Honest Reflections

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Esther 4:1-7:10, 1 Cor. 12:1-26, Psalm 36:1-12, Proverbs 21:21-22

Daily Verse: “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.” Prov. 21:21

Rewards of righteousness.

On July 17^th at 5:06 p.m., the Lord called a righteous man home to glory, my father-in-law. He died the day before his 86^th birthday.

Bob lived his life for the Lord, not a preachy man; he exemplified righteous living.

“Your father was the kindest man I ever met,” my husband has heard repeatedly since his passing. Serving 24 years in the military, Dad exemplified loyalty, faithfulness, and trust in his life.

One of the most poignant prayers I ever heard came from him. The night before losing the love of his life, we stood as a family around her hospital bed, and Dad prayed over her and her life. A moment and prayer I will never forget.

Living a righteous life doesn’t mean one without hills and valleys, but it includes perseverance no matter the storm. At the end of his life, Bob got to live it out as he wanted, dying at home, surrounded by family.

Pursuing righteous living happens one day at a time, seeking God, trusting His guidance, and following Him.

Lord, thank You for the examples You give us, through others, of living a righteous life. Help us persevere each day as we seek You amidst the storms. Let us become more like Christ with each day that passes. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Esther 1:1-3:15, 1 Cor. 11:17-34, Psalm 35:17-28, Proverbs 21:19-20

Daily Verse: “Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.” Prov. 21:20

Frugality of wisdom.

Solomon points out the forward-thinking of wisdom, contrasting wise people and foolish ones. People who squander everything don’t think about tomorrow’s needs. But smart people realize they must save for a rainy day because it will come.

Biblical financial principles incorporate wisdom. Tithing first, saving second, and spending third. Today’s scripture speaks to storing excess, not using it all at once, and living in moderation to avoid running out.

Aging makes me more frugal. Learning how quickly money goes and how slowly it comes makes me think twice before spending.   Paying cash for things helps; only able to spend the amount in my pocket. Credit cards do the opposite, allowing one to spend more than they should. Swiping much easier than spending a stash of cash.

Live in moderation, understanding rainy days will come. Devouring all of our treasures at once leaves us vulnerable to difficult times. But storing up reserves prepares us for the day of disaster.

Lord, forgive us for overindulging and devouring all our blessings. Help us apply self-control to our treasures, storing them for rainy days and preparing for the day of disaster. Let us weather the storm well as we allow You to guide and direct us. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Nehemiah 12:27-13:31, 1 Cor. 11:1-16, Psalm 35:1-16, Proverbs 21:17-18

Daily Verse: “Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.” Prov. 21:17

Self-indulgent pleasure.

Living to please your desires leads to poverty. God wants us to live joy-filled lives with Him.  But excessive or uncontrolled pleasure-seeking that ignores or neglects other responsibilities leads to living beyond their means and poverty.

One of the things I’ve witnessed with famous people who have excess money, like sports stars, they experience bankruptcy. How does someone making millions a year go bankrupt? Because they spend frivolously and live far beyond their means, eventually, the money runs out.

According to The Hill, Americans carry over 1 trillion dollars in credit card debt, with 24% the average interest rate on new accounts. The typical U.S. household has over $10,000 in debt. Paying $250 a month at 24% interest means it will take until 2030 to pay it off, spending $20,318, twice the amount owed.

Living a joyful life in Christ means living within our means, not spending more than we make, and following Biblical financial principles to find peace.

Lord, forgive us for living beyond our means. Teach us financial wisdom as we apply Your principles to our finances. Let us live joyful lives centered around You. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Nehemiah 11:1-12:26, 1 Corinthians 10:14-33, Psalm 34:11-22, Proverbs 21:14-16

Daily Verse: “When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.” Prov. 21:15

Effects of justice.

When people respond to justice, they reveal their character. Whether a legal decision or doing right in general, law-abiding citizens rejoice at justice while others ridicule it.

Evildoers try to get around the rules. But eventually, justice prevails. Driving to Charlottesville a few weeks ago, a car sped past us, ignoring the speed limit. Not too far along our journey, flashing blue lights lit our path, the vehicle no longer speeding. Traffic laws apply to everyone; eventually, those who think they don’t will pay the price.

As for me, sitting in the passenger seat, watching the events unfold, happiness flooded me. When the car passed us initially, it startled and scared me. Not only did I fear for us, but the driver of the vehicle’s safety as well. Speed kills. After spending twenty years traveling for work, I saw enough accidents to know the truth of that statement.

Laws and rules protect us. Ignoring them not only endangers us but those around us. Justice always prevails.

Lord, forgive us for ignoring laws. As we move through our days, give us hearts of submission as we obey You by obeying the rules. Let us rejoice at justice and defeat evil by doing the right thing. Bless our efforts to live righteously. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Unmerciful people.

Working in New York City, walking down the street to our corporate office, I would pass several homeless people daily. Blending into the sides of buildings and entranceways, commuters walked by the needy people without noticing, which amazed me. The city dwellers became so used to the sight that they no longer saw it.

But as a country girl, I noticed, not used to seeing people whose entire world filled a shopping cart and began giving them food whenever possible. When I asked a co-worker why they didn’t move to warmer climates, he explained that many had mental illnesses and didn’t want to leave the place they knew as home.

Unfortunately, today, some people pose as homeless people, begging for money as their job, driving nicer cars than the people donating to them. I’ve found supporting reputable organizations that care for the homeless the best way to help the needy. By doing so, people experiencing poverty get the proper help.

Don’t become blind to those in need around you. Find ways to help people less fortunate, serving God’s children one act of kindness at a time.

Lord, forgive us for not noticing those in need around us. Thank You for the blessings in our lives. Give us generous hearts to share with those around us. As You bless us, let it flow freely to others. In all things, You receive the glory. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Nehemiah 7:73-9:21, 1 Corinthians 9:1-18, Psalm 33:12-22, Proverbs 21:11-12

Daily Verse: “When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.” Prov. 21:11

Learned maturity.

No one comes into the world mature. Babies must learn to walk and talk, maturing with each year that passes. Maturity depends on a child or adult’s ability to learn and grow from life experiences.

Volunteering at Wave Camp, our church’s vacation Bible school, one of my assistants recently graduated from high school. Sitting with her at the start of the second day, she shared with me her health issues, an autoimmune disease that required hospitalization and a feeding tube.

“But I’ve found my health problems draw me closer to God,” she said during our conversation. Agreeing with her; she impressed me with her learned maturity from her health struggles.

Age doesn’t equate to maturity, but the ability to learn from life’s circumstances does. Not even 18, my assistant showed more maturity than people I know in their 50s.

Scoffers receive punishment, and the simple become wise by remaining teachable and learning life’s lessons.

Lord, thank You for teaching us lessons through our life circumstances. Help us mature and grow as we remain teachable. Keep us moving forward, don’t let us become stuck in foolishness. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Nehemiah 5:14-7:73, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13. Psalm 33:1-11, Proverbs 21:8-10

Daily Verse: “It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.” Prov. 21:9

Peaceful family.

No one wants to live in a quarrelsome environment with people fighting. Giving a tennis lesson recently, after hearing kids playing loudly, my young student told me about the screaming they hear from their neighbor’s house regularly.

“They called the cops on their daughter one night; yeah, it’s really bad.”

Homes full of strife tend to overflow into the neighborhood around them. Creating a peaceful environment takes work. My mom made her home welcoming to all; she taught me to do the same. Maintaining an orderly household and keeping things neat pleases Ron and makes him want to come home after a long day’s work.

Create a welcoming environment, and people will come. But if constant arguing and strife fill a household, no one wants to enter it. Peaceful families keep the Lord at their center, following His commandments to develop a refuge for those living there.

Promote peace today, don’t allow quarreling to push people away.

Lord, thank You for guiding us to develop a peaceful household for our families. Help us promote peace, not only in our homes but also in the world around us. Give us the words to say that will welcome people into our homes and Your Kingdom. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Nehemiah 3:15-5:13, 1 Corinthians 7:25-40, Psalm 32:1-11, Proverbs 21:5-7

Daily Verse: “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” Prov. 21:5

Patient planning.

Without a plan, nothing ever happens. Builders can’t build a house without a blueprint. Travelers can’t go on a trip without an itinerary. And financial planners can’t create wealth without a budget. No matter the project or goal, you must have a plan.

One of my favorite memories of our honeymoon happened on the drive home when we created our first budget, one we still follow. Each month, we tithe first, save second and spend third. Approaching our eleventh wedding anniversary, we continue to build our retirement, save money for emergencies and what we want to do and live within our means.

Each of us has limited resources of time and treasure. We either manage our resources, or they control us. Don’t let life slip away; plan for what you want to do, then follow it. Living abundantly requires patient planning.

Spend time praying about your future goals. Ask God to help you develop a plan to attain them. Then one day at a time, follow your plans patiently.

Lord, forgive us for not planning well. Help us develop a plan that allows us to live abundantly. Direct our paths, open the doors we need opened, and let us live our lives purposely for You.  IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Nehemiah 1:1-3:14 1 Corinthians 7:1-24 Psalm 31:19-24 Proverbs 21:4

Daily Verse: “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.” Prov. 21:4

Arrogant pride.

At the root of all sin, pride lurks. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines pride well:

Inordinate self-esteem: an unreasonable conceit of one’s own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others.

Selfishness and pride go hand in hand. Pride demands its own way, not caring about the other person’s needs.  Selfishness puts our needs before anyone else’s. Both put the spotlight on us, leaving out God and others.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Phil. 2:3-4

Becoming more like Christ means taking a back seat to pride, letting go of our selfish desires, and putting the interests of others before us. God created us equal; we should live that way.

Lord, forgive us for our prideful ways. Help us see others as You see them. Let us serve You well as we put ourselves last and others first. Humble us when we need humbled, and keep us on the straight and narrow. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Ezra 10:1-44, 1 Corinthians 6:1-20, Psalm 31:9-18, Proverbs 21:3

Daily Verse: “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” Prov. 21:3

Priority of righteousness.

Doing the right thing matters to the Lord more than sacrificing for Him.  Sacrifice without obedience means nothing. Becoming more like Jesus means doing the right thing repeatedly.

“If it were easy, everyone would do it. Hard is what makes it great.” Jimmy Dugan, “A League of Their Own”

Hearing the above quote often in golf, I didn’t know its origin until now. A League of Their Own told the story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which existed from 1943-1954 during WWII, saving Major League Baseball. Women stepped into men’s roles while they fought the war; not easy, but great.

Doing hard things makes them great. Consistently taking the high road, forgiving our offenses, praying for our offenders, giving cheerfully, and setting a Christ-like example takes work. Jesus went first and wants us to follow. God never said our journey wouldn’t have potholes; He promised it would.

Practice a do-it-again lifestyle, one right act at a time, and create a legacy.

Lord, forgive us for putting sacrifice before righteous living. Help us today do the right thing, then help us do it again and again. Let us shine our lights brightly as we pursue Jesus and become more like Him.  IJNIP. Amen