Is it a Rat?

While heading into the basement to get a sheet to hang over a curtained window (another story), I heard a scuffling and squeaking on the boxes to my right. I quickly thought, “Squirrel!”, then even more quickly thought “RAT!” I couldn’t see much, but I thought I saw something on the boxes. I didn’t want to try to find out what it was for fear that IT would come after me and bite me. Rabies?! I slammed the door and screamed. Actually, I don’t remember screaming, but according to others in the house, I did.

My husband and two of my boys tried to take a look again. With pellet gun and b.b. guns in hand, they went back into the room that leads to the basement. My husband went ahead and carefully opened the door and turned on the light. No sight or sound from any critter. But, look! Up in the corner. A ventilation tube leading to the first room has been destroyed. We began to guess that a rodent of some sort was looking for a warm place to sleep on this cold November evening.

Is it a groundhog? There are plenty of holes in the property to tell of their existence. Is it a squirrel? Very likely. There are only a bazillion in our neighborhood.  Is it…..a….rat?

My dad has been catching rats this past month in Oregon. Over there it gets cold a lot sooner, so the rodents have been already trying to find warmth in attics. Dad has posted pics of dead rats he’s caught – still in the traps. Pretty gross stuff. So, I couldn’t help but think that the mysterious critter in our basement was a nasty old rat. And worse, it could be a whole family of nasties. In OUR basement.

It gives me the willies. {shudder}

This morning we received a phone call from the landlord. The pest control guy should be on his way. It's 2 p.m. now. I just hope the thing hasn't destroyed too much stuff down there....

M'Cheyne's Bible Reading Calendar

Okay. Okay. I know. It's not December or, for those procrastinators, January. But I have thought that having a reading plan of some sort would help me to cover all of Scripture in a year.

I heard about M'Cheyne's Bible reading plan a few different times and even looked at a bit once or twice. I honestly have a hard time committing to reading plans. I suppose it's because I like to "feel free" to deal with stuff as it comes up. And in my mind, having something regular to look forward to could hold me back from being able to freely deal with the stuff that comes up.

Anyhow, yesterday I thought that I really should buckle down and have a regular reading of Scripture every day, just like my grandma, (Nettie) Mozelle Estes. She read through the Bible every year for at least a couple or so decades, if my memory serves me correctly. She also prayed for each person in her family, even those married into it.

(I suspect she prayed for those who were part of her family, even if they were estranged for some reason. That's really the most important time for praying for someone. Both the person praying and the one being prayed for REALLY need the prayer at that time. I believe God is faithful and acts in mercy because of the prayers of the faithful during difficulty. Isn't that when we feel like praying and reading God's Word the least? Oh, boy. If only I could count the many times I allowed difficulty to take me out of the fight.)

My grandma was a very godly woman, who, in her eighties, admitted that she was still learning things and having to overcome sin every day. She was apt to pray aloud to Jesus in the middle of a conversation, if she believed it was necessary. She lived coram deo - before the face of God.

So, as I was saying above, I thought I should have a plan for reading the Bible on a regular day-by-day basis so that I could cover all of Scripture in one year, though it doesn't have to be one year. But I thought one year would be a good length of time - not too short (I'd have to cram it all in!) and not too long (it might begin to feel like a burden). Which leads me to a comment by Pastor M'Cheyne:

"Some may engage in reading with alacrity for a time, and afterwards feel it a burden, grievous to be borne. They may find conscience dragging them through the appointed task without any relish of the heavenly food. If this be the case with any, throw aside the fetter, and feed at liberty in the sweet garden of God. My desire is not to cast a snare upon you, but to be a helper of your joy." Amen.

I hope also to encourage you wherever you are in your reading of Scripture to "feed in the sweet garden of God." Here's the link to the page I found for downloading M'Cheyne's Bible reading plan.

One more note from M'Cheyne on the advantages of reading the Bible in a year according to a plan:

"The Old Testament once, the New Testament and Psalms are twice. I fear many of you never read the whole Bible; and yet it is all equally Divine, 'All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect.' If we pass over some parts of Scripture, we shall be incomplete Christians." [Emphasis mine.]

So, what do you think? Do you already use a Bible reading plan? Have you ever used M'Cheyne's? Do you think a reading plan is a hindrance or a help to Christian completeness?

Who We Really Are?

It's easy to be fake. We learn this way of coping as we grow up. The Bible calls it hypocrisy. Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines hypocrisy in this way:

"Hypocrisy, n. 1. Simulation,; a feigning to be what one is no, or dissimulation, a concealment of one's real character or motives. More generally, hypocrisy is simulation, or the assuming of a false appearance of virtue or religion; a deceitful show of a good character, in morals or religion; a counterfeiting of religion. 2. Simulation; deceitful appearance; false pretence."

I would say that there are definitely times in my life that I choose to assume a false appearance of "virtue or religion." In some Christian circles the "safe" place to reside is in the middle. Well, there are many times that I just don't agree with the middle, and, frankly, I don't think Scripture does either. I could just say nothing, but that's not how I usually deal with things. (Tact is something I am continually having to work on.)

I do believe that I make the decision to give in to fit in so that I will be respected by my peers. Am I afraid that they won't respect me if I tell them that I think Christmas in unbiblical? Yes, I do. So, in going along to get along, I have sold out on my "conviction" *sarcastic laugh* that Scripture teaches that man-made holy days are idolatry. This is man-worship. I have essentially traded in God's standard of living and truth for what my "friends" think is right.


Luke 12:1-5:

"In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered  that shall not be revealed  neither hidden that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him."


May God forgive me and all the rest of us who do fear man instead of fearing God.

Study, Study, Study

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene." 2 Timothy 15-17a

Some Christians do not understand much when it comes to Biblical and theological terminology. Does this mean that other Christians are not to use these words around those who are ignorant? Terms, indeed, need to be defined in order for us to understand one another's thoughts. However, this does not mean that " intellectual" Christians need to speak "down" to those who are not as educated. In fact, those who have learned much can and should teach those that have not. 

However. a more effective way of learning is for a person to teach himself. Once a person knows how to study Scripture and interpret it properly, he can learn and know as much as those who have received formal educations in theology. It is our responsibility as Christians to be sure that we are continually learning what Scripture has to say to us regarding all of life. Also, we who are parents are responsible for teaching our children the truths of Scripture. (Deut. 6:4ff) 

Of course, no knowledge is useful unless the Holy Spirit leads us in our study. And all study is useless if it is done for its' own sake. All should be done to glorify God, not man; to sanctify man so that he turns from being a worker of iniquity to a man of good works; to edify the body so it is encouraged and strengthened; to point the lost to Christ, not one's self; and to affect change in one's culture. If each Christian would personally take the study of God's Word seriously, God would have a strong army on earth at His disposal to take dominion for the sake of Christ the King.

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear...." 1 Peter 3:15

Inspiration of God

From VIne's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words:

INSPIRATION OF GOD, INSPIRED OF GOD

theopneustos, "inspired by God" (Theos, "God," pneo, "to breathe"), is used in 2 Tim. 3:16, of the Scriptures as distinct from non-inspired writings. Wycliffe, Tyndale, Coverdale and the Great Bible have the rendering "inspired of God."[in their translations]

S.D.G.
S.C.
S.S.
S.F.
S.G.

Trusting in the LORD, Trusting His Word Ramblings

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart.
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

And He tells us what He wants us to do. He gives us clear directions on how to navigate the murky and treacherous waters that we call the world we live in. Do we trust Him with all are heart? Not one of us can say we truly do. Yet, He calls us to a life of total trust in Him. How do we learn to trust Him? By reading and believing the testimony He gives about Himself. Our God has been kind to us in letting us know Him so that we can learn to trust Him.

I do desire to trust Him with my whole heart. I often find that I don't trust God because I can't trust man. Man does and will fail. However, God is not man. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. Sinful man cannot thwart God's will. He cannot cause God to break his promises of provision. I think my emotions are what get the better of me when I "feel" I cannot trust God because man has failed. But God reminds me that "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

I am to acknowledge Him in ALL my ways. Well, that pretty much covers everything. Not a thing that I am concerned with is outside of His care. He is King of my whole life! What does God's Word say about God's concern about my ways? Job 34:21 says, "For His eyes are on the ways of man, and He sees all his steps." Also Proverbs 5:21 reads: "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD; and He ponders all his paths." And Proverbs 16:2: "All the ways of a man are pure in His own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits." God cares about all my ways; He has not checked out.

So God sees what I'm up to and cares about all my ways. I need to acknowledge Him as my King by submitting to His rules.

"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him [Christ Jesus] and given Him the name which is above every name,  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11

"If you love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15) How do I show my King that I love Him and am thankful for having mercy on me? He has told me how to show love to Him. And He has been clear in His commands. He took a long time to give them to Moses, and He sent later prophets to remind His people of His expectations. Live a godly life, and in so doing, you are showing God that you love Him.

By His Word and Spirit He directs my paths.

  "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.  For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.     
  These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.  For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:6-16)

The mind of Christ! God has graciously given us the mind of Christ to understand what He tells us in His Word so that we can obey Him with our minds.

"....and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,  that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:15-17)

And His Word is complete for ALL of my ways. And yours, too.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart - I pay that each day I'll trust Him more despite the circumstances I face. I know I can trust Him because of what He has taught me in His Word about Himself. I owe Jesus Christ my life because He gave His life for me. Therefore, I will obey my Savior and King. By God's grace, His Spirit helps me to understand and apply His commands He has given in His Word so that I can show Him love and gratitude.

(Even if Jesus Christ didn't die for me, I would still be bound to trust Him and what He says is His Word, and to acknowledge Him as the Supreme Ruler of the Cosmos....)

In the LORD I Put my Trust, Psalm 11

Psalm 11

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

In the LORD I put my trust;
How can you say to my soul,
"Flee as a bird to your mountain"?
For look! The wicked bend their bow,
They make ready their arrow on the string,
That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.
If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?

The LORD is in His holy temple,
The LORD's throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold,
His eyelids test the sons of men.
The LORD tests the righteous,
But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.
Upon the wicked He will rain coals;
Fire and brimstone and a burning wind
Shall be the portion of their cup.

For the LORD is righteous,
He loves righteousness;
His countenance beholds the upright.