Random Musings

A dear friend's mother shared this short devotional with me the other day. She shared a lesson the Lord had taught her long ago in hopes that I would gain wisdom from it. It's been reverberating through my heart and mind ever since. I'd like to share it with you. This excerpt is from "My Utmost for His Highest (An updated edition in Today's Language)" by Oswald Chambers Suffering Afflictions and Going the Second Mile "I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also" (Matthew 5:39) This verse reveals the humiliation of being a Christian. In the natural realm, if a person does not hit back, it is because he is a coward. But in the spiritual realm, it is the very evidence of the Son of God in him if he does not hit back. When you are insulted, you must not only not resent it, but you must make it an opportunity to exhibit the Son of God in your life. And you cannot imitate the nature...

For the last several weeks, I have been very aware of the clouds. I have seen some of the most BEAUTIFUL skies I’ve seen in my lifetime. I’ve seen amazing sunsets as I’ve been driving down the interstate. I’ve seen full and beautiful cloud formations in the most unlikely of places and unremarkable of days. It’s as though the Lord has been drawing my eye to the sky and towards Him in a time when I’ve needed more and more to rest in His presence. I’m not sure what exactly He’s trying to teach me or speak to my heart, but this came across my email today and gave me something to chew on. I wanted to share it here. Today’s My Utmost for His Highest Entry: WHAT DO YOU SEE IN YOUR CLOUDS? Behold, He cometh with clouds. Revelation 1:7 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=re+1:7&sr=1 In the Bible clouds are always connected with God. Clouds are those sorrows or sufferings or providences, within or without our personal lives, which seem to dispute the rule of God. ...

I've often struggled with obedience to the Lord...until I paid the price of disobedience. I still have my moments of struggle, but in the end, the thought of the pain I will cause the Lord and myself, far outweighs the temporary pleasure of whatever else I might choose. I've learned the hard way that it's always better to choose obedience than to fight a losing battle with your Maker! (Isaiah 45) But, I've never really considered how my obedience to God might affect others. Today's My Utmost for His Highest gave me pause. I've seen how my DISobedience has affected others in the past. But, I've rarely considered the cost of my obedience on others. I've had opportunity to do that recently and it weighed heavily on my heart. I chose to be obedient (although I begged that I not have to be!) even though I knew it would cause some pain for some other people. But, maybe that's ok. There have been times in my past where I chose obedience and stoppe...