Are you on the fence? Are you lukewarm? Do you try to stand in the place of neutrality? Do you find yourself saying, "I'm not real sure how I feel about that. I don't know if I'm for or against it?"
God tells us in plain language that we are either for Him or against Him. We either believe in Him or we don't (John 3:18). He also tells us how He feels about lukewarm Christians sitting on a fence (Revelation 3:16).
Ultimately, it does not really matter if you are for or against something (abortion, lying, adultery, etc.). Your job is to find out where God stands on the issue. If God hates divorce and you love God, you hate divorce. My own personal experience is filled with things that God hates. It makes me want to cry. But God is faithful to forgive. (Thank You, Lord God.) He is faithful to use those that love Him for His purpose. He is faithful to heal. He is wonderful. He is the everlasting God. Daily we are called to take up our cross, bring our flesh under control, love the things that God loves and hate the sin that God hates. We are not to be bench warmers on the fence. If God hates divorce, do everything you can to keep it from your marriage. If you must divorce, remember that God loves you so much that He gave His only Son that You might have everlasting life. Seek God's forgiveness. Then, do everything you can to keep divorce away from this point forward. But, don't waver in the middle. That is just sickening. Be hot or cold about homosexuality, idolatry, covetousness, etc. Just don't ride the fence.
(Father God, help me to always recognize and stand on your side. And, when I fail, Father, please forgive me. Thank you for making your position clear through your Word. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)
Showing posts with label cold. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cold. Show all posts
Monday, December 27, 2010
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Feathered Refuge - Author Unknown
(This is a devotional given to me by a friend many years ago. I wish I knew who wrote it so that I could credit them properly.)
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Psalm 91:4
Living in the extreme ends of the earth, emperor penguins are the only warm-blooded creatures to live in the coldest reaches of the Antarctic in July, the worst part of their perpetual winter. The climate is most inhospitable. They live in close huddles numbering into the thousands. To retain enough warmth for survival, they shuffle continually, taking each their turn on both the inside and the outside of the circle.
When the mother penguin has laid her egg, she will leave. She goes to feed in the cold sea water, waddling long distances over the ice to do so.
Meanwhile, the father balances the egg on top of his shuffling webbed feet. There it rests, swaddled under an "apron" of fine feathers. No matter how bitter the cold around him, the temperature there holds at precisely 98.6 degrees F. After sixty-five days the baby chick hatches. Should it accidentally fall from its low perch and out of the warmth, it would last only two minutes in the intense cold. It remains in its warm covert until the climate takes a turn, and the temperature inches up to a more moderate level.
After awhile the mothers return well fed, now able to feed each one their own fledgling with regurgitated fish. Next it is the fathers' turn to go and feast.
When a little older the youngsters gather in large groups in a bird-kind of daycare. It is warmer by now, the water closer. When the mothers return from fishing, they look for their babies. Among all the thousands of chicks, they find each their own by the sounds they make.
I thought about God's plan for us when I read of the penguins. We, too, live in an inhospitable cold world. Here our young are born, and here is where we raise them. As innocent children, their souls are safely in the Father's keeping, sheltered under the feathers of His grace.
But parents need to forage for food. No matter how cold the sea, we must feed on the Word so we have the right diet for our children. Unless we nurture the spirit within us, we have nothing to give them. We need to make God's word digestible for them. Breaking the truths we have been shown into small enough pieces, they can assimilate them better.
Penguins are equipped to live in cold climates. The Creator has seen to that. But one penguin alone could not survive the winter. They need a huddle, just like we need the church. However, no matter how large the grouping, if the penguins would not keep moving, they could hardly survive. Should believers become inert and frozen, having left the warm wings of God, they cause the death of many others.
Today I want to keep close under His wings. Hiding there, His life within me, I want to feast on His word. If I don't, I will have nothing to feed "my young."
(Father God, thank you for reminding me of the care You put into all of your creation. Thank you for sheltering me, feeding me, and warming me through the harsh winters of my life. I pray that I might not forget the things You have shown me and that I would show them to my own. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.)
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Psalm 91:4
Living in the extreme ends of the earth, emperor penguins are the only warm-blooded creatures to live in the coldest reaches of the Antarctic in July, the worst part of their perpetual winter. The climate is most inhospitable. They live in close huddles numbering into the thousands. To retain enough warmth for survival, they shuffle continually, taking each their turn on both the inside and the outside of the circle.
When the mother penguin has laid her egg, she will leave. She goes to feed in the cold sea water, waddling long distances over the ice to do so.
Meanwhile, the father balances the egg on top of his shuffling webbed feet. There it rests, swaddled under an "apron" of fine feathers. No matter how bitter the cold around him, the temperature there holds at precisely 98.6 degrees F. After sixty-five days the baby chick hatches. Should it accidentally fall from its low perch and out of the warmth, it would last only two minutes in the intense cold. It remains in its warm covert until the climate takes a turn, and the temperature inches up to a more moderate level.
After awhile the mothers return well fed, now able to feed each one their own fledgling with regurgitated fish. Next it is the fathers' turn to go and feast.
When a little older the youngsters gather in large groups in a bird-kind of daycare. It is warmer by now, the water closer. When the mothers return from fishing, they look for their babies. Among all the thousands of chicks, they find each their own by the sounds they make.
I thought about God's plan for us when I read of the penguins. We, too, live in an inhospitable cold world. Here our young are born, and here is where we raise them. As innocent children, their souls are safely in the Father's keeping, sheltered under the feathers of His grace.
But parents need to forage for food. No matter how cold the sea, we must feed on the Word so we have the right diet for our children. Unless we nurture the spirit within us, we have nothing to give them. We need to make God's word digestible for them. Breaking the truths we have been shown into small enough pieces, they can assimilate them better.
Penguins are equipped to live in cold climates. The Creator has seen to that. But one penguin alone could not survive the winter. They need a huddle, just like we need the church. However, no matter how large the grouping, if the penguins would not keep moving, they could hardly survive. Should believers become inert and frozen, having left the warm wings of God, they cause the death of many others.
Today I want to keep close under His wings. Hiding there, His life within me, I want to feast on His word. If I don't, I will have nothing to feed "my young."
(Father God, thank you for reminding me of the care You put into all of your creation. Thank you for sheltering me, feeding me, and warming me through the harsh winters of my life. I pray that I might not forget the things You have shown me and that I would show them to my own. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.)
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Thankful for ...
... a car that fits in the garage so that I don't have to scrape the ice off of it in the mornings.
... a garage big enough to fit my extra stuff and the car.
... four walls and a roof to a house that protects me from the wind, ice and other elements.
... enough food to keep me from going hungry.
... a big warm coat to wear if I just have to get outside in the winter.
Yes, they may seem like small things to some people but on days like today I really am grateful that they all exist in my life. I'm just not an overall fan of cold weather. I have a tendency to curl up in front of the TV with chips and soda to eat and a blanket to keep me warm. I'd build a fire if it meant that I didn't have to get out from under the blanket. Winter depresses me. I realize that I would not appreciate the warm weather if I never had the cold to compare it too. I know me. I'd take that warm weather for granted. It's odd that I would be so attracted to penguins based on my aversion to being cold. I adore all the penguins but the ones that live in the harshest, coldest climates fascinate me. I'll tell you more about that another time.
I'm glad you stopped by to observe the ramblings of a simple mind. See you next time.
... a garage big enough to fit my extra stuff and the car.
... four walls and a roof to a house that protects me from the wind, ice and other elements.
... enough food to keep me from going hungry.
... a big warm coat to wear if I just have to get outside in the winter.
Yes, they may seem like small things to some people but on days like today I really am grateful that they all exist in my life. I'm just not an overall fan of cold weather. I have a tendency to curl up in front of the TV with chips and soda to eat and a blanket to keep me warm. I'd build a fire if it meant that I didn't have to get out from under the blanket. Winter depresses me. I realize that I would not appreciate the warm weather if I never had the cold to compare it too. I know me. I'd take that warm weather for granted. It's odd that I would be so attracted to penguins based on my aversion to being cold. I adore all the penguins but the ones that live in the harshest, coldest climates fascinate me. I'll tell you more about that another time.
I'm glad you stopped by to observe the ramblings of a simple mind. See you next time.
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