Wednesday, August 5, 2026
God's Beautiful Creation
The Lord's blessing to me this year. I love the animals and the flowers. These plants survived having been made to live in buckets for months while work was being done and then replanted in this spot. We didn't know if they would make it but God made them thrive.
Deuteronomy 28:4 "Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock."
Deuteronomy 28:4 "Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock."
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Obeying God Rather Than Men
There are women who believe they must obey their husbands even if they are told to sin. This could not be further from the truth.
With Ananias and Sapphira, the husband suggested that they lie to keep back money; his wife went along, and they were counted by God as "conspiring together."
The same is true in the garden when Eve picked the fruit; when Adam took what was offered him, he then became a co-conspirator in the sin.
Each person is responsible for their own sin. The one who offers the opportunity to sin is not considered more culpable than the one who takes it; they are equal in the eyes of God.
Sort of like the "working in concert" idea with the law. If one person steals from a jewelry store and the other person stands outside as a lookout but doesn't steal and takes part of the loot, they are both responsible for the crime.
When we obey those who tell us to sin, we are responsible for our own sin, since everyone is accountable. No one will be able to stand before the Lord on judgment day and blame anyone else for their own sinful choices.
One might say, "But they will cause me all kinds of trouble if I don't do what they say." The answer to that is, it is better to suffer loss doing what is right than to protect ourselves temporarily to avoid suffering.
Let's not forget the three Hebrew boys who refused to bow to the idol of Nebuchadnezzar. They were thrown into a fiery furnace for honoring God and disobeying human authority.
Daniel 3:16-28 tells us that the three young men went into the furnace, but the Son of God was in there with them. They came out unharmed without the smell of smoke on them, and their hair wasn't even singed.
In the case of Abigail, her wicked husband told her to ignore King David in his need, but she disobeyed her husband to honor the King. Her husband died, and Abigail married David. Her desire to do what was right in God's eyes despite ignoring her husband's demands was rewarded by God.
There is no authority on earth that we obey when they tell us to sin.
Obey God first and take your lumps, you will not regret it.
With Ananias and Sapphira, the husband suggested that they lie to keep back money; his wife went along, and they were counted by God as "conspiring together."
The same is true in the garden when Eve picked the fruit; when Adam took what was offered him, he then became a co-conspirator in the sin.
Each person is responsible for their own sin. The one who offers the opportunity to sin is not considered more culpable than the one who takes it; they are equal in the eyes of God.
Sort of like the "working in concert" idea with the law. If one person steals from a jewelry store and the other person stands outside as a lookout but doesn't steal and takes part of the loot, they are both responsible for the crime.
When we obey those who tell us to sin, we are responsible for our own sin, since everyone is accountable. No one will be able to stand before the Lord on judgment day and blame anyone else for their own sinful choices.
One might say, "But they will cause me all kinds of trouble if I don't do what they say." The answer to that is, it is better to suffer loss doing what is right than to protect ourselves temporarily to avoid suffering.
Let's not forget the three Hebrew boys who refused to bow to the idol of Nebuchadnezzar. They were thrown into a fiery furnace for honoring God and disobeying human authority.
Daniel 3:16-28 tells us that the three young men went into the furnace, but the Son of God was in there with them. They came out unharmed without the smell of smoke on them, and their hair wasn't even singed.
In the case of Abigail, her wicked husband told her to ignore King David in his need, but she disobeyed her husband to honor the King. Her husband died, and Abigail married David. Her desire to do what was right in God's eyes despite ignoring her husband's demands was rewarded by God.
There is no authority on earth that we obey when they tell us to sin.
Obey God first and take your lumps, you will not regret it.
Meekness Power Under Control
Every principle and teaching of Christ in the bible is fruitful for growing in holiness.
Meekness is power under control; it is not timid or mousy. When we love people, we tell the truth calmly, and if the person responds with humility and a desire to reconcile, we can learn to understand one another. However, if someone is hostile and does not want to resolve anything, they will argue not to understand but to win.
Those who are political in their mindset will always be interested only in power and victory over others. They are not very interested in understanding or resolving things, nor are they interested in learning and growing in holiness.
1 Peter 1:15-17 "…15 But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners."
Matthew 4:4 "But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
1 Corinthians 1:19 "For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Romans 3:4 "Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”
Romans 12:1 "Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."
Meekness is power under control; it is not timid or mousy. When we love people, we tell the truth calmly, and if the person responds with humility and a desire to reconcile, we can learn to understand one another. However, if someone is hostile and does not want to resolve anything, they will argue not to understand but to win.
Those who are political in their mindset will always be interested only in power and victory over others. They are not very interested in understanding or resolving things, nor are they interested in learning and growing in holiness.
1 Peter 1:15-17 "…15 But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners."
Matthew 4:4 "But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
1 Corinthians 1:19 "For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Romans 3:4 "Certainly not! Let God be true and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”
Romans 12:1 "Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."
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