you regret?  Do you seek forgiveness from those you have wronged and from God?

Have you spent time preparing your soul today?  Are you so busy that you don’t have time to stop and even ponder the state of your soul?  What can you change- no matter how small- to make a conscious effort to make time for God today?

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Pink on blue

Keep on Keepin’ On

  By Rachel | February 10, 2012 - 1:45 pm | Thoughts for the Day
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English: Mass Start of the Hochgrat Mountain R...

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In our culture of instant gratification, one of things we tend to lack is staying power.

Holding on- keep fighting the good fight.  When we don’t see the fruits of our labor, it’s easy to give up.

Running with endurance- do we have staying power?

Do we strive against sin?  See Hebrews below- in all of our comforts- I can’t imagine striving against sin to the point of bloodshed.  Yet, that’s what Paul talks about.  I want to run with endurance- I want to keep the faith- I want to fight the good fight.

Hebrews 12:1-4

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

Yes, I do long to hear those words from God someday- well done, good and faithful servant.  What are we doing now to fulfill God’s calling in our lives?

Galatians 6:7-10

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

How are we using our gifts to serve Him?

Are we paying attention to where He is leading us?

2 Timothy 4:1-8

1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

 

I pray that the verses will inspire and challenge you- as they have me- to keep on keepin’ on- to press on through struggles- and even when we can’t see the fruits of our labor- to have faith in God and continue to work diligently in service to Him- until He calls us home.


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