Clutzty Diane

OR

Pride Goes Before the Fall

so... for those who have asked... I pulled into the church parking lot this morning, getting there early to open the bookstore and as I was getting out of the van, my right foot got caught in the GPS cord and I fell out of the van twisting my left leg at the knee and ankle and whatever other joint can get twisted. Of course dear brothers and sisters came to the rescue as I'm laying sprawled on my stomach with my cell phone in hand saying, "I have to call Dennis!" :)

Dave Echegoyan gets big props for coming to the rescue with a wheelchair and Advil! So, poor Jason Remer had to wheel me into the church (poor, poor man) and then Dennis came to take me home. I didn't break anything that i know of... i may have messed up the ligaments at the back of my knee... we'll see what tomorrow brings... in the meantime I'm getting the royal treatment at home with my leg propped up, surrounded by ice, Dennis getting me my Raspberry Mocha from Sbucks...

Those who have known me for a long time are not surprised by this fall, those who have known me in recent years: there ya have it.. I'm a major clutz! Martha Uribe and the D'Andreas and Vince Hinders and my sweet friend Jennyce were so kind to me... thank you much!

Please pray for my healing... So far, Advil is doing the trick, although to walk, I have to hold on to people, chairs and walls. We will see what tomorrow brings!

Pride DOES go before the fall, by the way... I was so proud of getting the 25 point bonus word this morning in my game of Word Twist with Jennyce... I was planning to talk trash to her this morning about it (in sweet love, of course)... ummmm... then I fell. so... PRIDE does go before the fall! hmmmm.....all prayers appreciated.

Romans 15:1-2

1. We, who are strong
2. have an obligation
3. to bear with the failings of the weak
4. and not to please ourselves
5. Let each of us
6. please his neighbor
7. for his good
8. to build him up.

It is helpful to me to sometimes take a piece of scripture and separate it by phrases. It assists me to see what it really says!

This particular scripture piggy backs on chapter 14 of Romans reminding us to not be a stumbling block to our brothers and sisters.

This scripture really hit me square between the eyes... not only am I not to judge someone for what they eat or drink and why they do or don't (or fill in the blank: participating in Halloween, whether they read Harry Potter or not, whether they listen to secular music or not... etc etc..), but I have an OBLIGATION to bear with them, this means, no frustrations, no getting angry, no deep sighing expressing my intolerance. I am not to please myself but I am to please my neighbor, for HIS GOOD, to BUILD HIM UP (in his faith). WOW!
I can tend to major on the minor issues... instead, conversations directing our gaze to the cross, to Jesus, to the beauty of the Gospel, is infinately more helpful and WILL build up our neighbor.

I have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak (in their faith)... remembering (!!!!) that the faith that I do have is not something I drummed up on my own but it is a gift given to me by God...

ahhhh.. that sheds a different light on everything doesn't it? ALL I have is given to me by God. God is never impatient with me, but by his grace he is slow to anger...

Thank you Lord, help me to bear with the failings of the weak and build me up where I am weak. Amen.

1 Cor 8:13
“Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”

Romans 14:13
“therefore, let us not pass judgement on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.”

Romans 14:19
“So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”

I was struck this morning by Paul’s desire to help his brothers in Christ grow in holiness. These scriptures address the issue of whether eating food that had been prepared for idols is okay for Christians to eat. Some said yes, some said no. Paul’s point is whichever side you fall on, give up YOUR “right” on this issue so you don’t cause your brother to stumble in his faith.

I can’t help but examine myself and ask myself if I am willing to give up my perceived “rights” in order to help my brother stay true to his conscience and to help him/her grow in holiness. Do, I try and convince this person that he/she can go ahead and watch a movie or watch tv or not? Do I try and convince my fellow Christians that it is okay or not okay to have their children participate in Halloween? How about Santa Claus? Or Easter Bunny? We all have an opinion on these things .. are we thinking of our brothers and sisters and their conscience before we spout off our opinion, and in my case, my self- righteous opinion?

I have a beautiful personal example. My parents and my brothers were alcoholics. My pre-teenage years and beyond were spent trying to avoid being with these family members when they were drinking. As a result, I do not drink alcohol. I do not think it is a sin to drink responsibly but because of my backround, I cannot tolerate being around people who are drinking, even if it is responsible drinking. My husband, who hardly ever drank alcohol, stopped having the occasional glass of wine or beer so I would not be bothered. It wasn’t a sin for him to have those things but because “in humility he considered me more significant than himself “(Phil 2:3) he has not had a drop of alcohol in many, many years and will not allow it in our home; all because he understands the pain, for me, to be around those who drink. His kindness and humility most likely keep me from falling into the sins of judgement, anger etc, etc, etc.

I praise the Lord for the beautiful example he gives to us through Paul and for giving me a personal living out of this scripture in my dear husband.

Lord, thank you so much for the kindness you show me through Dennis. Please help me to be as considerate of others as he is of me. Help me not to be a stumbling block for others. Help me to help my brothers and sisters pursue and live in holiness. Amen.

Romans 12:12c
“Be constant in prayer”

When I was first saved I was CONSTANTLY in prayer! My children used to ask me as we rode around in our van, “are you praying to God, or talking to us?” .. somewhere along the way that faded. I pray. I know I need to pray. I need God’s help always. But that constant, all day praying or being in touch with God has gone by the wayside.

As I read this scripture this morning I asked God to help me be constant in prayer again. Such sweet times of conversation with the Lord. I talked to him about everything… I’m looking forward to God doing this in me again. How sweet of God to set this desire into my heart. He is indeed so good.

Romans 11:33
“Oh the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and how inscrutable His ways!”

Deuteronomy 29:29
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

How kind of God to reveal to us, even SOME of his secrets!!! The mystery of salvation was revealed to us through Jesus Christ! How kind of God! He revealed to us how to be saved. Wow! But there are some things that do remain a mystery. I know this bothers some people but by the grace of God it doesn’t bother me. I am content not understanding all of God. Actually, I delight in not understanding all of God!! Not being able to understand all of GOD confirms to me his magnificence and his absolute hugeness!!!! I love this scripture in Romans for it reminds us that he has depth that we cannot even comprehend! His ways are inscrutable!

I often have to look up words that I think I understand their meaning but I really don’t until I research it.

Inscrutable:

1.
Incapable of being investigated, analyzed, or scrutinized; impenetrable.

2.
not easily understood; mysterious; unfathomable:

3.
incapable of being seen through physically; physically impenetrable.

Doesn’t that definition help you? It helps me to be in awe of our God! He is so much more than we know and see.

Oh God! I bow down before you and worship You for you are worthy of all glory and honor! Thank you that in your mercy and kindness you took notice of me and saved me. Oh Lord, my God, how I love you! .

Romans 10:13-15
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they’ve never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!”

My pastor's sermon yesterday hit a home run with me! He commended the church for reaching out to the community through yard sales and car washes etc… sharing the gospel as we have conversations with the visitors to our church. Merritt challenged us, however, to be a “GO TO” church… to GO TO those who don’t come to our outreaches and make relationships with these people, to know them and love them and ultimately share the gospel with them. I was convicted by God that I tend to think that because I participate in these outreaches, that because I am involved in Alpha, that because I have shared the gospel with my mom, that I’ve somehow “punched” my evangelism ticket with God and that I don’t have to put forth any more effort to share the gospel outside of my little world. Ugh! I know that one of our reasons for being on earth is to share about Christ!!!

Merritt encouraged us to look for these relationships in our lives. I was thinking how these relationships could be with my neighbors, or your colleagues, or the cashiers at Giant that I have seen day after day, week after week for years!!!! I have a very outgoing personality and yet, when it comes to having spiritual discussions with these people, fear of man creeps in…no, fear of man STORMS in! I’ve had this conviction before but I am sorry to say it hasn’t gone anywhere but God in his kindness has brought it up again.

My prayer is that I would obey God and seize the opportunities he sets before me to develop friendships and share the good news!!! How is it that THE most important piece of news in the whole of life is so hard to share???

I do understand that it is not my words that save, it is not my sharing that saves.. it is God alone who regenerates a person and gives them the grace to turn to Jesus in repentance and faith. But! as this Romans scripture tells us, who can be saved if they don't hear??? It's our job to tell, God's job to save. When you think about it? we have the EASY job! :)

Oh Lord, may I love you so much that I can’t keep my mouth shut to even strangers! To family! To everyone! Send me, Lord! Send me! How will people know about you, if we don’t speak of you and share the gospel? Send me, Lord! Help me to obey you and share the gospel.

Romans 8:38-39
“For I am sure that neither death not life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present not things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This morning, this blesses my heart as one of the most comforting scriptures. NOTHING can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. WOW! May you be blessed, comforted, encouraged and feel the love of our Father today.

Daniel 3:28
“Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednago, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusting in him, and set aside the King’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.”

I love how God shows us so clearly the faith and courage he placed into Shadrach, Meshach and Abednago. They had amazing faith. They were willing to die rather than to bow down to a god other than the one true God. They would not worship the god that the King commanded them to, and were thrown into the fiery furnace that was so hot that even the guards who brought them to the furnace died from the heat of the fire, yet, these 3 young men were saved from harm by God. God is able to do ANYTHING! This act of saving these three men served to make the King worship the one true God! God was glorified.

There are many Christians in today’s world that are killed for their faith in Jesus Christ. God is the same today as he was in the days of King Nebuchadnezzar, yet, Christians die for their faith. I am not discouraged by this. I know that God is good, He always has, He is and always will be. God is sovereign and he has his reasons why this kind of persecution is allowed to be. We can therefore be sure that God has a plan and HE is being glorified in this.

This makes me want to bow down and worship our God and declare that HE IS WORTHY OF ALL GLORY AND HONOR AND PRAISE!

I am also convicted that I should be more diligent in praying for those Christians in the world who are being persecuted for their faith.

Romans 6:20-23
“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. BUT NOW that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I just love the book of Romans! I do believe it could be my favorite! I’ve read this book SOOOO many times, I’ve taught a woman’s bible study on this book, I’ve heard many great sermons on this book but I don’t ever recall seeing verse 20! I remember verse 23 but don’t recall the others! Isn’t it wonderful how God’s Word continues to speak over and over and over again?

Anyways… there are so many gems to marvel at from verse 20 itself! Before conversion we were slaves of sin.. and the fruit of these sins, the things we loved to do, couldn’t help but do, and NOW, after conversion we are ashamed of…the fruit of this is death! There is indeed fruit to be had from a sinful, apart from God life, and the fruit is DEATH!

BUT NOW

Because God saved me and you we are slaves of God and the fruit of this life is sanctification and eternal life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And all this is a free gift of God. We did absolutely, positively NOTHING to gain this, NOTHING! God in His great mercy and steadfast love chose us, called us to Himself and the fruit of being a slave to God , the fruit of being set free from sin is sanctification and eternal life!
I love that, for the first time I see that sanctification is fruit! I often view my sanctification as a laborious process that must happen to make me like Jesus and to remove remaining sin. Which, it is a process of doing just that but it is a fruit of being a slave to God, of no longer being a slave to sin! Sanctification is a fruit of God’s free gift of salvation. A fruit of His love and mercy and kindness! Absolutely amazing !!! AND it leads to eternal life. Oh the kindness of God is SO big!

Romans 4:5
“And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly his faith is counted as righteous.”

I stand amazed when I read a scripture like this because I know that it is God himself who gave my faith to me so I could believe. He opened my eyes to see, my ears to hear. He gave me all I needed to believe in the one who justifies the ungodly! God demands righteousness of us and then gives it to us through Jesus Christ. This gospel truth drives me to praise and thanksgiving!

Psalm 18:30
“This God- His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.”

What a great verse to ponder on if you find yourself in a place of unbelief or doubt. God’s way IS perfect. His Word IS true; and if we take refuge in Him, He will be our shield.

Thank you Lord that your ways are perfect and that your word proves true! Thank you for being my shield. Thank you for providing a way out for me. thank you for shielding me from your wrath! Thank you for Jesus! Thank you for calling me to you and giving me ears to hear and a heart to turn to you. You are worthy of ALL glory, honor and praise!

Romans 2: 1, 3, 4
“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgement on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things… Do you suppose, O man, you who judge those who practice such and yet do them yourself- that you will escape the judgement of God? Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

This scripture brought to my mind, yet again, one of the resolutions that Jonathan Edwards made that when he saw the sin of another that he would remember that he, himself, is the most vile of sinners and he let the knowledge of other’s sins cause him to go before God in confession and repentance of his own sins, the VERY same sins that he sees in others! The Holy Spirit continues to teach me about how to respond when I see the sins of others… I’m not where I ought to be in this area but by the grace of God I’m not where I used to be! Praise Him for sanctifying me and teaching me the ways of holiness. I long to be more merciful towards others as God is towards me.
Meditating on this I read another scripture this morning:

Psalm 107:43
“Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things, let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.”

Psalm 107 describes the troubles of God’s people. They were in trouble, by their own sins and wanderings BUT THEN they called on the name of the Lord and delivered them from their darkness, or their distress because of HIS steadfast love.
THIS steadfast love is what we must consider. It is wise to do so! For we see God’s mercy and love and kindness towards us while we by our own sin and wanderings got into trouble!!!

Combining these two scriptures was easy for me today. If I consider the steadfast love of the Lord and how gracious and merciful He has been, is, and will be towards me, the fruit if this will be to be merciful at the sins of others and remember my own instead of concentrating on the sins of others!

Oh, how I love God’s Word! It is so beautiful! Thank you Lord for showing me how to apply your Word to my life today!

Colossians 3:17
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

I’m not sure if my application to this scripture has anything to do with anything but I feel convicted this morning to add a Part 2 to yesterday’s 3x5. I was convicted last night to ask myself the question, “am I doing everything I can do to encourage those around me to grow in and pursue holiness?” “Am I a stumbling block to someone else’s pursuit of holiness?” “Do I make it difficult for my close friends and family to grow in holiness?” I didn’t receive any immediate answers except to be aware. I want to be aware of how I relate to those around me and be an encouragement to them as they pursue holiness, not a stumbling block. As, I pursue holiness in my words, deeds, in EVERYTHING I do, I want to also, do everything I can to be an encouragement to my brothers and sisters in Christ as they pursue the same things.
So, yea, pray that way for me as well. :)

2 Timothy 3:12
“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Many years ago, I was mentoring a young woman at my church who, under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, made a decision to pursue holiness particularly in the area of entertainment and leisure activities. She began to be very godly and discerning in her movie and tv show selections. Do you know who gave her the hardest time? Not her secular work buddies, but her sisters in Christ!!!! That was eye opening for both me and my friend! We realized that following hard after Christ can be threatening to especially those in the family of God! For a while, my young friend had to avoid socializing even with her Christian friends in order to be able to avoid movies etc that were not godly. She did so with humility and prayer! Her secular friends, by the way, admired her for sticking to her convictions! Interesting, eh?
Well, God in his kindness helped my young friend maintain some of those friendships that still continue to this day but it was rough going for a while but she persevered in her convictions!
So, my prayer is that I continue to pursue holiness in humility and perseverance, knowing that I may get the rolling of the eyes from even some of my closest friends and family… I think the key here is to pursue holiness in “humility”… yea, you can pray for me that way. :)

Colossians 1:13-14
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

May this gospel truth bring you joy today!

Romans 12:10
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

Sovereign Grace Ministries is really good at encouraging others and showing honor. I had never before been exposed to such an intentional effort to encourage one another. I have learned so much by the example of the people in my church but I need to grow in this area. I love that this scripture says to “outdo” one another in showing honor! This tells me that we can never be TOO encouraging!!! We can’t over do showing honor.

Lord, help me to be better at encouraging others and showing honor. Help me to see evidences of your grace in the lives of others and help me to be quick to point it out. I need your assistance Lord. In Jesus name. amen.

“My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross,
And I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord!
O my soul!! “ (It is Well, by Horatio Gates Spafford)

We sang this song at church yesterday and I can’t stop singing it in my head! What a beautiful way to preach the gospel to myself today! Jesus bore ALL my sins in his body! Not just some. ALL my sins! Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul!!! It is indeed well with my soul, Jesus made it so.

Ephesians 2:4-5
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved.”

EVEN when I was dead in my sin, GOD made me alive with Christ! SUCH LOVE is almost impossible to comprehend. I was so deep in sin, my very best days were stained with my sin and unless God intervened I’d still be dead in my sin! BUT! God so rich in mercy, saved me. Oh Lord, I thank you.

Psalm 141:4
“do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies.!”

What a great scripture to pray for ourselves and others! The last phrase, “and let me not eat of their delicacies” got me thinking. What delicacies from men who work iniquity do I eat? What movies do I watch? What TV shows do I watch? Do I excuse my watching certain movies and shows because just one little part is bad? How about comedians, late night talk show hosts? Do I laugh at their slightly “off color” jokes? Do I laugh when they slander and cut down celebrities and politicians?

As I ask myself these questions I realize that I may eat the delicacies of men who work iniquity far more than I thought! I realize that I need God’s assistance in discerning what I watch and listen to. I NEED God to not let my heart incline to evil or busy myself with wicked deeds. The comfort, the hope is that God DELIGHTS to help us and give us grace in time of need!!! Such grace and mercy is overwhelming!

Oh Lord, do not let my heart incline to any evil! Instead, incline my heart to your testimonies and not to selfish gain (Psalm 119:36).

Psalm 128:1
“Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways!”

Psalm 112:1
“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments!”

I have often asked God to give me a great fear of God not really understanding what that meant. As I read these scriptures this morning I realized that fearing God will produce obedience and delight in the commandments of God! Fearing God is not a “feeling” but an action!

Oh Lord, I need your help and assistance in walking in your ways and delighting in your commandments! Thank you for your grace and your mercy. Thank you that you delight to help me be obedient! You are sanctifying me and changing me to be more like Jesus! Please strengthen my soul and help me to walk in your ways! I do delight in your commandments for they are good for me and obedience to them brings you glory ! Be glorified in my life, Lord!
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