The Plumbline

There are days when I wonder why I say the things I say!  Days when the words just seem to "pop out" without any forethought!  I guess we all have those days, huh?  There are still other days when I seem to drift into some kind of "daydreaming" mode and just drift along.  When I look at the end of the day's work, I wonder why I just did not accomplish much.  At other times, I am so productive and accomplish much.  Most would consider this kind of "up and down" behavior as a little bit of inconsistency - the actions don't consistently match the words or the intentions.  True that!  If you have figured out a way to 100% of the time walk in consistency....patent it!  You will be rich! Today's passage deals with a prayer of David in which he shows us the importance of having a guard over our lips and a guide for our activity. Post a guard at my mouth,  God ,  set a watch at the door of my lips.     Don't let me ...

We often have a desire to help another, but just don't know what to do in order to reduce the burden they are under.  We are being touched in our spirit to the point of action on behalf of another.  We are "identifying" with the other person - somehow we feel like we might just be connecting to their feelings, emotional struggles, and the challenge they are enduring.  Rarely, do we REALLY connect in quite the same manner as the one under the burden.  In fact, unless we have walked the same path in THEIR shoes, we really don't know what it is they are enduring. 1-2  Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?"  (Romans 15:1-2 The Message) The real purpose of what some may call "empathy" is the ability ...

I have never been to the Hawaiian islands, but I know one of their traditional welcoming gifts is the flowered lei they place around your neck.  It is a beautiful arrangement of flower petals, rich with the aromatic beauty of the island from which they were taken.  In a sense, these flowers are like "garland" - adorning the visitor with beauty and anointing them with the aroma of the beautiful flora of the region.  God has a type of "garland" he would like us to adorn ourselves with: "Take this to heart. Do what I tell you—live!   Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding!   Don't forget one word!  Don't deviate an inch!   Never walk away from Wisdom—she guards your life;  love her—she keeps her eye on you.   Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom!   Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!   Throw your arms around her—believe me, you won't regret it;  never let her go—she'll m...