He is the Source

For our knowledge is fragmentary 

(incomplete and imperfect), 

and our prophecy (our teaching) 

is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect). 

But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, 

the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away 

(become antiquated, void, and superseded). 

For now we are looking in a mirror 

that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection 

[of reality as in a riddle or enigma], 

but then [when perfection comes] 

we shall see in reality and face to face! 

Now I know in part (imperfectly), 

but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, 

even in the same manner as I have been fully 

and clearly known and understood [by God]. 

And so faith, hope, love abide 

[faith--conviction and belief respecting 

man's relation to God and divine things; 

hope--joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; 

love--true affection for God and man, 

growing out of God's love for and in us], 

these three; but the greatest of these is love. 

1 Corinthians 13:9-10, 11-12, 13

•

In the past when I have read 1 Cor. 13 I have always sighed 

and stepped away feeling discouraged. 

In fact, even this morning, when I realized we were reading 

this chapter I felt heaviness and just sighed. 

I could only see what I was not and what I did not have.

Through a few different sources, 

(including vs. 13 in the Amplified Version) 

the Lord reminded me that He is the source of this love. 

I do not have the ability to conjure up true love. 

He alone is the source of real, Godly love. 

Thus, another reason that I need to put my whole trust 

in Him and rely on Him solely and completely. 

Only as I keep my eyes on Him do I become more like Him. 

•

“And we all, with unveiled face,

 beholding the glory of the Lord, 

are being transformed into the same image 

from one degree of glory to another. 

For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

 -- 1 Corinthians 3:18

“And everyone who thus hopes in Him 

purifies himself as he is pure”

-- 1 John 3:3

Returning

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, 

in quietness and trust is your strength, 

but you would have none of it.

Isaiah 30:15 niv84

•

It doesn't take much, really.

And in the midst of learning new things 

and starting back up in others,

it comes so easy.

Discomfort.

Unease.

Creeping up from the pit of 

my stomach.

Straight to my head

where it rolls around 

enlarging with each circle.

Simple worlds shared by another

sent me reeling.

Why?

Is there something wrong with me?

What should I do?

Then Your words come.

Spoken so clearly and direct.

Straight to my heart.

Quietness.

Trust.

Return.

Yes, Lord. 

Oh, Yes!

•

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; 

he rises to show you compassion. 

For the LORD is a God of justice. 

Blessed are all who wait for him!

Isaiah 30:18 niv84

Getting to Where I'm Going

"In the same way I was with Moses, I'll be with you.

 I won't give up on you; I won't leave you. 

Strength! Courage! 

You are going to lead this people to inherit the land 

that I promised to give their ancestors. 

Give it everything you have, heart and soul. 

Make sure you carry out The Revelation 

that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. 

Don't get off track, either left or right, 

so as to make sure you get to where you're going.

 And don't for a minute let this Book 

of The Revelation be out of mind. 

Ponder and meditate on it day and night, 

making sure you practice everything written in it. 

Then you'll get where you're going; 

then you'll succeed. 

Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! 

Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. 

God, your God, is with you every step you take." 

-- Joshua 1:3-9 MSG

God is with me! 

He is not ever going to leave or turn His back on me, 

and He's not going to give up on me.

But how many times do I give up on Him? 

How quickly to I turn and give up? 

He guarantees my success, 

promises to be with me always and gives me His Word 

to guide me and show me how to live. 

But I have even more! 

I have the Holy Spirit to lead and counsel and guide me, 

and to pray words for me when I have none. 

I have a part in this too.

 I have to follow and give it all that I got 

and stay in HIs Word and fill my mind and heart 

with all that His Word says. 

But most important, I have to do what His Word says. 

Then I will "get to where I am going. Then I will succeed."

As I read back over the verses in Joshua again,

these words jumped out at me:

"You are going to lead this people to inherit the land 

that I promised to give their ancestors. 

Give it everything you have, heart and soul. "

As a mom, I have a "people" that I am leading. 

At times I feel like we are out in the wilderness,

and the way can get so rocky and scary. 

And I can lose heart. 

I can become half-hearted and lazy. 

But as I read these words today, 

I felt like the Lord was speaking directly to me

and specifically about my mothering. 

"Give it everything you have, heart and soul!"

"Don't be afraid or discouraged! I am with you!"

"I have given you everything you need to succeed,

you just need to fill up with my Word and do what it says."

Father, Thank You for always being with me. 

Only then can I be strong and courageous. 

Thank you for giving me all that I need to succeed. 

I have Your presence, Your Word and Your Holy Spirit. 

And as it says in 1 Corinthians, I have every spiritual gift that I need 

and You will keep me strong to the end. 

Forgive me for the many times that I have turned away, 

that I have not trusted in You, 

that I have been full of fear and empty of Your Word. 

Help me today to choose to stick close to You. 

Thank you for showing me my half-heartedness, please forgive me.

Thank you that You have given me all I need to lead my flock.

Please help me to give it all I have as I fill up on Your Word 

and as I trust in You.

Living by God's Power

So don’t make judgments about anyone 

ahead of time—before the Lord returns. 

For he will bring our darkest secrets to light 

and will reveal our private motives. 

Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due. 

-- 1 Corinthians 4:5 NLT

•

For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk;

 it is living by God’s power. 

-- 1 Corinthians 4:20 NLT

~•~

Oh man! I do this way too often! 

Jumping to conclusions about someone, 

for good or bad, and then holding them to that assessment 

(which is completely my own) in all my dealings with them. 

This affects the way I think of the person 

and the way that I talk about them. 

As it says in verse 20, 

I can talk night and day about not judging people, 

but if I don't, by God's power, stop judging, 

my talk is just idle chatter. 

A clanging cymbal. 

(Hmmmm, sounds like another passage 

that is coming up in 1 Corinthians....)

As I sit here, all the various analogies 

of what our relationship with God 

is supposed to be come flooding into my mind... 

He is the Potter and I am the clay,

 He is the True Vine and I am the branch, 

I am the cracked pot and He is the Life and Light that fills me. 

He is my Shepherd and I am His little lamb. 

He is God, I am not. 

He knows all things, I see as through a dark glass. 

I see in part, He sees it all. 

He is the Judge and He is Love. 

As I look at people around me, 

I have no way of knowing the whole story of their lives. 

I have no way of seeing all that led up to someone 

making the choices they have made, right or wrong.

 Only God sees and can judge the motivation of the heart. 

And He does so with Everlasting Love and Mercy. 

Father, I choose to live by Your power. 

Help me to come to you with all things and allow 

You to speak to me and show me how I should live. 

Fill me up with You today. 

Fill me with Your love. Amen.

For I resolved to know nothing 

(to be acquainted with nothing,

to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, 

and to be conscious of nothing)

among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) 

and Him crucified. 

And I was in (passed into a state of) weakness 

and fear (dread) and great trembling 

[after I had come] among you.

And my language and my message 

were not set forth in persuasive

(enticing and plausible) words of wisdom,

but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power

[a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me

and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions

and thus persuading them], 

So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men

(human philosophy), but in the power of God.

-- 1 Corinthians 2:2-5 amp

~•~

Where is my focus most of the time?

What I am determined to do or say or give out in my life? 

As I read Paul's words, I knew that I could not 

join him in his declaration of firm resolve

in only Jesus.

Even though he had resolved to present only Jesus

to the Corinthians, he still was filled with fear

and his words were not eloquent or persuasive.

He came in weakness

but he was focused on Eternal Strength.

I confess that I focus so often on my weakness

forgetting about my Eternal Strength.

I pray that God's Holy Spirit is evident in me

as I daily walk among my children 

cloaked so heavily in my weakness. 

I choose to fix my eyes on Jesus. 

Fill me, use me, be glorified in me today.

Reflections from 1 Corinthians 1

This is what I hear the Lord whisper to my heart

as I contemplate 1 Corinthians 1:

As you face this coming day, 

and all that you feel you need to accomplish and prepare for, 

I want you to consider and remember these truths. 

You have been summoned by the will and purpose of God 

to be a wife and mother, friend and daughter. 

You have been consecrated, purified and made holy in Christ Jesus. 

You have been selected and called to be a saint -- one of God's people. 

From Jesus you have received the grace (favor and spiritual favor) of God. 

He enriches you, fills you with His power, 

gives you readiness of speech with complete knowledge and illumination. 

He will establish you to the end, keeping you steadfast and giving you strength. 

Jesus guarantees your vindication, 

He will be your warrant against ALL accusation or indictment 

so that you will be guiltless and irreproachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The message of the cross is foolishness to this world, 

but to you who are being saved, it is the power of God! 

God uses the foolish things and the weak things to put the world to shame. 

You have no place to boast in yourself. 

It all comes from Him. 

Your life is from and in Christ. 

So boast loudly and rejoice fully in Me. 

Amen.