On My Mind Today

Woe to them
     because they have strayed from me!
Destruction to them,
     because they have rebelled against me!
I long to redeem them
     but they speak lies against me.
They do not cry out to me from their hearts
     but wail upon their beds.
They gather together for grain and new wine
     but turn away from me.
I trained them and strengthened them,
     but they plot evil against me.
They do not turn to the Most High;
     they are like a faulty bow.
Their leaders will fall by the sword
     because of their insolent words.

~Hosea 7:13-16a

Convicting Thought

I don't know if you Facebook or not or how often you look at your Facebook but lately it seems the big rage is to post a picture of a quote, or a joke or some other cartoon from various people.  Some of them are hilarious, others - not so much.

When I first started seeing these things pop up, posted by almost everyone I know (and a few of them re-posted by me, I admit), this one quote caught my attention and I've been thinking about it ever since:

What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?  (source:  voicesforlife.net)

It got me thinking:  How is that for a bit of conviction?  I thank God every day for all He has blessed me with but how often have I been specific? 

So, in the last couple of weeks, I've tried to be more concious not only of the blessings God has given me but how I thank Him for them.  I name them.  I stop when a new one appears and I thank Him immediately. 

I wonder where it will lead.

To Ponder Today...

We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

~1 Timothy 1:8-17