Uncompromisingly Righteous

When to compromise? That's my question for today.

I have a dear brother who has taken it upon himself to be an encourager for me which is another story as to why I would need my own cheering section. Anyway, the other day he sent me a text and all it said were some chapters in Psalms. As I guess any good encourager knows, he gave me only the number of the chapter and not any verses because then I have to look up the chapter myself and then listen to see what encouragement the Lord has for me this day. Are you with me so far?

I have the Amplified Bible on my phone so whipped it out and looked up the first scripture which was Psalm 34. I was reading along when the neon word showed up! Does your scripture have neon words? It's not really neon of course but it's when the Lord wants you to really see it and really take notice. Beginning in verse 14 "Depart from evil and do good; seek, inquire for, and crave peace and pursue (go after) it! 15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the (UNCOMPROMISINGLY) righteous and His ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 When the RIGHTEOUS cry for help, the Lord hears, and delivers them out of their distress and troubles."

Okay, I'm having trouble with that word UNCOMPROMISING. Do you struggle with this too? When is it okay and when is it not okay... that's the basic dilemma. I want His eyes and ears to be open to me! I want Him to hear my cry and deliver me! BUT... am I uncompromisingly righteous?

I know it's only through the blood of Jesus that I have ANY righteousness. He is righteousness for me. But the scripture says His eyes are toward the uncompromisingly righteous. It looks like there is a distinction doesn't there.

After I became a believer in Jesus I attended a very legalistic church. If you looked at me then and now, I would look like I have compromised a lot. But, I don't think I have on the inside! I know at the age of 58 I give a lot of people more grace than I did back then including myself. What really matters and what doesn't? Do you ever wonder about that? The election "stuff" is already beginning. What matters and what doesn't? In relationships? What matters and what doesn't?

I guess bottom line is what about things pertaining to God? Am I compromising on things I would have not compromised on in the past? Are you? Even as I write this He is showing me things that I really don't want to see. In trying to be a "good Christian" am I compromising on important things? In trying to be a "blessed peacemaker" am I compromising?

When do I act and when do I stay quiet? When do I speak out and when do I keep quiet?

Thanks for listening! I hope you've been made aware of some things also.

With love & hugs,
Janet

Lord,
Show us where we have compromised. Help us Lord to take a stand on what's important to You. I love you Lord! Amen

Not Martha Again!

Lately I've been busy like I know many of you are. In thinking about my busy life I looked to the scriptures to tell me about busy. Well, one of the first ones I found was Luke 10:40 "But Martha (overly occupied and too busy) was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me (to lend a hand and do her part along with me)!" AMP

I don't know about you but I get tired of poor, old Martha being brought up every time we talk about busy. Is it because it hits too close to home? I really, really want to say "no, uh-uh, not me"! But, if I'm going to be honest I have to say "yes".

This past weekend I was talking to a dear friend is Israel. She was discussing some of the problems in their congregation. She said believers in Israel need to learn that their lives have to have the right priorities - God, family, their congregation and then free time. I sat right there with the phone to my ear and agreed with her. Not long after that is when the "niggling" started.
Have you ever had something to start "niggling" in your brain until you have to sit down and think it through.

Look where she placed free time... after congregation! To believers in Israel their congregation and the people in their congregation are very important. It is not like in the western world. There are not churches on every street corner. The people there meld and become family. They truly love each other. They work through problems. They help each others with their needs.

I had to start asking myself some hard questions:
~ Have I missed being a good mother/grandmother because of the busy-ness of ministry?
~ Have I missed talking to someone or helping someone because of my busy-ness?
~ Do people think I am unapproachable because they think I am too busy?

Once again the Lord has gently reminded me that I need to stop being so blasted busy! I want sit at His feet and listen... just listen. One problem that goes along with busy-ness is that we usually talk too much. The Lord doesn't have time to say anything to us when we only stop long enough to take a breath because we are already working on the next day/week/month or project/lesson or ________ you fill in the blank.

I hope you will stop this week and sit at Jesus feet and just listen. Listen to what He says about your priorities. Listen to what He says about the people in your congregation or on your street or at the grocery store or the person on the phone or the person who cuts you off in traffic. God has A LOT to say if we will get quiet and listen.

With love & hugs,
Janet

PS... my quick search for the word "busy" only brought up a list of 10 and none of them were good! I encourage you to search on your own and see what the Lord has for you.