God is so good!  I’m sitting here counting my many, many blessings.  Six years ago today the Lord blessed me with another child.  Andrew is so very precious.   He woke up this morning at 6 a.m. more excited than at Christmas time.  His room was filled with balloons and the kitchen table was filled with a homemade card from his brother and sister, presents and a tray of mini-cupcakes I made late last night after everyone went to bed.  We just finished a breakfast of chocolate gravy and biscuits and the kids and I sat down to watch The Pirates That Don’t Do Anything movie (Andrew’s present from his Dad and I).  This afternoon we’ll go pick up Dana for lunch and have a picnic at the park.

Lord, Thank you so much for the many blessings you give each and every day.  Thank you for my son, Andrew, and for the six years you’ve given us.  I pray that his life will bring you honor and glory.  Thank you for my other children.  They are jewels.   You are so good to us.

Thank you Father for my husband who loves You dearly.  I am so blessed to have a husband we can follow as he follows You.  I’m so blessed to have a husband who leads us spiritually; who prays with me and the children daily; who teaches us from Your Holy Word.  Thank you Lord for a husband who understands and embraces Your plan for family; one that supports and encourages my role as mother and teacher.  Thank you for the ability to stay at home and teach my children; for being able to work hard the first of the week and enjoying the blessings of today. 

Today dear Lord, I will give you praise in all things.  As I look around my home even now I will praise You for the peace that You have shed abroad in our hearts and the love that flows through our home.  I will praise you for the smiles and laughter of my children.  I will praise you for blessings them with good health and tender hearts.  I praise You for giving us life.  It is sweet, Lord.  Thank You for the sun, the moon, the stars that speak of Your Majesty.  Thank You for the trees, plants and flowers in the fields that declare Your Glory.  Thank You for the birds that sing; the butterflies that flutter by; and all the insects that chirp; even they announce to the world that You are my Creator.  Father God, You are so great and I am so small.  I know that without You I am nothing, but I praise You and thank You because with You dear God, I am everything I should be!

Lord,  my prayer this morning is not for more blessings, for I don’t deserve all that you give, but my prayer is that my life, my husband’s life and my children’s life will not continually seeks more and more blessings from above but that we will seek and desire to be a blessing to You.

 

I have no respect for justice.

I maim without killing.

I break hearts and ruin lives.

I am cunning and malicious and gather strength with age.

The more I am quoted, the more I am believed.

I flourish at every level of society.

My victims are helpless; they cannot protect themselves against

me because I have no name and no face.

To track me down is impossible. The harder you try, the more

elusive I become.

I am nobody’s friend.

Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same.

I topple governments and ruin marriages.

I end ministries set up by God.

I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartache and

indigestion.

I spawn suspicion and generate grief.

I make headlines, headaches and heartaches.

I make innocent people cry in their pillows.

Even my name hisses.

 

A forward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.  Proverbs 16:28

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Proverbs 26:20-22

 

An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.  Proverbs 11:9

 

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. (Luke 18:13)

 

I heard a story about a man who was sharing his testimony one day with another man.  In the midst of the conversation he explained what a wretched life he had lived.  Before coming to Christ, he had wasted his life and it was full of shame and guilt.  The man declared, “I was no better than a publican.”   To which the other man, putting his arm around him said, “Oh friend, you were not as bad as me.  You see, I was once a Pharisee.”

 

Are there “Pharisees” today?   Maybe not in name, but what about in deed?  

During the first century the Pharisees were men of high standing in the religious community and were known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses.  Many times they are condemned by the Words of Jesus for their hypocritical actions.  They sure looked impressive but Jesus knew their hearts.  The Pharisees loved to make a show of their religion.  They were what we would call today legalistic.

 

Don’t be confused by legalism.  Many people think that just because a person is faithful and hates sin that they act as the legalistic Pharisees.  Is it wrong to be faithful? (Matt.  25:23)   Is it wrong to hate that which is evil?  (Rom. 12:9)  Is it wrong to strive to live like Christ?  (Matt. 5:48)   No.  Living a godly life and following all of the commands of scripture is called obedience, not legalism.  The reason they were legalistic was not because they followed the Law of God but because they were constantly looking for loopholes in it.  Their hearts were full of evil.  When it came to sin they were easy on self and hard on others.

 

But what about the publicans?  As tax collectors they were hated by the Jews.  Yet, what did Christ say in the parable?  This man went home justified.  Why?  Because he was sensitive to sin in his life.  He wasn’t looking for loopholes.  He wasn’t looking for how much he could get away with and still be considered “good”.  He didn’t try to justify his sinful behavior.  He knew he was a sinner and he cried out to God for mercy.  When it comes to sin this type of person is hard on self and easy on others.

 

So, now for the hard question?  Am I hard on self and easy on others like the publican or am I easy on self and hard on others like the Pharisee?  Regardless of the answer all I can do is cry out, “God, be merciful to me as sinner.”

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:”  2 Peter 1:19