II Timothy 3:1 – 4:22 (Continued)

May 29, 2013

From Jane's KJV:

Apostasy: "falling away" is the act of professed Christians who deliberately reject revealed truth. Apostasy differs from error concerning truth, which may be a result of ignorance, or heresy, which may be due to the snare of Satan, both of which may consist with true faith. Apostates depart from the faith, but not from the outward profession of Christianity. Apostasy in the church, as in Israel, is irremediable, and awaits judgment. Apostates reject the revealed truth: 1) as to the deity of Christ, and 2) redemption through His atoning and redeeming sacrifice.

From Life Lesson:

If you don't follow truth you are opening yourself up to following "false teachers who would tell them what (they) want to hear."

"The apostle Paul warned that many would follow the false teachers, not knowing that in feeding upon what these people say they are taking the devil's poison into their own lives. Thousands of people in every walk of life are being deceived today. False teachers use high sounding words that seem like the height of logic, scholarship, and sophistication. They are intellectually clever and crafty in their sophistry. They are adept at beguiling men and women whose spiritual foundations are weak... If Jesus Christ is not the son of God, nothing matters. But if he is, nothing else matters!" ~ From Storm Warning by Billy Graham

Next Entry: Titus 1:1 – 2:15

II Timothy 3:1 – 4:22

May 28, 2013

What a contrast between II Timothy 2 and 3. II Timothy 2 talks about what kind of life we should live, how God can use us, and what it looks like to be a worker who is pleasing to God. Then in II Timothy 3, Paul describes the person who is not a follower of God, and whose actions bring much trouble.

• Lovers of themselves
• Lovers of money
• Want what others have
• Brag; are boastful
• Proud
• Abusive
• Say evil things against others
• Will not obey (honor) parents
• Are not thankful
• Are not filled with gratitude
• Refuse to be the kind of person God wants
• Without empathy; does not love others
• Holds grudges; refuses to forgive; truce breakers
• Slanderous; false accusers
• Without self-control
• Cruel; brutal; fierce
• Despises those who are good
• Traitors; will turn against their friends
• Rash; acts without thinking
• Conceited; high minded
• It's all about them, not about God
• Will act as if they serve God, but do not

II Timothy 3:5b - "Stay away from those people. Have nothing to do with them." Paul goes on: These people are always learning new teachings but they are never able to understand truth fully... because "these people are against the truth. Their thinking has been ruined, and they have failed in trying to follow the faith. But they will not be successful in what they do... everyone will see that they are foolish." (From II Timothy 3:8–9. See Psalm 1 as a Cross Reference.)

Paul's description of the person who is not a follower of God is an accurate (in my opinion) line-by-line description of the person I now know my sister to be. I didn't fully come to terms with the truth until the carefully constructed facade cracked and the truth was slowly revealed from late 2006 to today. My sister is in her sixties, yet she is still holding grudges and still falsely accusing and still seeking to harm innocent people. You don't "grow" out of sinful behaviors. The exact opposite is true. The more you don't change your ways, the more ingrained into you the evil behavior becomes, and the more it becomes part of your DNA.

I hate writing the word "evil" and relating it to someone's actions (especially my sister's) but her actions exactly mirrors Paul's description of one who is against God. The truth is the truth whether I want to face it or not. I recognized some of the actions on the list prior to the blow up in late 2006. My response was almost always, "Oh, that's just ______ (my sister's name)." I was wrong to overlook and excuse her actions away. Sin is sin, regardless of how much you love the person, and I should have called it that and confronted her about it years before. When I finally did try to speak up about her obsession with my brother it did not go over well, and my bringing up her obsessions became part of the final breakdown in our relationship.

Scripture says it very clearly. "Stay away from those people. Have nothing to do with them." I am grateful to God for the forced separation their lawsuit and "the storm" has caused. It would have been really difficult for me to break free on my own. I would have felt like I was abandoning my sister and I would have tried to hang in there and "fix" the problem. I now understand that I can't fix it. There is only one thing that can fix it, and that is true personal repentance which brings about a new way of thinking, and a changed heart and life.

Our prayer for my sister and brother-in-law remains the same. LORD, may they understand that without you they are nothing, and may they desire nothing but you.

As believers we will experience hurt. Paul suffered, but the Lord saved him from his troubles and the message of Christ still went out. II Timothy 3:12–13 - "Everyone who wants to live as God desires, in Christ Jesus, will be hurt. But people who are evil and cheat others will go from bad to worse. They will fool others, but they will also be fooling themselves." How incredibly sad to think you are wise, when in reality you are not aware, and don't know or understand what truth and true wisdom is.

But for you who believe—continue on. You know what truth is. You know that salvation is found through faith in Christ. You know that you have everything you need in God's scripture. II Timothy 3:16–17 - "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training in righteousness so the man of God can be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

We have everything we need to navigate living in this world—and that is the Bible. Paul used his life as an example and tells Timothy:

• Preach the Good News
• Be ready at all times  
• Tell people the Truth about what is right and wrong
• Encourage others
• Have great patience
• Teach carefully
• Control yourself
• Accept troubles
• Do the work
• Tell the Good News
• Complete ALL the duties of a servant of God
• Give your life as an offering to God
• Fight the good fight
• Finish the race
• Keep the faith
• Receive the crown

Paul finishes his letter by telling about the people who helped him. Then he talks about Alexander the metal worker, who did many harmful things against him. II Timothy 4:14b - "The Lord will punish him for what he did." It is up to God to deal with those who wrong you. It is not your (or my) place to avenge or seek revenge. II Timothy 4:17–18 - "The Lord stayed with me and gave me strength so I could fully tell the Good News... So I was saved from the lion's mouth. The Lord will save me when anyone tries to hurt me, and he will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. Glory forever and ever be the Lord's. Amen."

And I say—Amen. God has saved us from the mouth of the lion as well. And, He will continue to save us.

Psalm 22:21 - Rescue me from the lion's mouth.
Psalm 58:6 - God, break the teeth in their mouths! Tear out the fangs of those lions, Lord!
Job 4:10,11 - Lions may roar and growl, but when the teeth of a strong lion are broken, that lion dies of hunger. The cubs of the lion are scattered.
II Thessalonians 3:3 - But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.


Next Entry: II Timothy 3:1 – 4:22 (Continued)

II Timothy 2:1–26 (Continued)

May 27, 2013

II Timothy 2:25–26 - "Then maybe God will let them change their minds so they can accept the truth. And they can wake up and escape from the trap of the devil, who catches them to do what he wants." The NIV says it this way, "... that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil who has taken them captive to do his will."

I want to be captive to the will of the Lord, not caught in the trap of the devil. To do that, you must stop doing wrong (turn away from) and you must follow Christ's true teaching (turn to).

"In a large house there are not only things made of gold and silver, but also things made of wood and clay. Some things are used for special purposes, and others are used for special jobs. All who make themselves clean from evil will be used for special purposes. They will be made holy, useful to the Master, ready to do any good work." II Timothy 2:20–21

God saves us → we make good choices → He uses us → we are made holy → we are useful to Him → we are ready to be used by Him → in whatever way He chooses. It is a progression of steps. It has to start with salvation. We must make good choices and follow His teachings. THEN we can be used by Him for special purposes. 

"And for you who make the journey—who leave the heap and enter the fire, dare to be pounded on God's anvil, and doggedly seek to discover your own purpose—take courage, for you await the privilege of being called, 'God's chosen instruments'." ~ From On the Anvil by Max Lucado

Next Entry: II Timothy 3:1 – 4:22 

II Timothy 2:1–26

May 24, 2013

Paul told Timothy to stand strong and to teach people he could trust the things Paul taught him. Then they will be able to teach others. II Timothy 2:2 - "People whom you can trust..." Not everyone will listen to you. People you cannot trust will take your words, twist them, take them out of context and use them to try to hurt you.

Been there... received that.

Paul tells them to be like a soldier, working hard to please the enlisting officer, sharing in the troubles, and realizing that everyday matters, really don't matter. He goes on and give the example of an athlete and how you have to obey the rules to win. If you try to falsely enhance who you are (through drugs, steroids, etc.) it is cheating, and when caught the prize is stripped from you.

God knows our hearts. We can't fool Him. What we do should not be to advance ourselves. All we do should bring honor and glory to HIS name. Even though people put Paul in prison and bound him with chains, it did not stop the message of Christ from going out. In fact, I believe it actually increased it.

We are bound by a lawsuit, but our testimonies and our opportunities to tell God's Story about His faithfulness has increased, and His message is going out. It has been an amazing thing to watch. Paul was bound in chains like a criminal, but "... God's teaching is not in chains. So I patiently accept all these troubles so that those whom God has chosen can have the salvation that is in Christ Jesus.  With that salvation comes glory that never ends." (II Timothy 2:9b–10)

It is not about me/us. It's about HIM and who HE wants to reach, and save, and grow because of the story HE has given us to tell.

"If we died with him, we will also live with him. If we accept suffering, we will also rule with him. If we refuse to accept him, he will refuse to accept us. If we are not faithful, he will still be faithful, because he cannot be false to himself." II Timothy 2:11–13

IF—THEN. Our choices have consequences—both good and bad.

II Timothy 2:14–15 - "Continue teaching... make every effort to give yourself to God as the kind of person he will accept. Be a worker who is not ashamed and who uses the true teaching in the right way." Stay away from foolish, useless teaching that only destroys. What is important—the true teachings of Christ—is what is important! Wandering from the truth and listening to foolish, useless teaching is dangerous. II Timothy 2:17 - "It spreads like sickness inside the body." It is a cancer of the soul and it destroys the faith of some people. 

But, the foundation of God is strong because it is built on truth. II Timothy 2:19 - "The Lord knows who belong to him." If you want to belong to the Lord you must stop doing wrong. Must! There is no other option. Run away from evil; try hard to live right; have faith, love, and peace; surround yourself with people who have the same foundation; stay away from stupid and foolish arguments because they only lead to trouble; be kind to everyone; be a good teacher; be patient; and gently teach those who disagree. Do all this so that those who are lost can see the truth, and the truth will set them free.  


Next Next: II Timothy 2:1–26 (Continued)

II Timothy 1:1–18

May 23, 2013

Use the gifts God gave you. It's all about personal responsibility. If you were raised in a home with people of faith that's great... but that isn't enough. It has to be your faith, and you are responsible for you. Make sure you grow your faith.

II Timothy 1:6b - "Now let it grow, as a small flame grows into a fire. God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid, but a spirit of power and love and self-control." So—tell others. Never be ashamed of your faith. By God's great grace we were saved and He is the one we believe in. That is why we tell the story. It is HIS story.  Faith doesn't grow by accident.  You need to follow His ways, protect His truth, and fan it into flame. When you do that you won't be able to keep the Gospel of Christ to yourself, and you will share it with others—no matter what.

In Paul's case, he was put in prison because of it. II Timothy 1:12 - "I am suffering now because I tell the Good News, but I am not ashamed because I know Jesus, the One in whom I have believed. And I am sure he is able to protect what he has trusted me with until that day."

Reading this chapter immediately brings to mind two different songs. One is a current praise song: "I'm not ashamed of the one who saved my soul." And the other is an old hymn with lyrics straight out of the KJV: "For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able, to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."


Next Entry: II Timothy 2:1–26

I Timothy 4:1 – 6:21 (Continued)

May 22, 2013

What is keeping you from surrendering? Why? What you give up to follow Christ doesn't satisfy you anyways. It is only when you surrender your all that you are truly free, happy, and blessed.

I Timothy 6:6 - "Serving God does make us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have."
I Timothy 6:7 - "We brought nothing into the world, so we can take nothing out."

So—why on earth do people stop at nothing to obtain wealth when whatever "pleasure" it can bring is only temporary? It is here today and gone tomorrow. Having money isn't the problem. It's why you want it; how you go about getting it; and what you do with it that determines if it is a problem.

1. Why do you want it? Don't say so you can give to charities, etc. That is a cop out and an attempt to mask and cover-up your own selfish desires. You already have what charities need the most—your time.
2. How do you go about getting it? Is it part of every thought and scheme? Do you cheat others to benefit yourself? Is it honest pay for an honest days work? Do you neglect other things (time with God, family, helping others) to get it? Do you lie? Is it ill-gotten?
3. What do you do with it? Do you hoard it? Is there ever enough? Are you obsessed with how to keep it and grow it? Do you share generously? Is your opinion about yourself linked with what you "have"? Is it "mine" or is it God's? Is it a tool to help others or is it so you can be independent (even of God) and help yourself?

I Timothy 6:9–10 - "Those who want to become rich bring temptation to themselves and are caught in a trap. They want many foolish and harmful things that ruin and destroy people. The love of money causes all kinds of evil. Some people have left the faith, because they wanted to get more money, but they have caused themselves much sorrow." NIV - "Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

Most people desire money so they can be in control of their own lives. But who is supposed to be in control? Us? Or God? Matthew 6:24–34 promises us God provisions. We are not to worry. We are to surrender to God as Lord. Paul goes on to say in I Timothy 6:17–19 - "Command those who are rich with things of this world not to be proud. Tell them to hope in God, not in their uncertain riches. God richly gives us everything to enjoy. Tell the rich people to do good, to be rich in doing good deeds, to be generous, and ready to share. By doing that, they will be saving a treasure for themselves as a strong foundation for the future. Then they will be able to have the life that is true life."

Trust in God, not riches. That is true if you don't have money but wish you did, and it is true if you already have riches. Riches have no eternal value. Trusting God has eternal value that is immeasurable. Our forefathers knew what they were doing when on our minted coins and printed bills they wrote, "In God We Trust"! They did not write "In this we trust." Blessed with riches? In God We Trust! Struggling with little? In God We Trust! I Timothy 6:8 - "But, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that." No matter what—In GOD We Trust!!

As believers we are to run away from false teachings and thinking wealth is what will make us happy. Instead, we are to run toward living in the right way, serving God, having faith, love, patience, and gentleness. We are to "fight the good fight of faith, grabbing hold of the life that continues forever." (I Timothy 6:12) We were called... and we answered that call. NOW DO! I Timothy 6:14 - "Do what you were commanded to do without wrong or blame until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again."

God is in control. He is the One and only God, the King of all kings, and the Lord of all lords. He is the One. May all honor and glory be His forever. Guard what God has trusted you with. Stay away from foolish, useless things and of so-called "knowledge." I Timothy 6:21 - "By saying they have that "knowledge," some have missed the true faith." It is not about what you know. It is about what God teaches you.

Reading that verse reminds me of something my sister said as we were driving them to the airport after their December '06 visit. At the time I just thought it was another one of her arrogant outrageous statements. Now we realize what she said was symptomatic of a much larger and deep-seated problem. Here is the exact quote. She said (speaking about herself and her husband), "We are on the cutting edge of everything." She was speaking about all the "knowledge" they thought they'd gained from attending "guru" boot camps. They paid thousands of dollars to be taught (in my opinion) how to manipulate people and the system. Here is what I totally missed back in 2006:

1. It was not just an arrogant statement, it was a reflection of what was at the core of her life—pride; 
2. They were willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars in order to gain "knowledge" from the world's perspective;
3. It was all about their desire to gain extreme wealth;
4. They bought into the lies and participated in the manipulation of others under the guise of "financial freedom."   

Goodness. Paul (God) says to stay away from foolish, useless things and of so-called "knowledge."

Addendum: 10/27/16 ~ At the end of this chapter I have written notes from a sermon at church. I unfortunately did not write down who the speaker was so I don't know who to attribute the statements to. I have written the following:

"God did not give us wealth to raise our standard of living but to raise our standard of giving."

That is a powerful, powerful statement and worthy of reading over multiple times. It is NOT about us and what we can get!! It is ALL about HIM and what we can give. I also have written:

 Of all the verses in the Bible: 500 +/- deal with Faith; 500 +/- deal with Prayer; and 2000 +/- deal with Money, Wealth, or Possessions. There are 38 Parables. Almost half of them (sixteen) are about wealth.

I Timothy 6:10 - Some people eager for money have wandered from the truth and pierced themselves with many griefs.

"Pierced themselves." What an ironic statement. The very thing they think is going to bring them happiness brings hurt instead. What they thought would bring happiness to "self" ends up causing "self-inflicted" wounds. Money, wealth, or possessions will NEVER bring lasting happiness. Happiness is not determined by what you have. Happiness only comes from surrendering and serving the Lord. 


Next Entry: II Timothy 1:1–18

I Timothy 4:1 – 6:21 (Continued)

May 21, 2013

Paul tells Timothy, "Do not listen to someone who accuses a (leader) without two or three witnesses." (I Timothy 5:19) The NIV says, "Do not entertain an accusation."

As we have learned, anyone can make any accusation they want. Even in our country's court system, and even if it is false. Paul is telling Timothy to be cautious. Make sure someone isn't making false accusations out of revenge, spite, or seeking ill-gotten gain, or for any false reason. He goes on to say that the sins of some people are obvious and easy to see. But some people have used carefully crafted facades to hide their motives and actions. So, be careful, but don't worry about it. What is carefully hidden will be revealed, judged, and dealt with.

The opposite is true as well. The person who lives their lives doing good will one day be rewarded. I Timothy 5:25 - "So also good deeds are easy to see, but even those that are not easily seen cannot stay hidden." Truth, whether it is for doing good or for hidden motives and behaviors, cannot stay hidden and will be revealed. We will all be held accountable for the choices we've made and the actions we've taken. When you've chosen to live your life obedient to God's teachings, that statement is calming and comforting. We aren't in charge, HE is. His promises are true and His justice will prevail.

False Teaching and True Riches.
That is the heading for I Timothy 6:3-21 in my Bible. There is one true way. ONE. And it is following the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. All of them. Not picking and choosing the parts we want to follow, but all of it. Not agreeing with all His teachings means you are disagreeing with His lordship and you have placed yourself as god.

I Timothy 6:4–5 - "This person is full of pride and understands nothing, but is sick with a love for arguing and fighting about words. (NIV - an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words.) This brings jealousy, fighting, speaking against others, evil mistrust, and constant quarrels from those who have evil minds and have lost the truth. They think that serving God is a way to get rich." They think it's all about them and what they want. They will strategize, manipulate, (or file lawsuits), anything to get what they want. Nothing is off limits. They do not agree with all God's teachings. They instead pick and choose and use His teachings as a way to promote and benefit themselves. They think—but they are blinded and cannot see truth. Paul makes it clear that Jesus Christ is not the Lord of that type of person.

Wide is the road to destruction, and narrow is the path to salvation. Salvation comes in no other way than agreeing with and following the true teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is not being narrow-minded. It is accepting the truth: Jesus is the only way.


Next Entry: I Timothy 4:1 – 6:21 (Continued)

I Timothy 4:1 – 6:21

May 20, 2013

I Timothy 4:1–2 - "Now the Holy Spirit clearly says that in the latter times some people will stop believing the faith" and follow other teachings that come "from the false words of liars whose consciences are destroyed as if by a hot iron." The NIV calls them "hypocritical liars." Don't fall for the lie! Stand strong in God's truth. 

I Timothy 1:8 - "Train yourself to serve God..." Training your physical body brings obvious health benefits to your body while on earth, but it does nothing for eternity. When we "train ourselves to serve God" it helps us in all ways by bringing blessings in this life and for eternity as well. I Timothy 4:10 - "This is why we work and struggle: We hope in the living God who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe."

Do what God has called you to do. Tell the story! Be an example with your words, your actions, your love, your faith, and your pure life. I Timothy 4:14 - "Use the gift you have..." Continue to do all these things. Give your life to doing them so everyone can see the difference it has made in your life. Be careful in your life and in your teaching. Don't fall... and don't fail. I Timothy 4:16b - "If you continue to live and teach rightly, you will save both yourself and those who listen to you."

What an awesome responsibility and opportunity!

Paul gives instructions on how we should care for others, especially our own family members. I Timothy 5:8 - "Whoever does not care for his own relatives, especially his own family members, has turned against the faith and is worse than someone who does not believe in God." Pretty appropriate to be reading this while barely keeping our heads above water while caring for first my husband's brother and now his Mom and Dad. Some people are really good at giving opinions on what should be done but are missing in action when there is actual work to do. We are exhausted, but we won't turn our backs on my husband's parents. We will continue to do what is right.

I wrote several weeks ago about the promise God gives for honoring your parents. Paul takes it even farther including other family members. Children and grandchildren have the duty to help take care of those who have gone before. I Timothy 5:4 - "... let them first learn to do their duty to their own family and to repay their parents and grandparents."

Paul talks about a widow who is truly alone and how she puts her faith and trust in God. A woman during Bible times had no means to make it on her own. If she didn't have family to help or if she didn't have a family that would help she was truly alone. In those cases the body of believers would step in to help her.

As I read through these verses I noticed something I'd somehow missed before. I'd totally missed that there were guidelines that had to be met before the church stepped in to help a widow. I always thought a widow was a widow, and help was automatic. But that wasn't the case at all. Widows who were younger than 60 were free to marry again. But if a widow was over the age of 60, there were certain qualifications that had to be met before she was eligible for help, and those guidelines all had to do with the widow's life choices.   

To qualify for help the widow had to be at least 60 years old; must have been faithful to her husband; must have been known for doing good works; been hospitable and welcoming to strangers; known for having a "serving" heart and humility; must have been the type of person who helped those in trouble and "the least of these"; and must have devoted her life to helping others and doing good deeds—which all boils down to someone who throughout their life was committed to serving the Lord and following HIS ways over their own selfish desires. And that person was taken care of by the church and therefore received God's blessings in their older years. But for the widow who did not follow God's ways the results were entirely different. She did not receive the help or God's blessings.

Our life choices DO matter. Accountability happens. It's the IF—THEN situations illustrated throughout the Bible which I have so often written about. I Timothy 5:6 - "But the widow who uses her life to please herself is really dead while she is alive."

We, as believers, have a responsibility to take care of the widows in our family. "If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should care for them herself. The church should not have to care for them. Then it will be able to take care of those who are truly widows." (I Timothy 5:16)

I am grateful for the choices we have made concerning my husband's brother and his now widowed wife; my Dad while he was living; my now widowed Mom; and my husband's parents.

Addendum: 10/19/2016 ~ How interesting to be writing about the care of widow's when I have just spent the last week trying to undo the hurt inflicted upon my mother after she received a letter from my sister. My sister is notorious for sending long (ten plus type written pages) letters to my Mom. She rarely ever actually talks to Mom, just long rambling letters with a $100 check enclosed on Mother's Day, Mom's birthday, and possibly Christmas.

Her last letter did what it was intended to do—hurt my Mom. After several pages of my sister rambling on about how wonderful and busy her life is, the accusations and not-so-veiled attacks began. You aren't friendly anymore; you have changed; you are absent in our lives; you should learn how to text; you've disappointed me; you've disappointed your grandson; even if we come to your area we probably won't come to see you again; if we don't come anymore it's your fault; and on and on. And then my sister told my Mom to respond to all these accusations by letter. Mom is 87 years old, blind in one eye, no longer enjoys writing because of the difficulty she has in seeing, and she is supposed to respond to my sister's viciousness in writing. 

The letter was obviously upsetting to my mother. Unfortunately, the letter came while we were gone and at our annual family outing in Brown County so I wasn't home to immediately help her. I call my Mom every night. When I called her from our cabin, I could tell something was wrong. She didn't want to tell me about it while we were gone, but she finally told me what happened and asked me to read it when I got home.

My sister's actions are just wrong on so many levels. Wrong and cruel. Mom is 87. Who does such cruel things? Even if my sister believes those things and even if all the things she was accusing Mom of were true (which they aren't!!), who says those kind of things to their 87 year old widowed mother? Who flies in from across the country or drives the several day trip from the western part of the United States and purposely NEVER tells Mom they are coming so they can arrive at her door unannounced? My sister and brother-in-law have done that to Mom many times, sometimes arriving late at night and expecting to stay (and be fed) at Mom's house. It is NOT for the purpose of giving my Mother a pleasant and welcomed surprise. It's rude. It's unacceptable. And it is calculated behavior to be in control and catch someone off guard. Who does that to anyone let alone your widowed mother who is in her 80's? Mom (understandably) isn't comfortable having house guests and cooking for others anymore. Especially with no notice, and especially when that person has been verbally abusive in the past and is not someone you share a warm relationship with. My Mom feels vulnerable, and I can completely understand.     

When I returned home from our vacation, I went to my Mom's and read the last pages of the letter. I called my brother over and we both reassured Mom that the accusations were false and not fair. Mom doesn't want $100 dollar checks for a birthday and Mother's day. What Mom wants is for her oldest daughter to treat her with love and respect. What Mom wants is for her oldest daughter to quit creating conflict in the family. What Mom wants is for my sister to get over her obsession with my brother and to stop her lawsuit attacks against me. That is what Mom wants. She doesn't want money. The best possible gift my sister could give to our elderly mother is a changed heart and life which in turn would remove the conflict from our family. 

I don't know when accountability happens, but it will happen. As for me and my house, we are going to continue to honor Mom with our words and actions. I will be there for her always. She (on her own) decided she should no longer be driving so I take her to all of her appointments and errands. Her mind is still sharp and she is still physically active, but I am noticing her beginning to get more and more frail. If there comes a day when she can no longer live alone, there is a plan in place. She is welcome in our home. We WILL take care of her. She is a blessing to us, and I want to be a blessing to her.


Next Entry: I Timothy 4:1 – 6:21 (Continued)

I Timothy 3:1–16

May 20, 2013

"Leaders must know God's Word and have a mature Christian lifestyle. Every Christian ought to pursue these characteristics. Leaders must already have them."  ~ From the Life Lesson in my NCV Bible.

In this chapter Paul lists the attributes of a leader. Leaders must:

• Not give people a reason to criticize them
• Have only one wife (spouse)
• Be self-controlled
• Be wise
• Be respected by others
• Ready to welcome guests
• Able to teach
• Not drink too much
• Not like to fight
• Be gentle
• Be peaceable
• Not seeking wealth
• Be a good family leader
• Have children who respect God
• Not be a new believer
• Have respect from people inside and outside the church
• Be sincere
• Be above approach
• Not be quarrelsome
• Not try to get rich by cheating others (dishonest gain)
• Keep and hold the truths of God
• Be tested
• Be bold in their faith 

"If the church can only be the church when it exists for others, then the Christian can only be truly Christian when he or she is willing to be emptied out for others. There are no harder words in all of Scripture than Jesus' commandment that we love one another as He loved us – which means love that lays down its life for another." ~ From The Body by Charles Colson.

Next Entry: I Timothy 4:1 – 6:21

I Timothy 1:1 – 2:15

May 19, 2013

Get rid of false teachings and focus on what is important—LOVE. I Timothy1:5 - "A love that comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a true faith." Paul goes on to talk about God's grace. He was the worst of the worst. He was "religious" but not a Christ follower. He was a religious unbeliever. But by God's grace he was saved and given the work of "serving him."

Serving God → serving others. We went straight from caring for my husband's terminally ill brother to caring for my husband's parents. I am exhausted and weary. I handle all his parent's medications (over fifteen different kinds each); arranged for and am the liaison for home health care; go to their house three times a day for his mother's insulin shots; handle all doctor calls and visits; develop and keep records to handle the results of their medications; do the grocery shopping; take them meals, etc. If you've ever been the caretaker for someone else you know what I am talking about. It is exhausting and overwhelming.

I always want to be sensitive to whatever it is that God is wanting me to do and I never want to stop doing the right thing just because I am tired. We have honored our Mothers' and Fathers' and we will continue to do so. But there comes a time when we are enabling and not "serving."  We are not honoring God if we don't speak truth and support lies no matter what the age of the person. We have had to confront some behavior issues which are not age related but good old fashioned sin and pride. God is slow to anger and has patience without limits, but He is never "done" with us and we are never given a pass to no longer be obedient just because we are 87 and 86.

We are to fight the good fight to the end. We are to die to self and live for Christ to the end. We are to understand that God is God and we are not to the end. It is not about us!  It is ALL about Him—to the end.

"To the King that rules forever, who will never die, who cannot be seen, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." I Timothy 1:17

There is only one way to God—Christ. We can choose to love God—OR—love self. It can't be both. We either die to sin or we don't.  


Next Entry: I Timothy 3:1–16

II Thessalonians 2:1 – 3:18

May 16, 2013

Stand strong and wait for the Lord. And until that happens—be productive and make a difference.

We are living in a sinful world. Evil will happen. And it is going to get worse... much worse. Prophecy tells us that during the end times the Holy Spirit will be removed and Satan and his forces will have full reign for a period of time. As evil as the world is now with the Holy Spirit and Christians still present, it is unimaginable to even fathom what it will be like during that period of time. Thank you, Lord for salvation from sin and from the evil one. II Thessalonians 3:3–5 - "But the Lord is faithful and will give you strength and will protect you from the Evil One... may the Lord lead your hearts into God's love and Christ's patience."

Paul asked the people of Thessalonica to pray for him. II Thessalonians 3:2 - "Pray that we will be protected from stubborn and evil people, because not all people believe." When you stand for something you will be a target from those who stand for nothing. And if you don't stand for something, you are at risk of falling for anything. But when you are the target, God is faithful and He does protect you. II Timothy 4:17 - "But the Lord stayed with me and gave me strength so I could fully tell the Good News to all those who are not Jews. So I was saved from the mouth of the lion."

That is our testimony as well.

• The Lord stayed with me
• He gave me strength
• I need to tell others
• I am saved from the mouth of the lion

God is faithful. Our hope is in HIM.

Addendum: 10/6/16 ~ Another reference to being saved "from the mouth of the lion." The story of Daniel gives us a visual picture of what it means to be saved "from the mouth of the lion." God literally prevented the harm intended for him. I've written before how God totally protected us and prevented the harm intended for us when we put our heads "in the mouth of the lion." But today, as I was writing about Paul describing it as "the mouth of the lion," I started to think about the lion, and what God truly protected him (and us) from.

We've all heard it said that the lion is the King of the Jungle. From a safe distance a lion appears beautiful and magnificent with its large stature and thick flowing mane. But looks can be deceiving. A lion is NOT a gentle giant. A lion uses its size and even its beautiful mane to intimidate those around it. A lion uses its roar (which can be heard up to five miles away) to assert power, intimidate, and control. A lion's claws are hidden until it is ready to attack... and attack it does. A lion sneaks up on his prey; it crouches down; it hides; and it patiently waits until his unsuspecting target gets closer, and then it attacks. A lion is a flesh eating and destroying carnivore. It uses its four long and sharp canine teeth to rip through the skin. The smaller front teeth are used to grip and hold onto its prey while the sharp teeth in the back of the mouth are used to cut through the flesh like a serrated knife. The attack is vicious, relentless, and deadly. Wow! And THAT is what God saved Paul (and Daniel and many others) from, and is an accurate description for what God has us from.

Job 4:10–11 - "Lions may roar and growl, but when the teeth of a strong lion are broken, that lion dies of hunger. The cubs of the mother lion are scattered."


Next Entry: I Timothy 1:1 – 2:15

II Thessalonians 1:1–12

May 16, 2013

God's judgment. People may try to live and act as if there is no such thing as God's judgment, but that doesn't change the facts: there is a God; He is just; and there will be a judgment day.

The people of Thessalonica were under attack. They were being treated badly and were suffering many troubles. But while all this was happening, their faith was growing more and more, and their love for each other increased. The way they were being treated and the suffering they endured was "proof that God is right in his judgment." (II Thessalonians 1:5)

Sounds crazy doesn't it? Americanized Christianity implies or teaches us that God just wants to give us our hearts desire (everything we want) and bless our socks off. He does bless! But it is through the trials, troubles, and suffering when we learn it is not about us—it is ALL about Him. It is through HIM we are blessed and found worthy. II Thessalonians 1:5 - "He wants you to be counted worthy of his kingdom for which you are suffering." The next sentence says it all. II Thessalonians 1:6a - "God will do what is right."

Vengeance is not ours! Vengeance is God's, and HE will do what is right.

Paul goes on, "He will give trouble to those who trouble you." (II Thessalonians 1:6b) The NIV says he will "pay back trouble" and the KJV says that he will "recompense tribulation." God will decide what is right and He will do what is right. WooHoo!! How freeing is that? It is not up to us! It is up to God, and HE-will-do-what-is-right. There will come a day when judgment happens.

When we say we want my sister and brother-in-law held accountable for their actions against us (and many other people), we are not saying that out of any sort of anger or revenge. It is because we understand there will come a time when eternal judgment happens. And because we understand the seriousness of eternal judgment, we want them to be held accountable now. We want them to have the opportunity to repent and change their hearts and lives now. It is because of our love and concern for them that we pray they will be held accountable for their actions now.

"God will do what is right. He will give trouble to those who trouble you. And he will give rest to you who are troubled and to us also when the Lord Jesus appears with burning fire from heaven with his powerful angels. Then he will punish those who do not know God and who do not obey the Good News about our Lord Jesus Christ. Those people will be punished with a destruction that continues forever. They will be kept away from the Lord and from his great power. This will happen on the day when the Lord Jesus comes to receive the glory because of his holy people. And all the people who have believed will be amazed at Jesus. You will be in that group because you believed what we told you." II Thessalonians 1:6–10

Do good things and perform the works that come from your faith. Do all these things so that the glory of Christ is in you and you will have glory in Him. Then the things we do will bring honor and glory to Him.

As I was writing today I was thinking about the absurdity of thinking we can do whatever we want because of God's grace and that all He wants to do is bless us. By believing that falsehood, you minimize the awfulness of everything Christ went through so we could be saved by His blood offering for us. How does that compute? Jesus' death would have been totally unnecessary. God most certainly could have come up with a different plan if it didn't matter how we lived our lives and He just wanted to "bless" us and give us "things." Jesus suffered for us. Jesus' death was a drastic defining moment. When we accept the price Jesus paid to redeem our lives there should be a drastic defining change in our lives. To "use" Jesus as an escape from hell method without changing our lives to be like His, is an abuse of the gift He paid for with His life.

He is either Lord of everything or we are trying to use Him by accepting His grace while still remaining lord over our own life. You can't have two lords. He is either LORD and we are obeying His teachings; or we are our own lord and we are attempting to use Him to get what we want. It is one or the other. It cannot be both. And there will come a day when truth will be revealed. "God will do what is right Judgment WILL happen.

It is not a matter of "if."  It is a matter of "when."  Our prayer is that accountability (for ourselves and all of our loved ones) happens here on earth while there is still time for repentance and change. 


Next Entry: II Thessalonians 2:1 – 3:18

I Thessalonians 4:1 – 5:28

May 15, 2013

"God wants us to be holy and does not want us to live in sin. So the person who refuses to obey this teaching is disobeying God, not simply a human teaching." I Thessalonians 4:7–8

People somehow do not reconcile the truth of that statement with their actions. If you are not obeying God's teaching, you are in fact disobeying God himself. You are literally shaking your fist in the face of God.

One of His teachings is to have love for your brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to do all we can to live a peaceful life with each other. You cannot have selfish desire, greed, deceit, revenge, etc. and love at the same time. Cannot. We are not to be thinking only about ourselves, we are to look out for the best interest of others as well. We are to take care of our own business and do our own work. We are to live in peace. We are to help warn and guide other people. We are to encourage others in their faith. We are to help those who are weak. We are to be patient with each other. We are to make sure that no one seeks revenge or tries to pay back wrong with wrong. We are to do what is good for each other and all people. We are to always be joyful. We are to pray continually. We are to give thanks—no matter what. 

I Thessalonians 5:18 - "This is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus." To refuse his teaching, or to do anything less, is to shake our fist in the face of God. I choose to follow His teachings.

These chapters are also a part of prophecy. Jesus is coming again and those who have already died will rise first. (Dad, MaMaw... you will all be going first!) After that, those believers "who are still alive will be gathered up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." (I Thessalonians 4:17)  I can't help but sing: "What a day that will be, when my Jesus I will see, when he takes me by the hand and leads me to the promised land... what a day glorious day that will be."

So—Be ready. You are children of the light, so live like it. I Thessalonians 5:8 - "We belong to the day, so we should control ourselves. We should wear faith and love to protect us, and the hope of salvation should be our helmet." (Psalm 140:7 - "O Sovereign Lord, our strong Deliverer who shields our heads in the day of battle...) God provided for our salvation through His Son Jesus. He died for us so we can live for Him. So, we should encourage each other; always be joyful; pray continually; and give thanks whatever happens. Don't hold back. Don't treat prophecy as unimportant. Test everything. Keep what is good and stay away from everything that is evil.

I Thessalonians 5:23–24 - "Now may God himself, the God of peace, make you pure, belonging only to him. May your whole self—spirit, soul, and body—be kept safe and without fault when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. You can trust the One who calls you to do that for you."

We do trust Him. He is our rock. He is our salvation. 

My life verses:

Psalm 32:8 - I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you and watch over you.

Hosea 14:8 - I the Lord, am the one who answers your prayers and watches over you. I am like a green pine tree, your blessings come from me.

In Jane's KJV she has the following parallels between John 14 and I Thessalonians 4:16–18 written:

I will come again → The Lord himself shall descend (not an angel)
And receive you unto myself → Then we which are alive... in the air
Where I am there ye may be also → So shall we ever be with the Lord
Let not your heart be troubles → Wherefore comfort one another

Psalm 17:15 - I shall be satisfied
Isaiah 53:11 - He shall be satisfied

From Life Lesson:

"The end will come. For those who live for this world, that's bad news. But for those who live for the world to come, it's an encouragement. You're on a land mine, my friend, and it's only a matter of time: 'For in this world you will have trouble...' Next time you are tossed into a river as you ride the rapids of life, remember his words of assurance. Those who endure will be saved. The gospel will be preached. The end will come. You can count on it." ~ From The Angels Were Silent by Max Lucado

Ephesians 4:28 - Those who are stealing must stop stealing and start working. They should earn an honest living for themselves. Then they will have something to share with the poor.

WORK—not to amass things. WORK—so you can give!! 


Next Entry: II Thessalonians 1:1–12

I Thessalonians 2:1 – 3:13

May 14, 2013

Paul's testimony is found in I Thessalonians 2:2–10. The summary of Paul's testimony is the same as ours.

Our God helped us to be brave. We were insulted and people were against us. But! God helped us to be brave. We went through the fire. God tested us. But in the end, God trusted us to tell His story. We have no ulterior motives, no selfish desires, no wish for monetary gain, no desire for human praise. God's story has nothing to do with us—and it has everything to do with HIM. We've lived our lives in a right and honest way. People who know us, KNOW this. God knows our hearts and He knows we have clean hands.  

God used Paul to get out His message. The people understood that while the words were coming from Paul's lips, it was actually the word of God. It was God's message for those who believed. God used Jane in the same way. He used Jane's lips to give us His message—scripture—the very words of God.

The people of Thessalonica were under attack from their own people, but they stood strong, and their steadfast faith was an encouragement to all who knew them.

"...While we have much trouble and suffering, we are encouraged about you because of your faith. Our life is really full if you stand strong in the Lord. We have so much joy before our God because of you. We cannot thank him enough for all the joy we feel." I Thessalonians 3:7–9

God uses ALL things to bring about His will. No matter what your circumstance, you can have God-given joy, even if the journey you are on takes you through the fire.

Through it ALL–STAND STRONG!

Addendum: 10/18/16 ~ God uses people to get HIS message out. God used Paul and the other writers of the Bible to tell HIS story. God used Jane to teach us HIS truths and promises by using scripture. And now we know the way God wants us to tell our story of HIS faithfulness—HIS very own words from Genesis to Revelations recorded while I was reading and writing my personal thoughts in my journals. Amazing.

LORD – What Am I to Do?;
The LORD Answers!;
I Didn't Know—BUT GOD DID!!


Next Entry: I Thessalonians 4:1 – 5:28

I Thessalonians 1:1–10

May 14, 2013

Paul's message to the people of Thessalonica (and God's message to all of us): Continue strong; your hope comes from Christ; God loves you; you were chosen by him. You've suffered much, but you've accepted all He is teaching you with the joy that can only come from the Holy Spirit. Because you surrendered your will to His, you've become an example for others and what the Lord is teaching you has spread. Because of this your faith in God has become known everywhere. You've done your part, so now wait. Wait for God's Son to come from heaven. Continue strong. Wait!

"I have found that the casual Christian has little or no influence upon others. I am finding that it is only the Christian who refuses to compromise in matters of honesty, integrity and morality who is bearing an effective witness for Christ. The worldly Christian is prepared to do as the world does and will condone practices which are dishonest and unethical because he is afraid of the world's displeasure. Only by a life of obedience to the voice of the Spirit, by daily dying to self, by a full dedication to Christ and constant fellowship with Him, are we able to live a godly life and have a positive influence in this present ungodly world." ~ From Unto the Hills by Billy Graham  

Addendum: 10/17/16 ~ "Because of this..."  Because is a theme that runs throughout scripture. The people of Thessalonica had a testimony to share because they were faithful and totally surrendered to God's teaching and His Will even though they suffered much. We have the story of Daniel standing strong in his faith because he was betrayed and falsely accused. Because. It is often BECAUSE. It is the same in our situation as well. We have a story to tell because of the betrayal by loved ones and their subsequent filing of this lawsuit. "Because of this..." HIS story is going out in a way I could never have imagined. 

Don't try to avoid the "because" situations in your life and don't waste any time regretting them. It is often those very situations that God uses to bring honor and glory HIS name.


Next Entry: I Thessalonians 2:1 – 3:13