Don't Second Guess God

Psalm 119:93(MSG)
But I'll never forget the advice You gave me; You saved my life with those wise words.

Oh my goodness...this verse! 

I have been thinking a great deal as of late, about where I would be in my life without the comforting and wise words of the Lord. Yesterday, I mulled over the simple nuggets of counsel that I found in Proverbs chapters 30 & 31. It's such a gift to have the words of a sage scrolled succinctly across the page; timeless advice inspired by God that is as applicable today as it was when it was penned.

SweeTango Apple (Photo credit to SweeTango)

After reading today's headlines and reviewing last night's presidential debate, I found the words of Proverbs to be even more comforting. Why? Because it seems that the human condition is not new. We humanoids have always struggled. Ever since Eve took that tiny bite of a SweeTango apple, (my favorite apple on planet earth...but I digress) we have been burdened with the temptations of our flesh. 

The difference maker in every situation, however, appears to be in how we respond to the challenges that are laid before us. Will we react in anger when provoked? Will we cower down in the corner when the road looks uphill and rocky? Will we repeat the good and bad parts of history...or understand and learn from the bad decisions that have been made in the past and imitate those choices that have brought life to our lives? Will we "Speak up for the people who have no voice, for the rights of all the down-and-outers. Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute!" as it states in Proverbs 31:8-9.

This is my sister (right) and I after completing some gardening
on her beautiful property this past summer.

Good stuff to ponder, eh? Here's the good news~better news~best news: The pressure is off of us; We don't have to bear it; Thankfully, it's not in our own strength to handle this messy life, but in the power of Christ as we seek Him and put Him first in every situation. Sounds simple enough doesn't it? It is easy...until the healing doesn't come. Or the child is taken from you. Or the husband leaves you alone with children and bills. Or the boss fires you. Or...(fill in the blank). 

After fifty years of life, it has become increasingly difficult to understand the ways of God. I do not have the answers, I only have the trust and faith that my Lord is real and very much seated at the right hand of God today....interceding on behalf of each one of His children. I believe that He is washing away our dirty sins and preparing us for a "Wonderful Life" (my favorite movie...but I digress again) with Him in our eternal home. 

So, in closing...I leave you with the words of Agur Ben Jakeh, the writer of Proverbs 30. Chapters 30 and 31 of the book of Proverbs are considered to be prophecies and because they were canonized it is assumed that they are indeed the inspired words of God Himself. These very verses really do have the potential to "save lives", as Psalm 119:93 states. It is my prayer that I will never second guess my God....on any matter. I pray I will never turn from His hand of direction. I am begging Christ to shine His love through my life, so that I will always bring honor and glory to His Holy name.

Proverbs 30:1-6(MSG)

The skeptic swore, "There is no God! No God! I can do anything I want! I'm more animal than human; so-called human intelligence escapes me. I flunked 'wisdom.' I see no evidence of a holy God. Has anyone ever seen Anyone climb into Heaven and take charge? Grab the winds and control them? Gather the rains in His bucket? Stake out the ends of the earth? Just tell me his name, tell me the names of his sons. Come on now-tell me!"

The believer replied, "Every promise of God proves true; He protects everyone who runs to Him for help. So don't second guess Him."

The Lord Of All lords

Psalm 136:3(MSG)
Thank the Lord of all lords.  His love never quits.

I saw a bumper sticker this morning while I was driving my son to his job.  It read:  Loving Kindness Is My Religion.  That made me sad and I have been thinking about this most of the day.  I noticed that the driver looked very tired as she stared ahead with her elbow resting on the edge of the window.  I wondered if she had completely worn herself out trying to work for His love or for the approval of others.  At first the statement sounded kind of ok....you know...helping people, that must be good, right?  But then when I pair it with today's verse, I recognize that a statement like this really diminishes what Christ did for me on the cross.  I realize that in this chapter, Psalm 136, God is listing the ways that He has shown His love to us.  Right here at the top of the list rests the number one act that reveals that amazing love....and we can't earn it....it's a gift!

John 3:16-18(MSG)
"This is how much God loved the world:  He gave His son, His one and only Son.  And this is why:  so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him anyone can have a whole and lasting life.  God didn't go to all the trouble of sending His Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was.  He came to help, to put the world right again.  Anyone who trusts in Him is acquitted;  anyone who refuses to trust Him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it.  And why?  Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to Him.

Our acts of kindness are not the way to eternal life....they are the evidence of Him living in us.  Our belief and faith in Christ is the only way to an abundant life here on earth and an everlasting spot in heaven.  I guess if I were to put a bumper sticker on my car it might read:   Loving Kindness Is My Response 

I am thanking God right now....as the verse says....for His incredible gift of His son and our Lord!!  I am also praying that the sweet lady in that car today might know how much Christ loves her and find rest and peace in Him, not in her works.

This is my daughter kindly feeding "Anna-Belle" a sweet blade of grass.

The Path To Righteousness

Proverbs 3:33 (ESV)
The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.


Ok...I'm going to be exclusively honest here and share with you that at a quick glance, this verse scares me!  I mulled it over most of the day.