The Plumbline

I have one "custom-made" piece of jewelry - a pinky ring.  It is made up of some gold from various pieces I had, but the most precious part of the ring is the three diamonds channel set at an angle into this ring.  They are from my mom's wedding band.  After dad passed, mom knew I had a desire to have the ring made.  I had only one diamond to place there and was considering placing a couple of amethysts next to it, but she offered the diamonds.  The "value" of the ring went up right there!  It wasn't just the physical value of the ring, but the value the heirloom portion of this ring!  She gave me a "piece" of what dad and she shared - nearly thirty years of great love!  No amount of planning on my part would have produced the same ring!  I have worn this ring every day for twenty plus years.  It has worn an indentation into my pinky finger!   The right word at the right time  is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, a nd a wi...

I have been asked many times why God allows a believer to die from their disease.  Just what was the purpose in his taking the person from those who cared so deeply for them?  In moments of silence and deep thought, I really could not come up with a good answer.  I just don't always understand how God moves, what he plans within the long fights with debilitating disease, or how the loss will affect the lives of those who have trusted him for the healing of a loved one.  One thing I can hold onto - God is NEVER untrue to his word!  His purposes may be far beyond my limited ability understand them, but he never "backs down" on his word!   16-17 That evening a lot of demon-afflicted people were brought to him. He relieved the inwardly tormented. He cured the bodily ill. He fulfilled Isaiah's well-known sermon:  He took our illnesses,  He carried our diseases.  (Matthew 8:16-17 The Message) After a long day of healing the sick, Jesus is fac...

I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart        so I won't sin myself bankrupt.  (Psalm 119:11 The Message) In the King James Version, this passage reads, "Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee."  I chose this image today as a reminder of what God's Word does when it enters our hearts.  You may notice that this image has two "stitched up" areas.  I think we often don't give credit to God for the work he does in the "changing" of our hearts.  We sometimes just think he is "mending" our hearts, but as you can see from the image, simple mending by anyone other than a skilled surgeon leaves us leaking! I could have chosen a number of images to portray the meaning of this verse.  For example, if I chose an image of the Bible, I might focus on the importance of allowing the Word to affect our heart (mind, will and emotions).  The Word is a guide for our steps, an owner's manual of s...

1-3 So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You've had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God's pure kindness. Then you'll grow up mature and whole in God. (I Peter 2:1-3) Many of us engage in some sort of spring cleaning each year.  Garages get gutted and reorganized.  Closets are emptied of last season's fashions and they are replaced with the capris, short sleeved tops and cooler fashions.  The kitchen cabinets may even get a "going over" with a lemon oil!  But...I bet your "junk drawer" doesn't get cleaned out!  It is amazing to me how many "cleaning" tasks we undertake, all the while leaving one of the messiest things untouched! There are probably some "junk drawers" we might have spiritually that have long avoided any examination!  As long as those parts of our lives remain untouched, we are still going to be a "mess" in those areas!  And t...