At our Friday, ladies’ class, we have been studying about wisdom for women through the wise words of Solomon. It was while looking at Prov. 3:18, “She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,…," that I suddenly had a thought. The tree of life was a great blessing which God had given to Adam & Eve, yet they were not content with it. Instead, they ate of the tree from which God told them not to. Because of their sin, they were cast out of the garden so they would not be able to eat from the tree of life and live forever. God made provision for us to return to the tree of life if we overcome. I couldn’t help but think that we are a discontented people and we don’t appreciate what we have until it is gone. Are we taking God’s blessings for granted and not appreciating all with which He blesses us?
Hi Sandie - I think we not only take the blessings for granted, we've become gluttonous for the "extras" that are available. Look at our plates, look at our garbage, look at our bodies and our houses. We are corpulent with excess. It has been really bothering me.
What do idols have to do with Abraham sacrificing his son? One day while weeding in the garden, I decided to turn on a radio and listen to the local “religious” station. One of the preachers that day was talking of idolatry. It may seem like it doesn’t exist today but it is very prevalent in our society. An idol is anything that we make more important than God. In today’s world of sports, recreation, entertainment, etc. we find much idolatry. After all, a high school graduation only comes once in a lifetime, a wake or funeral, the sports playoffs, etc. Certainly they can’t be considered an idol, can they? If we put those things before coming to worship our God as He has commanded, then we have created an idol. Is it possible that because Abraham had waited so long for a son of his own, that he would make Isaac an idol? It certainly would be possible. God tells us in His word that He was testing Abraham. Testing Him for what? It was to see if He came first in Abraham’s life. I believe we can learn a lesson from this event. We need to put God first before EVERYTHING! He needs to know that we cherish Him more than our children, more than the once in a lifetime event, more than ANYTHING at all. Are we doing that? Is sleep our idol? Is our comfort our idol? How about the Red Sox game, the Patriots game, the Speedway, are these our idols? God sacrificed the most precious thing He could, His only begotten son. Jesus sacrificed everything for us. Don’t we think He would like to have slept in, had time to relax and enjoy the day with some friends? He gave up all of His personal comforts to do His father’s will on this earth. He gave His life because of our sins. What does He ask of us? EVERYTHING! Knowing what Jesus did for us, is it too much for us to do this small thing for Him? Next time Sunday morning rolls around, can you get up extra early and make it to bible study and church services on time? Can you give up that once in a lifetime special event so you can be at bible class? Can you give a little of your time for all that He has done for you? I know I will be examining my own lifestyle for idols, I hope you will too. ~S
Yes yes yes!! Thank you for this reminder. It is sooo easy to forget because God has blessed us with some wonderful things about this world and life, but we need to realize that heaven and eternal life are not worth sacrificing for a momentary pleasure that is over and done forever in a heartbeat and the life that God has prepared for us will last FOREVER... hard to fathom in our world run by the ticking clock. I am taking some time to reconsider my own activities. Thank you for these words.
Ooh, good thoughts! It's funny how we give those things other names like wedding, Super Bowl, or special event instead of referring to them more honestly as idols. Not that there's anything wrong with enjoying those activities, of course, but when they get in the way of obedience to God, they're no longer pleasure; they've become idols. Thanks for the reminder!
While I was preparing dinner and waiting for my husband and daughter to return home from work, I decided to listen to Paul Earnhart when he was in Bangor, ME in 2006. He was talking of God creating the universe. And for what purpose? For us! We are the center of God's universe. It got me thinking of very young children. They think they are the center of our "universe". And what do we teach them? To not be selfish, to think of others, to be patient, to do God's will, etc. Shouldn't we be learning those same things? Just like Ezra, shouldn't we be learning, practicing and teaching? Isn't that the lesson for us?
As I worked in my garden early this morning (6:45), I came to really dislike weeds. I had so many because I have been watering but not keeping up with the weeding because of the heat. While angry at the weed situation, I got to thinking that it is only because of our sinful nature that we have the rotten things in the first place. If only we were not so strong willed and weak in flesh. We could have been living in a wonderful garden with lots of fruits and vegetable with virtually no work involved. Some toiling, yes, but not hard work in the heat of the day. Oh well, I am refreshed now due to a shower and my husband taking the family out to dinner so no one would have to suffer in the heat to make it. I thank God that I had the get up and go early this morning to get what I got done before the heat became unbearable. Thank the Lord for the wonderful produce coming from the garden as well.
~S
I have a little garden in the backyard and I have found myself thinking about sin every time I am out there weeding. Which is not as often as I should. I was thinking the other day how I let the garden go for too long and there were so many weeds and I thought about my life and how sin can just overtake things if we are not on the watch for it. Thankfully I watch myself much closer than I watch my garden. I'm glad you were able to beat the haet and go out to eat. : )
Oh Sandie, aren't the lessons to be learned in the garden valuable? I always find parallels and analogies there and love the Scriptures more after a day of weeding. But I really really hate doing it in the heat!
A little over 35 years ago, I met a young man who eventually stole my heart. I married him. Since his dad had passed away before we met, he and my dad became very close. They had so many things in common.
I love my dad! He is what he is. I don't know how to describe his character except to say that over the years, he has been one to BUTT into the chef's work. He always told my mom how to cook. After they divorced, he started telling my sister (who he spends much time with) how to cook. He tells me AND my daughter (when he is here) how to cook.
Well, today, it just hit me. My wonderful husband was in the kitchen as I was cooking. The cake had just come out of the oven and the manicotta had just gone in. The next thing I hear, as I am putting the glaze on the cake, is "don't you have to take them out of the pan?" The day before he offered some other tidbit of cooking knowledge that he has learned over the years from watching ALL the cooks in his life! What just hit me is: my husband has turned into my dad!
Now, don't get me wrong. This is not necessarily a bad thing. After all, I did say "I love my dad". Well, I love my husband. I just need to learn to be sweet when he makes those kinds of comments.
I hope you don't have too many cooks in your kitchen!
Hey! Sandie - is this you? I'm sure Lisa can give you lots of advice, but here is one tidbit: click on my name and then you'll be routed to my blog. Then in the upper left corner there is a line that says "add to friends list" and click on that. That way my name will show up on your list to the left and it will be highlighted when I post something new or a little dot will appear beside my screen name if someone posts a comment on my blog. :) Welcome, the above is a funny one.
Sandy, I didn't know that you were on here either. Add me as one of your friends please!
Ha, that is a funny story above. Jay always says I am turning into his mother.
:) Thanks! We have really been enjoying it and like knowing that we did it ourselves! Dare I admit that most of what we have done we learned from HGTV? :)
Hello Sandie..... you need to update again too. :) I did like this post before, but noting how often I've been posting I suppose I can't say much. Here is a (((hug)))
