May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Psalm 107:10-16
Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
prisoners suffering in iron chains,
because they rebelled against God’s commands
and despised the plans of the Most High.
So he subjected them to bitter labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
and broke away their chains.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
for he breaks down gates of bronze
and cuts through bars of iron.
I've been set free!
After I accepted the job offer at the college library, the
director gave me a tour of the offices and the book stacks. On the second
floor, I saw the collection of books the students used, the ones I would add to
over time. The first floor offered a research area, computers, and a
circulation desk. In the back—the behind-the-scenes work took place.
My new job was a desk job, different from when I worked with children at the
elementary school. The majority of my work would be done on the computer, as I
ordered and cataloged books. I spent a lot of time at my desk, and depending on
my attitude, I occasionally felt chained, even though I could get up and move
around whenever I needed to.
Thankfully, the chains of a desk are not like the shackles
of despair or sin.
The psalmist writes about the chains of darkness and despair.
I can't imagine being chained in utter darkness, yet that's what happens when I
sin. My heart hurts if I hurt someone else. My legs feel heavy when I'm not
walking with Jesus. The light dims when I'm not looking to the One who saved me
from myself.
Jesus came to break the chains of sin and darkness and give
us light and grace. God doesn't want His children to live in darkness or chains.
He wants us to live in the freedom of forgiveness.
Seek Jesus and break the chains.
James 3:17-18
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all
pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and
good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow
in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Let's make common sense more common.
When our dog, Rosie May, was a puppy, we took her
for training. She learned to sit, lay down, stay off (well, kind of) and shake.
She still doesn't get the concept of stay, but at least she sits when she needs
to. The good thing about dogs is they have great instincts. She knows when I
don't feel well, and she wants to comfort me. Rosie May loves kids and wants to
friend them. She senses when someone is outside and goes to the windows to see
if she needs to protect us. Dogs listen to their gut. They hear things we don't
and respond accordingly. In their own way, dogs have an internal wisdom.
When I think of wisdom, I also consider common
sense. The innate instinct to do the right thing. I love how James shares his
understanding of wisdom. Wisdom comes from God and loves peace. It's
considerate (thinks of others) submissive to God's guidance, merciful, filled
with the fruit of the Spirit, fair and discerning, and sincere and truthful. If
there is any doubt as to whether something is a wise choice, measure the wisdom
against James 3:17. The wisdom of a believer comes from the Holy Spirit. When I
make decisions, I want to check my judgement against the wisdom that comes from
God.
While Rosie May has instincts, I have the Holy
Spirit to guide me in decisions. His voice speaks to my heart to be a
peace-loving person who is kind to others, submissive to God, and considerate
of situations.
Seek God's wisdom and use His common sense as you navigate life.
This eastern tiger swallowtail swooped
around the purple coneflowers,
when I was watering plants the other day.
Imagine, the same God who created people,
crafted this beautiful creature
who floats from flower to flower
and provides a way for pollen to move
where it needs to,
and we get to enjoy the show.
Thank you God for the beauty you've given us.
What natural beauty have you spotted lately?
Matthew 13: 44-46
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a
field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold
all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away
and sold everything he had and bought it.
The columbine had finished blooming.
The other day, I cut back the columbine, an early spring
bloomer, and opened up a spot in the front of my garden. With the spent flowers
gone, the pink and white flox shined and flowered to their fullest, but the
best surprise, hidden under the other plants, was the sweet little pinkish-red
begonia. I had no idea this little guy even existed. He hid under the other
plants, yet his blossom pushed forth.
I admit, my heart did a little flip-flop of excitement when
I spied the tiny thing. I'd thought about buying some begonias and planting
them this year, but never did, so this little one brought me unexpected joy. I
hope it grows and continues to bloom this summer.
Like my hidden treasure in the flower bed, the kingdom of
heaven is a gift to us. I didn't buy it, but Jesus did. He's the one who buys
the field, in the parable, so He can share the treasure with the people who love and believe in Him.
The same with the pearls. Jesus gave everything so that we
could be part of the kingdom of heaven. I can't buy my way into salvation or
heaven, but Jesus can and did. He traded His life for mine because He loves so
much. When I spied the little begonia, I was reminded of Jesus' great love and
His gift of eternal life. His gift is free for anyone who wants it.
Seek Jesus and receive His treasure.
