The Plumbline

"A man should always consider how much he has more than he wants." (Joseph Addison)  “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs." (Matthew 5:3) How much do you 'have' compared to what you 'need'? For many of us, our need appears greater than what we have, but in truth, we have been given so much - we just don't always remember how great those blessings are. As Addison reminds us, it is our duty to consider (reflect upon) our many blessings instead of always focusing so intently on our wants. The more we recognize our need for God's grace, the less we focus on all the petty 'wants' we have in life. The closer we press into a relationship with Jesus, the less we find ourselves pining after things that don't matter all that much. God blesses those who recognize their need for him - with his entire Kingdom. If that doesn't make you feel a little bit special today, think about it ...

Home is any four walls that enclose the right person. (Helen Rowland) Take notice that Ms. Rowland did not say the right home makes the person. I think we spend way too much time focusing on the walls, bricks, mortar, and furnishings, sometimes to the neglect of the individual who resides within. The 'right person' within the four walls - regardless of their color, condition, or size - that is what makes a home. Perhaps it is time we focus on becoming the 'right person' instead of on having the 'right home'. I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need your help, especially in my own home, where I long to act as I should. (Psalm 101:2) What are you inside the walls of your home? How do you act there? Is there a difference from the way you act 'in public' view? There are times each of us 'acts' just a little differently when our 'public face' is on versus when we are within the confines of our own 'personal space'. I know we...

My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. (I John 3:18-20) To practice indicates there is a habitual or customary performance of something in your life. It is this repeated performance, or systematic exercise for the purpose of acquiring a skill or proficiency that we are looking at today. The difference between talk and practice is action - practice requires the action which actually backs up the talk. In other words, there is substance to it. Love is really an action, not just a "message" or a thing we "say". It requires action to back it up! As a matter of fact, the "means" by which we can evaluate if we are really living in the reality of being kids of the Ki...