Day: July 1, 2019

Humble Hearts Can Help Us

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“Is my life aligned with God? … A car that is not aligned damages its parts. The right direction protects you from damage.” Pastor Monte Knudsen, June 30, 2019

Is this why we avoid church? We are challenged to examine our lives to see if we are aligned with God?

* * * * * * *

Today is the last day of the County Fair. David met our son Luke and took our granddaughter Olivia on some rides.

Many fairs have a “fun house.” The mirrors are distorted to make you look tall, short, skinny, or heavy. Going to church is like going to a “fun house.” Only at each seat is a full-length magnifying mirror.

It’s easy to see the faults in others when I avoid looking in my own mirror. If I center my attention on God, I don’t see other people’s struggles. When I humble myself before God, He points out areas that need work.

I know my weaknesses and tried to strengthen them. It doesn’t work. Only God can change me. He does it gradually, little by little.

1 Corinthians 8:1-3, “…but sometimes our humble hearts can help us more than our proud minds. (2) We never really know enough (3) until we recognize that God alone knows it all.” The Message

I would love a miracle. I want God to make my weak areas strong immediately! But those habits are ingrained. I must replace them with new habits. When I constantly turn away, I move out of my rut.

It takes time.

1 Corinthians 8:7, “…an imagination and conscience shaped under those conditions isn’t going to change overnight.” The Message

June 20, 2019:1 Corinthians 8-10. “2019 Relevant Bible Reading Guide”

 

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Simple, Genuine, Unpretentious

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The stitching was so old I was able to tear it out by pulling the fabric apart. I can’t even remember where or when I bought these sheer curtains.

Years ago, I cut them in half and zigzagged the raw edges to make four panels. Recently, I sewed them back together, folded them in thirds and hung them in the basement windows of the laundry room.

I loved how they let in so much light. The sheers I used in the other basement windows darkened the rooms.

After removing my stitches and ripping out the hem, I ironed the sheers. I measured a 2-1/4 hem to match the header and pressed them.

The basement windows are 13″ high. I measured 13″ from the side, folded it over and pressed it. Then I folded the excess over and pressed that side.

I zigzagged the raw edges from the former hem. Then I stitched the new hem. I turned the panel and hemmed the excess fabric.

Back downstairs, I lay the panel sideways over the tension rod in the window. The double thickness gave privacy and the extra material from hanging it horizontally filled the window nicely. I love the result!

1 Corinthians 5:8, “…simple, genuine, unpretentious.” The Message

Those curtains could represent my life. I was 2 panels hanging in one place. I was sure I would never move from that one place.

When God moved me from being the church administrator, He cut me in two. When I was no longer the daycare bookkeeper, that cut me in two. But God zigzagged my raw edges.

It took a year to write my first Bible Reading Guide. Then I started this blog…and another one – frugalfish.org. I was folded in thirds, hanging in a basement.

But God is always doing something new. Just like those curtains, I was turned, steamed, ironed into a new shape, and multiplied to cover more area. Now I post to Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.

God uses us as we are: single, married, or widowed, working at home, or outside the home. He redesigns us but never loses our pieces.

1 Corinthians 7:17, “…God, not your marital status, defines your life.” The Message

June 29, 2019: 1 Corinthians 5-7. “2019 Relevant Bible Reading Guide”

 

©2009-2019 thisyearsbiblereadingguide.com. All Rights Reserved.