The Plumbline

We all find someone or something to worship, sometimes at the same time!  I don't think we are sometimes very savvy about who or what we worship, we just get carried away in the thrill of the moment and forget about how much attention someone or something actually requires of us.  In essence, we get swept away in our worship, almost without thought as to what is behind our worship.  Mind gets focused, heart is swayed, and time is spent - all without really evaluating the "thing" of our worship.  We may not have graven images we bow before, lighting candles, reciting some mantra of sorts, but we all have a tendency to worship.  Look it up!  Worship is simply adoring reverence or regard.  This reverence or regard can be toward anyone or any "thing" - it makes no matter - when the mind is focused, heart is swayed, and time is spent, we have crossed over into worship.  I think it might just do us some good to consider the characteristics of what God ...

As I was growing up, we had a little Manchester Terrier named Judy.  She was this shiny black bundle of energy and warmth.  I received her in an ice cream carton on my first birthday.  I taught her to sit, but try as I might, she didn't quite learn the "play dead" command very well.  She had too much desire to be up in our laps, running after things, or just plain being loved on to actually "play dead".  If you haven't seen a dog "play dead", it is kind of humorous to watch.  There is this sudden lack of movement, even down to the eye contact ceasing, until they hear the command to get up.  They aren't really dead, they are just "playing" along for a treat of some kind!  I wonder how many times we "play dead" to sin in our lives, all the while having just an overwhelming desire to be up and running toward something we desire again?  I also wonder how many times we are just plain "playing dead" to sin, but all the ...

Help!  I think I am going under for the very last time!  Ever prayed or said those words? Maybe not, but I bet you have thought them on occasion.  We ALL get backed into a corner now and again - either because our time commitments get the best of us, or just because the pressures of life mount and we just cannot take one more thing.  When these moments occur, it is good to recount the blessings of God in our lives because as we do, we begin to see just how faithful he is each and every time we need his help.  The most amazing part of this "recounting" process is how much we realize God's interventions even when we didn't ask!  It was as though God knew our thoughts (well, it should come as no surprise to you that he does) and intervened based on those unspoken "Help" pleas.  Although I am not a huge fan of the "unspoken prayer request" (because if you won't speak it how do we really know what to pray for), I know God has the capacity to see ou...