Waste...

Plastic is a permanent product that we treat as temporary and disposable. The other day I looked up when plastic was invented, and then when it came into wide use, and it wasn't that long ago. Actually, it's been within my lifetime that things have really changed--the wide use of plastics took off in the 1960s and 70s. I noticed on my Google search that others had asked what we did before plastic. One example that I remember was always having paper grocery bags that became a trash bag for under the sink. We didn't have as much waste. Drinks were poured in a cup, and food wasn't all individually wrapped. There weren't all the processed options, and on occasion, I remember a frozen TV dinner, but that wasn't the norm. People were healthier--the earth was too! Plastic is a manifestation of society's selfishness. This reminds me of when I tell students to take care of their library book because they are borrowed and need to last for years and years. How we take care of our temporary earthly home is a direct indicator to God of how we will take care of the next! The closer I have become with the Holy Spirit the more I am prompted and convicted to waste less and use less. I am very aware when I see trash and I consider how much I contribute. I know I don't do things right all the time, in fact I probably make way more mistakes than I realize, but I try to do better each day. If more of us had this mindset we may start to see little pieces of the planet improving.

"...For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." James 4:14

Beware of the last word...

caveat: a warning or a condition of specific stipulations; from Latin "let a person beware."

The devil loves to get the last word in, and he often does this through a caveat. I was talking to God this morning in prayer and He gave me an idea of how I could be in service to another person selflessly. I have a day off of teaching, and my dad needs to pack up his office. He was having trouble getting a firm time and day set with my cousin's wife who was going to help him. As he was getting ready to make some calls to get it figured out, I went to my room to start my day of prayer, reading, and journaling. I had also stripped my bed and was waiting to use the washing machine. But, just as that plan I had made flashed through my thoughts, the idea to help my dad took over. I heard God in my head telling me to go say to my dad I could go to his office and help him pack it up. As I was walking down the hall to say this, satan added a caveat (an additional last second stipulation) that said, "Plus, if you help your dad you'll probably have a really blessed and pleasant afternoon because God will be pleased." Right there, with that caveat, he attempts to add selfishness so subtly and under disguise of pleasing God.

The real blessing is the fact that I can now recognize these thoughts as what they are, and who they are from much better as each day in my journey with God continues. The crazy part is that satan is like an annoying fly that keeps buzzing no matter how many times you swat him away. As one trick or lie is uncovered his next one is flying around your ear. In this specific case the next thought I had was that maybe there would be things in my dad's office that I would want. This is the world we live in and it doesn't make me bad to have the thoughts, but it confirms the darkness that we are always exposed to.

Lord, I pray today that angels guard me and keep the armor You've given me securely attached. I pray Your strong hand pulls me away from traps and that I stay in Your light. I lay personal claim on Philippians 1:28 in my life today and always living in Your strength Lord, "and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition (eternal damnation), but to you of salvation, and that from God."

AMEN

Happy Ending

And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. --Job 42:10

The book of Job speaks to me in such relevance with my journey to Christ. I even look to his happy ending at times and wonder what part of the equation I still haven't figured out. But, the truth is, I'm not doing any math (God knows that's not my strong-suit). Instead, I'm going along a path as old as time. This path was made for me--it is my "cup" that is, and always has been, overflowing with God's mercy and love. The answer is actually already solved in salvation--I'm in my happy ending now and through eternity. Thank You LORD!

AMEN