Into the Word Wednesday

July 3, 2013July 2, 2013 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Can’t believe it’s Wednesday already! Since we have the holiday tomorrow, today is really my Friday, work wise. After today, I will be off work until Monday, So glad to have some R & R with my family & friends. Today, I am linking in with two sweet ladies over at Upward Not Inward. Each Wednesday, they get together & tell what the Word has been saying to them, that week. They are kind enough to share this with others. Without further delay, I give you what the Word has been saying to me this week.

Reading along about the story of Solomon in I Kings, I ran across the beautiful conversation God & Solomon had. In chapter 3: 3 it says that Solomon loved the Lord. In verse 5 the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream.

God tells Solomon, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

Solomon starts out by acknowledging what God has done for him & his family. Then, he says to God in verse 9,

Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and veil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?

Solomon, one who has been chosen by God to rule His people can ask for ANYTHING in the world. He could have asked for riches, fortune, or fame. He did not, though. He asked for an understanding heart to aid him in making the best decisions possible for others. What a humble & amazing thing to ask for. Truly, God was impressed with this. v. 10 says,

The speech pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.

Because he was so proud of Solomon for wanting to do the best job possible, God blessed him. v. 11

Then God said to him: Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice. v.12 behold, I have done according to your words, see, I have give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. v.13 And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches & honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings of your days.

It is so easy to get caught up in the “I want, I need, I have to have” attitude. I will not want or need a thing. Then, I go to the mall & WHAT DO YOU KNOW! Stuff everywhere, that I don’t know how I was making it without all of it!! If God asked me what He could give me, I am so afraid I would ask for something so superficial that I would never get anything I really could use. Like a wise & understanding heart.

Geez Louise, Solomon, you really nailed it on the head.

I just pray that I can be selfless, always thinking of others, & a servant like Solomon was.

Thank you so very much for stopping by to visit with me today. Go on over to Upward Not Inward & link in with Falen & Laura. You will be glad you did! I hope you have a wonderful day! As for me, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

This blog makes me happy!

Into the Word Wednesday

June 5, 2013June 4, 2013 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

So glad it’s Wednesday! That means Falen & Laura will be hosting their usual link up “Into the Word Wednesday” over at Upward Not Inward. This is a link up where we tell what the Word is saying to us. With no further delay, I present to you, my findings, this week, while into the Word:

I Samuel 20:17 Now Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him;for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

Jonathan and David were terrific friends. They had a deep connection that meant the world to each of them. Jonathan’s dad Saul did not like David. He threw a spear at David, trying to kill him at one point. And do you know why? He was jealous of him, that’s why. Why is it we let jealousy have such a strong hold over us? Jonathan was so upset with his father, that

he arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month,

for he was grieved for David, because his father had treated him shamefully. v. 34

Saul did not stop there with his jealousy.

I Samuel 23:14 says ….Saul sought him (David) every day but God did not deliver him into his hand.

Why did God not let Saul find David? He was holding out for the greater good. He wanted Saul to be truly sorry for how he was treating David. God was trying to teach Saul a lesson that being jealous hearted is not Godly & it doesn’t lead to anything good.

I Samuel 24: 4 …And David arose & secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

David perhaps was trying to seek revenge on Saul by cutting a corner of his robe when he found him sleeping. Just to let him know,

“Hey Jack, I could have turned you every which way but loose, but I didn’t.”

Later when David caught up with Saul, he had already realized,

“You know what? I tried to be a scoundrel like Saul, but then it dawned on me, if I get in the pig pen with the wallerin’ pigs, I’m gonna get some mud on me and ain’t nobody got time for that.”

That’s when , David told Saul what he had done & why he had done it. David responded with kindness when Saul was showing him hatred & jealousy. Saul’s response was this:

v. 17 You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil.

Do you think Saul knew he had been treating David wrong? You better bet your bottom dollar he did. David did the right thing. He was kind, even when Saul was everything but kind to him. This still holds true for today. My prayer is that the Lord will help us to be kind, even when kindness is the farthest thing from what we are being treated. Why? Because just like it was for David, it’s the right thing to do. You will never regret being kind. You may regret being hateful, mean, or spiteful. However, you will never regret being kind.

Thanks so much for stopping by & visiting with me today. Go on by Upward Not Inward & link up with those girls. It’s such a blessing to see what the Word is saying to others. I have to be going now, because I should be washing clothes.

Into the Word Wednesday-Friendship reminder

April 3, 2013April 2, 2013 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Is it Wednesday already? I am so glad to be Into the Word with Falen & Laura at Upward Not Inward. Those gals have a great link up every Wednesday where we tell what the Word has been saying to us during the week.

This week I read a scripture that really hit home for me. I have learned so much, the past few years, about friendship. I have learned about what kinds of people I want to be friends with. And what kind of friend I want to be. This verse really spoke to me in a powerful way. It confirmed everything I already knew:

Psalms 22:24-25

Make no friendship with an angry man.

And with a furious man, do not go.

Lest you learn his ways,

And set a snare for your soul.

You see, I have been so fortunate to be surrounded by good friends. These are people who are happy, loving, & genuinely concerned for me. And I likewise, love & care about them, too. It’s so easy to get caught up in judgmental, dramatic, angry, people. This verse reminds me, it is poison for the soul. Thank you, Lord, for this sweet reminder.

Into the Word Wednesday-My aha! moment

March 20, 2013March 19, 2013 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

Few things take me by surprise, anymore. However, this week, as I was into the Word, I had an “Aha!” moment. I had been studying in the Old Testament about Moses, Aaron, & the Levites. During my study, I was curious to what Moses & the children of Israel were learning. They had plague, after plague, then fussing & griping & in the end poor Moses still did not even get to see the promised land. I got to thinking why in the world would God treat his children like this? Shouldn’t they live a life with no worries or heartaches? No pain & sorrow. No problems to be burdened with? After all, they were God’s chosen people. God chose those people. Then all of a sudden it hit me:

Moses killed a man.

Noah got drunk after he left the ark.

David commited adultery.

Paul persecuted Christians.

Peter denied he even knew who Jesus Christ was.

I have been divorced, my Mama died at an early age (after years of needless suffering), my relationships have been strained with some of my family, I have been through my share of trials. But God is still good. Even though He lets tragedies happen to the best of us. He could be doing this to mold us into the people He needs us to be so that He can use us. Otherwise, we may get so full of life & pride that He can’t use us for His will.

I read in Hebrews 12 starting with verse 6

For whom the Lord loves, He chastens….(0r corrects)- so then the Lord must love me, ~~more that your average bear~~ ALOT.

verse 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful:nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

How many times do we say, “Thank you Lord for all these problems, because I know this is going to help me be more like you want me to be?” Uh, yeah, not me. But that’s what He says is going on (Heb 12:11) My deal is I need to submit more to His will in the 1st place, then, maybe I won’t have to endure such correction from the Lord (in the form of troubles). My “Aha!” moment made me realize I need to thank God for thinking enough of me, to not let me remain as I am. That I am worth His time, effort, & energy to be disciplined by trials to make me into what He wants me to be. For that I am truly humbled.

I will be linking up with Falen & Laura at Upward Not Inward’s Into the Word Wednesday. Come on over & see what’s going on. We always have a good time sharing what the Word of God is saying to us. Thanks for stopping by to visit! I have to be going now, because I should be washing clothes.

Into The Word Wednesday- God’s comfort

March 6, 2013March 5, 2013 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

It’s Wednesday! Time to get into the Word, again. Falen & Laura from Upward Not Inward have a wonderful link up on Wednesdays every week. It’s where we go to talk about what the Word has been saying to us during the week. I am so happy to be here with ya’ll today to share with you what the Word is saying to me.

This blog makes me happy!

I don’t know if I need comfort, or I just love being comforted. My Sunday School class is studying II Corinthians right now. When I was reading over chapter 1, I came across this:

II Corinthians 1: 3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.

who comforts us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Not only do I reap the benefits of God’s comfort, I also am gifted with God-like comfort to show & share with someone else. That’s amazing to me. We are to give just as we have also been given. That is a wonderful way to live. A standard that we should always share with each other. God gives us what we need. In turn, we should share that same peace & contentment with others. I sometimes am in need of God’s comfort. This is a great reminder, to be willing to pass it on to others, as well. I remember all to well how my Mama and Mamaw used to hug us kids up. It made me feel safe & secure. They knew all too well what it was like to share comfort with the ones they loved. I know this is the God-like comfort II Corinthians is talking about. It’s the kind of comfort that just melts your heart.

I hope you have enjoyed my short & to the point Into the Word Wednesday. Go on over to Upward Not Inward & link up. We have a great time sharing God’s Word with each other every mid week. I am thrilled you stopped by to visit with me. I have to be going for now, because I should be washing clothes.

Into the Word Wednesday

February 13, 2013February 12, 2013 / kstrick7 / Leave a comment

This is the first time I am participating in “Into the Word Wednesday”. To Falen & Laura from the Upward Not Inward blog: please accept my apologies off the front end if I end up with the craziest post ever! I have been reading these posts for some time now. I decided a week or two ago that I would give this a shot! You can go to their awesome blog by going to http://www.upwardnotinward.blogspot.com

I have been recently reading through Proverbs & now am in Ecclesiastes. One of the things I want to share this week is about how relevant these two books are, even now. I have been so delightfully encouraged about what the book of Proverbs says about controlling our mouths. I will admit I need to hear these verses, just as much as anyone.

Proverbs 26:20
Where there is no wood, the fire goes out: And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.

Proverbs 29:11
A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.

Proverbs 6:16
These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood.
18 A heart the devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among the brethren.

Proverbs 13:3
He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

Proverbs 12:22
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

Proverbs 12: 18
There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.

These are just some of the verses that have spoken volumes to me. The moral to this story is, Yes, yes I can keep my mouth shut & it’s ok. It’s pretty much what God wants. I don’t have to comment on everything. I don’t have to have my ears open to gossip. I don’t have to pass judgment on someone else. I don’t have to keep the fire stoked with unkindness & bitterness. Proverbs is a wonderful reminder of what it takes to be moral & righteous. If you haven’t read over it in a while or at all, you should take time to read it. This book in the old testament is sure not to disappoint.

I hope my thoughts today have blessed you in some way. Go on over to Upward Not Inward & link up to Into the Word Wednesday. It is a wonderful link up where we tell what we have learned & what has inspired us, as we have been “into the word.” I hope everyone is having a wonderful Wednesday. Thanks for stopping by & visiting with me. I have to be going now, because I should be washing clothes!