Good advice-especially in these times!

1 Thessalonians 5:21(NKJV)

Test all things; hold fast what is good. 

 

I'd say that is good advice.  It seems to me that too many people take things at face value instead of testing them.  Apply a little wisdom, knowledge, and understanding and see if what your are being told holds up.

It's good advice in our spiritual lives as we study Scripture and I think it is good advice regarding what we see going on in the world around us!

 

Interesting parallel

 

As you know I love finding confirmation of things between the OT and NT.  Here is a great example.  The comparison in the NT is when we receive the Holy Spirit and are transformed into new men or women. 

 

 

1 Samuel 10:5-7(NKJV)

After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying. 

Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 

And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you. 

God has a funny way of putting things sometimes.

I've got to tell you that the illustrations God put in the Bible leave me scratching my head sometimes.  Here is an example.

 

1 Samuel 8:16(NKJV)

And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 

 

What?  How do you lump your finest young men in with the donkeys and the servants? 

Not sure what to make of it but it sure gave me a chuckle!

 

I hope you have a blessed day!

 

"…but also in power…"

I think sometimes we forget the power part.  I know I do.

 

1 Thessalonians 1:5(NKJV)

For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

 

One of the things I wrestle with is balancing relying on God and going out and developing and executing my plan.  On the one hand I want to rely on God for His direction.  I want to make sure my plans align with His will.  On the other hand God still needs us to go out and take action, do the work

 

So how do we balance the two sides of this equation?

 

For me this Scripture helps.  Scripture came to us in word and power.  Here is how I apply that to this situation.  I pray for guidance as I develop and execute my plan.  I pray that God helps me develop a plan that aligns with His will for my life.

 

Once I've done that then I can "power" forward with positive expectation that my planning and execution are being guided by God.  I don't need to stop and pray over every situation or decision. 

 

Does that make sense?

 

Then as long as I stay in the Word and pray consistently God can guide and correct my course.  The key take away for me here though is to execute with power.  To me that means moving forward strongly in complete faith, not timidly, hoping it works out. 

 

Always remembering that the power comes from God, not our selves. 

"Let your speech always be seasoned with grace, seasoned with salt,…."

Colossians 4:6(NKJV)

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

 

Not entirely sure what it means but I like the sound of it. 

The first part I get.  Exhibit grace in your speech.  It's the second part that could be taken a couple of different ways.  Does it mean seasoned with a little common sense?  That is what makes the most sense to me.  

 

Something to ponder.  Have a great day!

Enjoying God's bounty!

I live in Michigan.  We have reached the time of winter when it is time to tap the maple trees to gather sap and make maple syrup.  I did this for the first time last year and it is so cool!

 

It is really easy.  The maple run is just getting started here so there is time if you want to try it. 

 

You can order the taps on Amazon.  Around $20 for 12 of them.  You'll need a five gallon bucket with a lid for each tree.  I am only doing 4 trees.  You need some clear tubing that you can get at Lowe's or Home Depot.  The last thing you will need is a drill and a 1/4 drill bit.

 

You drill about 3 feet up the tree you drill a hole 2 inches deep (no deeper) and at a light upward angle.  When you pull the drill bit back out the pulp that comes out with it should be moist.  Push in a tap, attach the tube and run the tube into the top of the bucket.  That's it.  Gravity does the rest.  Check this out!

 

 

Now you may be wondering where I'm going with this?

 

I just see this as being analogous to life with God.  God's bounty is just sitting there waiting for us to tap into it!  It take just a little effort on our part.  Scripture tells us that we need to seek God.  Once we tap into God the blessings can flow to us as naturally as God's bounty flows from this tree!  All we have to do is tap in!

 

Thank you Lord!!!

 

Now if I have peaked your interest in tapping maple trees here is my set up.

 

 Collect the sap and boil it down.  I've got about 4 gallons here.  When it comes out of the tree it is clear as tap water.  Notice how you can see to the bottom of the bucket?  You can hardly detect any sweetness at all in the taste. 

 

It takes about 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup.  I use a roasting pan in the garage to boil mine down.

 

 

As it boils down I keep adding more sap.  Took about 4 days to process 20 gallons.  The I got some canning jars and bottled it up.  Made great gifts! 

 

Folks, it really is that simple.  Great project to do with the kids or grandkids.  You can teach them about tapping into God's bounty!