Musings
It’s the middle of June already. I set a few goals for the summer and am getting them going. The garden is planted and we’ve already been eating lettuce, parsley and chives! Soon, our wild black raspberries will be ready to pick, and some green beans are growing but not ready yet. Another goal is to paint the master bedroom. When we moved into this home over 16 years ago, we saw the dark brown paneling in the master bedroom and thought, that too, must go…someday. With the youngest now 15, and our 30th anniversary coming up, I decided this was the year to paint the paneling.
I painted on 2 coats of primer. That took a bit longer than I thought, but then I only needed to paint one coat of the Couscous color (a soft shade of yellow). So, the room has a totally new atmosphere and is so much brighter. I might have 2 of my daughters redecorate using things in the house in the next couple of weeks. They might need to purchase new curtain rods, though.
Sorting through clothes has been part of the painting project. I have 4 days before a charity comes to pick up the goods I’m getting ready…5 boxes full and counting. I did take 2 boxes to a local consignment shop to see if they’d buy anything. They didn’t, but oh well. I did try! We can still get a tax write off for the donations, though.
God is growing me ALOT right now. It’s painful at times, to grow. Sometimes it feels like I’m being squished by His big thumb. But I know deep down in my heart that His ways are not my ways. His ways are much better, because they are His plan. He is the awesome Creator.
Shorter Catechism Q. 4
What is God?
God is a spirit, whose being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth are infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.
See:
John 4:24
Ex. 3:14, Ps. 90:2, Mal. 3:6, Jas. 1:17, Kgs. 8:27, Jer. 23:24, Is. 40:22
Ps. 147:5, Rom 16:27
Gn. 17:1, Rv. 19:16
Guarding our Hearts – Comments from Matthew Henry on Prov. 4:20-27
“…above all keepings; we must keep our hearts with more care and diligence than we keep anything else. We must keep our eyes (Job 31;1), keep our tongues (Ps. 34:13), keep our feet (Eccl. 5:1), but, above all, keep our hearts. A good reason given for this care, because out of it are the issues of life. Out of a heart well kept will flow living issues, good products, to the glory of God and the edification of others. Or, in general, all the actions of the life flow from the heart, and therefore keeping that is making the tree good and healing the springs. Our lives will be regular or irregular, comfortable or uncomfortable, according as our hearts are kept or neglected.”
Shorter Catechism Q. 3
Q. 3
What does the Bible primarily teach?
The Bible primarily teaches what man must believe about God and what God requires of man.
Micah 6:8
John 20:31
John 3:16
2 Timothy 1:13
2 Timothy 3:16
The Shorter Catechism
Question 2:
What authority from God directs us how to glorify and enjoy him?
The only authority for glorifying and enjoying him is the Bible, which is the word of God and is made up of the Old and New Testaments.
Galatians 1:8-9
Isaiah 8:20
Luke 16:29,31
2 Timothy 3:15-17
Ephesians 2:20
1 John 1:3-4
The Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 1 What is man’s primary purpose?
A. Man’s primary purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Romans 11:36
Psalm 73:24-28
John 17:22,24
Words
Words.
Short words, long words.
Words can be live giving.
Or, words can cause hurt and pain.
What words are coming out of my mouth today?
What’s in my heart is exposed by the words I say.
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**Deuteronomy 8:18
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**Matthew 25 – Parable of the Talents
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Have you considered what it means to be fruitful? We are here on the earth to advance the Kingdom; it’s not about us. When we bear fruit, we are glorifying our Lord. Fruitfulness is a consequence of obedience.
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About Obtaining Wisdom – Comments from Matthew Henry
” We must closely attend to the word of God, for that is the word of wisdom, which is able to make us wise unto salvation, v. 1,2. We must be CONVINCED that the words of God are the fountain and standard of wisdom and understanding, …We must INCLINE OUR EAR and APPLY OUR HEARTS to them, as to wisdom or understanding itself. Many wise things may be found in human compositions, but divine revelation, and true religion built upon it, are all wisdom. We must, accordingly, receive the word of God with all readiness of mind, and bid it welcome, even the commandments as well as the promises, without murmuring or disputing. Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears….”
Matthew Henry – About Obtaining Wisdom
“…Even wise men must hear, and not think themselves too wise to learn. A wise man is sensible of his own defects (Plurima ignoro, sed ignorantiam meam non ignoro – I am ignorant of many things, but not of my own ignorance), and therefore is still pressing forward, that he may increase in learning, may know more and know it better, more clearly and distinctly, and may know better how to make use of it. As long as we live we should strive to increase in all useful learning….” page 649 vol. 3