Whose Advice Do You Seek?

In the book of Isaiah, God’s people did not seek the Lord’s advice regarding the Assyrian nation. Instead, they turned to Egypt for protection. God spoke these words to His people.

In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it (Isaiah 30:15, NIV).

How guilty have I been? Seeking advice from those I trust is not a bad thing. But I should go to God first. After I’ve sought wise counsel from others, I need to return to the Lord and rely upon Him to guide me to make the right decisions.

The leaders of Judah trusted in horses, chariots, and a nation that could not help them. They would have suffered less had they understood their deliverance would come from confidence in the Lord.

How many times would I have struggled less had I called upon God? Instead, I followed the crowd or agreed to an idea or advice without questioning it.  

But our God is gracious. His mercy is available to each of us. Verse 18 describes God’s mercy toward his people.

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him (NIV)!

When I wait on the Lord and seek His wisdom, He’ll speak if I’m willing to listen. God whispers in my ear. It’s up to me to pay attention.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21, NIV).

Often, I pray first. After I seek advice from others, I’ll follow up with research of my own. I usually pray again about the situation. Waiting is my biggest challenge. By the time I get there, I think I’ve got it all figured out. I need to slow down and wait on God.

My life’s journey will be easier to travel when I learn to be still and rest in God’s strength for everything. I need to trust Him from the first prayer through the wait.

Which part of the advice process is most challenging for you?

Language of Love

Are you familiar with The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman?

Our daughter barged into our bedroom after we turned in for the night. “Mom. We had to take an online assessment for work to learn our love language. Have you heard of it?” Before I could answer, she said, “Let me tell you mine.”

By now I was wide awake. I lifted my hand. “Wait. Stop. Let me tell you.”

My daughter asked, “What’s my number one?”

“Quality time.”

“How did you know?”

“Mom. Do this with me.” “Mom. Go here with me.” “Mom. Watch this TV show with me.”

“Oh, yeah. I did that didn’t I.”

My son’s love language is also quality time, and our oldest daughter’s is physical touch. She takes after Kenn.

I’m the odd one in the family. Although I’ve known my number one love language for many years, I was curious to find out how the other four love languages rated. I took the online assessment and found it accurate. My highest score was a nine and my lowest a one.

No surprise with my lowest score. Receiving gifts. There are people who love to buy gifts for others and receive them too. I’m at a loss when I shop for birthdays, Christmas, or special occasions. I’m thankful there’s no one in my family whose love language is receiving gifts, or I would have messed them up for life. I enjoy gifts, but I don’t need them to feel loved and appreciated.

Once when Kenn gave me a bouquet, I scolded him. We couldn’t afford flowers. I told him that one rose or carnation said, “I love you.” No need for a dozen.

The way to show me your love and appreciation is by doing acts of service. Not only would I rather have a new vacuum over a dozen roses, but I want my husband or family member to vacuum the rugs for me too. “I’ll do that for you,” is music to my ears. When others make more work for me by leaving personal items around the house, that tells me they don’t care (not Kenn).

Earlier this month, I read a blog written by Jeanne Doyon. She reviewed the book Dare to See—Discovering God in the Everyday by Katie Brown. Her blog post may be found here: https://jeannedoyon.com/dare-to-see-by-katie-brown-review-and-a-giveaway/.

She asked, “How have you seen God in your everyday?”

My response: “I see God in my husband. He blesses me by showing his love through my love language. In return, I love him through sharing his.” You may check out her reply by using the link above.

A little mushy? Maybe. But so true. We’ve learned how important our love languages are to one another.

How about you? Do you know your love language? The love language of your spouse or children? In addition to the four mentioned above, words of affirmation is another love language. Check out this site for more information: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/.

Photo by Cherry Laithang - Unsplash

The True Vine

After a recent reading of John 15:1-8, I began to sing a chorus I learned back in the 80s called, “Abiding in the Vine.” The song filled me with joy because I abide in Christ.

Jesus is the true Vine in whom I abide. How would I have made it this far without Him? Perhaps survived, but not this path, nor this life. Everything would be different. That one decision I made forty-five years ago to stop living for myself and follow the Lord changed my life.

Why? Because my hope is in Him. Without Christ, there is no hope. Sure, there’s hope I’ll wake up tomorrow. Hope I won’t lose my job. Hope my children make wise decisions. But I mean eternal hope, now and in life after death. I’ll be face to face with Christ and abide with him forever. 

Jesus describes us as branches attached to Him—the Vine. Our purpose as a branch is to produce fruit. But we need to abide in Him. If we, as branches, do not stay connected to the Vine Jesus, we will not produce fruit that glorifies Him.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him,

bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

John 15:4-5, NKJV 

To abide in Christ is to stay in a close relationship with Him. Connect through His Word, prayer, and worship. How can we grow in our walk with the Lord and be productive if we don’t spend time with Him?

The end of verse five states: for without Me you can do nothing. That’s why I said earlier, without the Lord, my life would be different. I am nothing without Him.

What fruit do I want to produce? Galatians 5:22-23a answers that question.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 

Philippians 1:11 shares another fruit.

. . . being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ,

to the glory and praise of God.

I think fruit can be summed up with one word—Christlikeness.

Bearing fruit brings glory to God. And that’s what I want. To bring glory to my Lord for He has filled me with hope and given me new life in Him.

What song from the past fills you with joy as you sing?

Photo by Rohit Tandon - Unsplash

Indescribable Beauty

This past week, I crossed three more national parks off my bucket list. My husband and I visited Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks. If I had to sum up the experience in one sentence, it would be this: I serve an awesome God who created an amazing earth filled with indescribable beauty.

My first visit to Montana did not disappoint. We beheld snow-covered mountains, trees of red and yellow amidst the evergreens, along with lakes and rivers. We observed a bald eagle as he left his perch and took flight. Although temps were lower than what I expect in early October, we dressed in layers and enjoyed the outdoors.

Snow and the scent of pine trees put this New Mexico girl in the mood for Christmas decorations. Something that rarely happens until a week before Christmas. We may decorate early this year even though, as I write this, our current temperature is 81.

Inside Glacier National Park, we photographed waterfalls, hiked along a clear stream and mossy trail to Avalanche Lake, and enjoyed a view of the mountains from Lake McDonald.

My favorite sights in Yellowstone weren’t the hot springs, mud pots, fumaroles, or geysers. Although they were remarkable, I loved the wildlife. Plenty of elk and bison. Disappointed we didn’t find a moose, but we saw our first grizzly bear. Exciting, since he was far away!

The Grand Teton National Park offered magnificent sights of snow-covered mountains, lakes, rivers, and autumn colors.

Once again, I thank you, Father, for your creation. You’ve given us so much to enjoy.

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 9:15, NKJV

Where do you like to travel to view God’s indescribable gifts?

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