Christian Living

The Beauty of the LORD

/ Bill Jones / 4 Comments

Purslane in pots

Several years ago Sharon bought a plant stand for me. It consists of copper legs and an upright copper post that holds three 8″ pots as you see here. I tried different types of flowers for a few years but nothing worked to my satisfaction until I tried Purslane. It fills the pots and flows down the sides – and it covered with flowers most of the time (this picture is early in the season – see the one below).

In our heat and drought, a necessity has been water absorbing crystals. They have worked wonderfully and I think have helped the plants to stay alive.

Purslane full flower

“One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple” Psalms 27:4

As beautiful as flowers are (and I believe they are a reflection of the beauty of the LORD), they only reflect an infinitesimal portion of His true beauty.

Our Sins – Like Overgrown Zucchini?

/ Bill Jones / 6 Comments

Overgrown Zucchini

Here’s what happens if you neglect checking on your zucchini for a few days.  The two largest ones had been “hiding” down deep in the plant so they were more neglected than the others. They’re not good for much except the compost pile at this point (which is where they went).

Their hiding and growing made me think of what happens with our sin. If we don’t see them, acknowledge them and confess them, they continue to grow and get out of hand. God’s Spirit and Word will help us avoid that.

“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them, there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalms 19:9-14 NKJV

Praying and Pondering Go Well Together

/ Bill Jones / 6 Comments
National Day of Prayer

National Day of Prayer (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Praying can lead to pondering. And, pondering can lead to praying. They go well together and the Psalms often combine the two.

There are several good synonyms used to define ponder (and I’ll use various ones): meditate, consider, deliberate, contemplate, and muse. The longer definition of ponder that appeals to me is “To weigh in the mind, with thoroughness and care.” It’s not just a quick thought and then move on – the thoroughness and care are critical.

David gives a good example of praying and pondering in Psalm 143. “Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness! Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.” (v1-2). David prays for mercy, and then considers that on his own, he isn’t righteous before God.

In verses 3 and 4, he ponders to the point of “Woe is me!”

“For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.” (v3-4)

            Then his contemplation turns in the right direction:

“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah” (v5-6)

And, David finishes the Psalm with combinations of praying and pondering – acknowledging how much he needs God’s help and mercy, and giving the reasons he is asking for that help and mercy.  David concludes that all will be well because he is God’s servant.

“Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge! Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.”(v7-12)

It is good for us to ponder long on the goodness and greatness of God, and meditate on what He has done for us. The more we thoroughly and carefully ponder those things, the deeper our prayer life will be.

God’s Blessings, and Continuous Thanks

/ Bill Jones / 6 Comments

Angel Trumpet Plant

As with much in life, God has blessed this blog more than I expected. “I Was Thinking the Other Day About…” reached a couple of milestones over the weekend. It passed 50 followers (now at 53 – the number given in the right top of this screen includes Twitter and Facebook, not just specific blog followers) and has had over 3,000 views (3,039 so far). (Views don’t necessarily mean someone read something, but it does mean they were at least here).

I want to send a special thanks to all of you who follow the blog. It is humbling to think you went out of your way to sign up, and I greatly appreciate your continued support. I thank you all for your comments and input. They’ve helped me learn and think of different things, and from my standpoint I can say I’ve made some good friends. Hope you have too. I hope especially that you have had a few good thoughts about God from the reading.

And I send out those same thanks to all who visit but haven’t followed the blog. The blessings of you being here are true to me, and I hope you are blessed at times in stopping by.

Our God is truly an awesome God. He blesses us in so many ways to learn and grow in Christ. I thank you all for allowing me to be a small part in your life – and I thank our God for the wonderful opportunities.

Thanks and God Bless, Bill