Drive ‘Em Out!

 

Joh 2:13-17

 

And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

 

And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

 

And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;

 

 

And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.

 

 

And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

 

This portion of Scripture seemed to leap out to me today as I was doing my Bible reading. If I could go back in time, I think it would have been something to see Jesus’ driving the money changers out of the temple. There are just some things that do not belong in the house of God, and Jesus was not the least bit afraid to say so. While Jesus is not physically present here today doing what he did in the temple on that day, I’m thankful that He does have men of God with a zeal who are not afraid to drive out bad attitudes, spirits and doctrines of devils through the preaching of the Word of God! Over the years, I feel like God has invested in me and put a lot of good things into me through the preaching of the Word of God, but I know I could not be complete with just “positive preaching”. I have had bad attitudes and wrong thinking that needed to be driven out through the preaching of the Holy Bible.  A loving, earthly parent will correct their child and administer the rod of correction when it is needed. I’m thankful that our Heavenly Father is the same way, and that if we will let Him, He’ll drive out our “stinkin’ thinkin” through an anointed man of God that delivers the Word!

 

About Face

 

 

Going the wrong direction?  God, in his goodness, allows YOU-turns. It’s called repentance.

2Peter 3:9

The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.

 

Flopping

Wednesday was one of those days where I found myself battling a crummy attitude.  I got mad a couple of times at my husband over trivial, stupid things and was a little short tempered with the kids.  I felt ashamed for the way I acted and realized I had two choices.  I could either let the devil slap me around and tell me what a fine example of a Christian I had been or I could ask forgiveness of God and those I had offended.  I’m thankful to have chosen the latter.  Thinking about it all later, I wrote this little poem.  What a gift we have in the ability to repent!

Oh,

those days

when I flop

my attitude

not what it should be

and I feel the sharp sting

of knowing I have done wrong

satan tries hard to keep me down

but then, I know that my best option

is to come to God in true repentance.

 

 

Written 10-31-07

    I John 1:9(AMP)  If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].

 

My Conscience Wouldn’t Let Me

Every so often, without them realizing it, my children will tell me something that just absolutely thrills me.  Yesterday, it was my son that brought me one of those “mother moments.”  A few days ago, some children that live nearby erected some sort of ramp that they could use to do jumps on their bikes.  In his excitement over this, Paul began to tell my husband about what fun he had jumping that day.  My husband wasn’t trying to squelch his fun, but he told Paul he wasn’t allowed to jump off the ramp anymore.  About 6 months ago, we had a neighbor across the street who broke his collarbone and arm and scraped the side of his face while jumping off a ramp.  It wasn’t a pretty sight.  Paul wasn’t happy about his dad’s decision, and the next day when dad wasn’t around, he was complaining about it.  I reminded him that he won’t always like the decisions we make, but it’s wise for him to obey, because we love him, we try to do what’s best for him and the Bible teaches us to obey our parents.  Later that day, after he had been out playing for a while, he came in to get something to drink.  Then came that magical moment. 

He told me that a bunch of kids were jumping off the ramp, and he wanted to jump really bad, but his conscience wouldn’t let him. I praised him for making the right decision.  I think he understands that even though he probably could get away with it when nobody was watching, God would still know.  Not only that, but he would have to carry the knowledge with him that he had disobeyed his dad.  I’m thankful he chose to follow his conscience rather than give in to the temporary thrill of jumping a ramp, only to find himself bearing the guilt of disobedience.  A couple of years ago, there was an instance where Paul did do something that he was instructed not to do.  He ended up coming to me in tears and confessing.  I urged him to tell his dad, because it was the right thing to do.  He followed my advice and made things right.  I think that instance made a big impression on him.

I know that as my son grows, there will come many more tests of his conscience and more choices between right and wrong.  It is my prayer that he’ll seek to have the mindset that the apostle Paul displayed in Acts 24:16.

And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

 

God Still Wants To Make Your Lunch

My son was manifesting a very poor attitude about doing his school work.  He even said some words that were not kind, and I knew that he knew that what he was saying was not right.  I have found from experience that when he gets like this, it’s best for me not to say anything to him for a while.  First of all, I might respond in anger, which would only produce more frustration for him, and finally he is not ready to receive what I would have to say, even if it is spoken in the right spirit.  He went upstairs for a while, and I was downstairs folding laundry.  After a while,  I opened the refrigerator door to start preparing to make lunch.  It was then that my son came back downstairs and asked me what I was doing.  “I’m trying to figure out what to make you for lunch.”  I replied.  ”Why would you want to make lunch for someone like me?” he questioned.  ”You are my son, and I love you.” I answered.  I went on to explain that I don’t always have a good attitude but that does not stop God from loving me.  He received what I had to say, apologized for the things he said, and then we hugged each other. 

I started thinking how this can really apply to so many of us.  How many times have we messed up and had lousy attitudes, yet God is still there wanting to make our lunch? He doesn’t bless us because we are good, He blesses us because He is good!  I believe His goodness to us in spite of our badness has a purpose.  According to Romans 2:4, it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance.  I like the way the Amplified Bible says it.

(AMP) Or are you [so blind as to] trifle with and presume upon and despise and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering patience? Are you unmindful or actually ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repent (to change your mind and inner man to accept God’s will)?

There is no perfect person on this earth.  No matter how spiritual we might be, all of us are prone to mess up from time to time, but God will still be there wanting to make our lunch.  May His goodness and kindness that is extended toward us produce in our hearts the fruits of repentance and a spirit of thankfulness.  

 

Pa’s Woodshed

Pa’s woodshed.  If you lived out in the country, it was a place where Pa stored the firewood, but this was not the only purpose of the shed.  I have heard some tell tales of Pa taking them out there when it was time to adminster the rod and reproof.  In other words, it was where you went for a spanking.  I recall several years ago after a time when I had corrected my son, he asked me why it was that adults never got spankings.  “Oh, I get spankings allright.” I countered, “It’s just a little different than the way you get them.”

Hebrews 12:6,7 states

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

God has spanked me plenty of times with the “sting of conviction.”  It’s that voice inside my head that says, “You know your attitude wasn’t right today.” or “You shouldn’t have said those angry words.  They really hurt.”  At times, I have heard that voice while listening to preaching, and it is almost as if a big finger were pointing at me, and I know God is showing me something in my life that needs correction.  While it can be painful, I am so thankful that God does it, because I know it’s for my own good.  Did you notice it says in verse 6 that whom the Lord loves He chastens?  He never does it out of anger.  It is out of pure, genuine love.  The Bible tells me too, how I should respond to that love.

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

May God help all of us when we feel that “sting of conviction” that comes from a loving God who has our best interest at heart, to have a response of repentance.