Mistaken

It was my previous view that one should be as eloquent as possible and, in essence, write an article of sorts.  I've come to realize that a blog is more like a daily diary and some even blog as they have a new thought or experience.  Recently I heard that blogging is becoming phased out with the popularity of Facebook.  People are using FB to record their thoughts and or status then wait for feedback.

Almost every morning I sit down with my breakfast and my Bible and read passages laid out by the M'Cheynes Bible Reading list.  I have now read through the Bible from cover to cover at least seven or more times.  It has been a most enriching experience. 

A few years ago I also began to journal my thoughts as I read.   I keep a journal book in my Bible cover so that I can go back to previous thoughts or write down new ones as needed. 

Lately, I have felt negligent of this blog site and have even considered deleting it.  However, something inside me tells me to continue.  I've considered using this as my journal but wonder how it will be received (indeed if anyone besides me reads this). 

The title of this blog is apropos for this reason.  I believe myself to be a thistle in God's rose garden.  Like a rose, the thistle can be pretty and has thorns.  But in many societies, a thistle is considered a weed or a nuisance and is usually eradicated.  A lot of my thoughts, ideas and beliefs may be prickly to others and don't think they should spread beyond one. 

I also chose the thistle because of an ancient Celtic story that tells of the defenders of a Scottish castle being warned of a Viking attack when one of the attackers stepped barefoot onto a thistle and yelled out.  Some of my thoughts provoked while doing my daily reading seem to be warnings to the church from God.  Most of the time I keep these thoughts to myself and do not share them.  On the rare occasions that I have shared them, they have not met with acceptance.

I suppose that I will try to use this as a journal (of sorts) and hope for the best.  I welcome any and all comments as long as they are not personal.  I view disagreements as a chance to test what I believe and on occasion I have changed my mind.

May the love of our Lord flow freely,
Deanna

Being a Messenger

Sorry for the long delay. Life and death happen. Just recently, a dear friend of our family's passed away from Lymphoma. Some people would post that he had died after "a long battle with . . ." but I think that he would find issue with that. Indeed he did all that he could to delay his death for the sake of his family but not for his own. He loved life, but like Paul, he found that going to be with His Lord was gain. Phil was a great mentor. Although he and I did not always see eye-to-eye (especially about the role of women in the church) he had a way of saying things bluntly that made you want to disagree with him but at the same time you'd end up seeing his point. To me, he was an enigma. He was always encouraging me to seek God's highest for my life and yet, as a woman, I was not supposed to teach men. I think that I'm close to working this one out in my head. For the last 15 years or so, Phil and his family popped in and out of our lives. About six of those years he was our pastor. I watched him do his best to serve his God and tell others about who God really is. His theology was spot on even when his presentation could use some tenderness. Often I believed him to be a little too abrasive and that his way of presenting the Gospel a little too "in your face." A few more "spoons full of sugar" with his "you could believe that if you want - you'd be wrong" attitude. Today, I went with my family to see the movie "2012." During the movie I kept thinking that the gospel message needs to get out and I need to be more like Phil. I need to stop "pussyfooting around" and speak more boldly. But for what reason? Phil was a salesman. He sold life insurance for the "here and now" and for the "yet to come" only you didn't have to do anything to get the latter. To be a good salesman you had to believe with all of your heart that the product you represented was the best for the client. Some people present the Gospel (the product) because they want to earn "brownie points." Some people want to spread the Gospel because they want to "save" people. Then there are people like Phil who present the Gospel because they believe that God is King and deserves to be worshiped by all of His creation and that creation benefits from know Him as their god. The first question and answer in the Westminster Catechism is, "What is the chief end of man? The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." Phil had this printed on the window of the church he established (just the answer). If Phil helped me see nothing less, he helped me to realize that my life is not about me but about God and to live it any other way was to my deficit. I could not truly be happy if I was not serving my God, my Creator, my King and my Savior. I won't give away the ending to "2012" but without knowing it the writer and director captured that very idea. There was a line that I won't try to quote exactly but it went something like, "go figure that those nuts with the cardboard signs (Repent, the end is near!) were right. So, should we start start stepping up the pace for spreading the Gospel because we think that the "end of times" is near? Hmmmm, I don't think so. Am I nuts? Good chance. I think that Phil ran the race well that God put him in because he loved God and really didn't care much what men thought about him or his presentation. He was busy doing the Father's bidding no matter how much time was left for him or this world. His goal was not to "meet the needs" of men other than their need to worship God, glorify God and enjoy Him. Every thing else that man may assume he needs will fall into place when God does "all things for the good of those who love Him." One more thought from the movie. There is a very dramatic scene in which the writer is making a profound statement about who we are as humans. He has one of the lead characters make a riveting speech about the "human civilization" and what that means. I think, that without the writer knowing it, he is talking about the "law" that God has put in our hearts and how we are to love others as ourselves. The only problem with this grandiose idea is it leaves out the "God" in the law of God. Without God being the center and our reason for living, there can be no love. Not for ourselves and certainly not for others. Phil knew this, preached it and loved it. And like the movie suggests, we don't have time to be more careful of the feelings of others than we are about being correct in the message. That may sound harsh and/or hateful to some. Heck, probably most. However, if you really read the Bible and try to put yourself in the place of the people living it and writing it, you might notice that they don't mince words either yet they loved God and all of His creation. Truthfully, what is more loving than telling someone the hard things and risking your relationship with them? How many prophets in the Bible died as a result of telling the hard truths? Did they speak to make themselves look good? Did they prophesy a separation between God and His people to spite those who ridiculed them? Did the prophets of old step lightly so as to not hurt a king's feelings? I am not advocating spewing out venom just because someone thinks they know what God wants for others. What I am saying is that we are to be watchmen, like Phil, who see what danger is coming and shouts it loud and without apology or fear. That is the duty of each of us and our responsibility (Eph. 3 and 33) as watchmen. Each one of us, at some time, take up the duty as a watchman and we do it because it is what is required by our king and because we love those who are His that are in His strong tower and under His protection. One last thought - really. When God calls you to be a watchman, what will you tell Him? Will you do your duty, no matter if it may cost you? If you are the receiver of a message, what will be your response? Will you receive it and pray about it even when it may be hard to hear (David, you are that man who stole another man's sheep - his loved one and only sheep) or will you throw rocks at the watchman on the wall to get him to be quiet? I only hope that I can be as fearless as Phil was because I am as passionate for my God as he was!

There's Always a First Time . . .

This my first time ever to blog even though I feel like I've "blogged" all my life. Ask my kids. For every situation I have words to say. Of course, from my perspective they are always words of wisdom. After all, how many Texans have you ever met that doesn't have an opinion? I tried to start a group on Facebook but it didn't go anywhere. I suppose most people who go to FB are there to get away from thinking and troubles of this world. Their mindset is to veg, get the latest on their "friends", and play some games. I set up my FB group, "Word of God Speak" to try to draw others into conversations on what they believe God is saying today through His people and His word. I guess He isn't talking that much to FB. Most everyday I fix my breakfast, put it and my Bible on the kitchen table, then read my daily M'Cheyne's readings for that day while I feed my body as well. And most days I end up with some idea or theme that I believe God wants me to think about. I write them down in a little notebook that I keep in my Bible case. My wonderfully supportive husband says that some of my ideas are spiritually profound to which I quote my kids, "Yeah, right." You be the judge. I welcome, yea even beg for, comments, constructive criticisms (that aren't attacks), and helpful encouragements. Proverbs 12:15 "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice." Proverbs 15:22 "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."