Lighter than Air

Last week, if you recall, I began taking a detour from my Colossians study until I have more opportunities for productive research and writing. I have decided instead to make brief, thought-provoking comments on a variety of verses that grab my attention, often in a ‘comical’ way. You can see my first example in last week’s blog, entitled “Detour”.

I wrote and posted "Detour" last Monday morning, then I decided on today’s verse the very next day. I knew immediately that Psalm 62:9 would be the topic of my next blog entry!

While at a conference in Ft. Worth, I attended a women’s session led by an Illinois pastor’s wife (permission granted). The theme of her session related to dealing with difficult people in the ministry (You mean, they actually exist?) There were several excellent points in her study that I am excited to use in Bible Studies that I may lead in the future.

But, as she was reading through the Psalm (I was following along with my Kindle Fire~so much fun!), I found myself snickering out loud as she read verse 9. Somehow it struck my ‘funny nerve’. I am sure my friend, Jackie was wondering, "What in the world...?" Here is a portion of the verse:

 "...if they are weighed on the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapor”~~Psalm 62:9b

Take encouragement from this thought~all those difficult people who make it their mission in life to make your life difficult (see verses 4 and 9)~ if they were all weighed together they would be lighter than  vapor, or, as stated in one translation, “together they are only a breath”. I somehow visualized all those difficult people gathered together on a scale and being lighter than a breath, and I got tickled! That sure doesn’t amount to much, does it?

With God’s guidance and control of the circumstances, those troublemakers are lighter than a breath of air in His plan for our lives! Picture, if you will, God on one end of the teeter-totter, and the 'troublemakers' on the other end! 

 In other words:

 We shouldn’t allow them to weigh us down!

In contrast, we should strive to be a breath of fresh air…

Debbie

I encourage you to read through Psalm 62 regularly and catch all the bits and pieces. It is full of goodies!

Taking a Detour

Well, I think I am going to have to take a detour from my Colossians chapter 3 Bible Study. It has been so difficult to put these detailed thoughts together and continue my research while working a morning part time job. Mornings are my writing time, and my thoughts just don’t seem to flow at any other time.

In the meantime, while I continue to work through this, I hate to not be posting anything. So I thought I would step away from the series for a bit and focus on more general thoughts about God’s Word and living the Christ-centered life as Christian women.

Today's Bible Reading is a good place to 'restart'.

So..., as I was reading from Genesis this morning, I was tickled, so to speak, when I read Genesis 17:17-20. Abraham is arguing with God regarding Ishmael and God’s promised son. I love God’s response in verse 19. “No, Sarah your wife will bear you a son…..” There is not an exclamation point there, but in our human thoughts, I can hear the emotion in God’s voice as He exclaimed, “NO!”…then spells it out for Abraham. Do you think God took a deep breath before finishing His thought? Maybe He ran His hand up his forehead and through His hair as He took that deep breath? Can you ‘see’ it? Can you ‘hear’ the emotion?

Let’s consider times in our lives when we try to figure things out for ourselves and set out to give God a ‘better alternative'~~~Listen to Him as He says, “NO!” and spells it out for us! 

Isaiah 55:8 says -

 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

Let’s keep that in mind as we set out to take the leaps of faith, and do it God’s way! He really doesn’t need our suggestions!

Glad to be back~

Debbie