The Clean Stable

As I was reading Proverbs 14, I came across verse four, "Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest." I thought the verse so interesting that I really wanted to find a good interpretation, so I googled it. I found, "The only clean stable is an empty stable. So if you want the work of an ox and to enjoy an abundant harvest, you'll have a mess or two to clean up." 
     I have always thought God has a sense of humor, and I found this scripture verse funny because when I have a job to do, it becomes my focus, whether sewing, quilting, or yard projects, and all other areas of my life get messy, especially my house keeping. Sounds like a good excuse to me for a dirty house. 

     On another note, I think God may be telling us to get up out of the easy chair and get to work in order to enjoy an abundant crop of blessings without expecting free handouts.  

My scripture to memorize this week is Psalm 119:11 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." 

Prayer of Jabez

 I mentioned the Lord's Prayer yesterday. There are just some prayers that stand out once they are pointed out. One of my favorites is the prayer of Jabez. I don't believe I would ever have locked into it had I not read Bruce Wilkinson's book, The Prayer of Jabez. This prayer is located in 1 Chronicles 4:10, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain."  I am not sure I remember correctly Wilkerson's  four points to this prayer but I use it as follows: 

1. Pray for blessings for self.
2. Enlarge my territory (This one is hard for me. I am afraid God will give me a job or deed to do which I dread or am unwilling to do.)
3. Let your hand be with me so I do not hurt or injure another in word or deed 
4. Keep Satan away  

The Model Prayer

God gives us the model prayer in Matthew 6: 9-13. In breaking it down I see a few good points:
1. We know to whom we speak and are giving God our adoration. 
2. We are asking for God's will.
3. We are expressing our needs.
4. We are asking for forgiveness.

5. We are asking that we do not fall under the influence of Satan's ways

6. We are acknowledging that God has power over all things. 

"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: 

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen"

A Splinter in My Eye

 One of my devotionals this morning was about the the plank or the splinter in the eye. I know from experience how painful that can be, but it is not about the physical pain as much as the mental pain to self and others. We all have those flakes of dust in our eye from time to time only we don't realize they are there, because we are too busy seeing the one in someone else's eye. 

A Splinter in My Eye

 

I cannot lie

Or deny, 

I have a splinter in my eye.

It’s just a speck of wood

But doing me no good.

It messes with perception; 

Causes deception;

Stirs a bad reaction.

This splinter is just a speck

But a noose around my neck.

It blinds the mind;

Blurs the vision;

Causes division,

Controls decision.

With a sinner’s sigh,

I cry,

Not to grow old 

And cold

With a splinter still in my eye.

 

Mary Crisp Jameson  5/24/2023 

 

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3-4  NIV 

Advice From A Tree

 One of my most enjoyable parts of the day is morning time sitting on the patio with a good cup of coffee while being amazed by the beauty of the stately oaks in my back yard. The pines are okay, as well, but the oaks are my favorites. So, when I saw this writing posted on Facebook, it hit home with me, and I had to share it. 
"Advice From A Tree"
   Stand tall and proud
   Go out on a limb
   Remember your roots
   Drink plenty of water
   Be content with your natural beauty
   Enjoy the view
           copied...Unknown author

Fruit

 My husband eats a lot of fruit. I don't! He actually thinks he has to have some kind of fruit every morning for breakfast, just give me bacon and eggs. However, I know fruit is good for the body. Fruit is also good for the soul. In fact we are to share our fruit; that is the fruit of the Spirit:

 Love, 
Joy, 
Peace, 
Patience, 
Kindness, 
Goodness, 
Faithfulness, 
Gentleness, 
Self-Control.

Right Timing

 A lot of ladies, like myself, get excited when.early spring appears. I want my flower beds and flower pots planted. This year I really rushed the season a bit. 

     I always plant a very red geranium in my patio pot, but in the early season a red one was no where to be found. I went against my better judgment and purchased a very dark pink thinking it would do just as well, yet I knew in my heart it was not the red one I really wanted. As a few weeks passed and the longer I looked at that pink geranium,  I realized I had to hav the red, and they could now be found in several gardening stores. I could not help myself- I purchased what I really wanted! 
     This rush to settle instead of "waiting" for the right timing ended up costing me stress, time, labor, and money.  How often in life do we jump the gun to have it NOW?  It seems I am the cause of much of my own dissatisfaction and problems.

    How often do I tell God, "I want it! And I want it now? It would do good for me to remember that God's timing is not my timing. He knows best!