Do not perish for lack of knowledge

 Family,

Have you ever heard someone quote a scripture without the context of it? Hosea 4:6 is that scripture for me. It is important to study the scriptures and know God’s word for yourself, with the help of  a preacher and with the Holy Spirit (see John 14:26 and Romans 10:14). I learned that Hosea is the first of the minor prophets and he is the first prophet to have a living parable of life and marriage for the people of God to see and witness. 

We can definitely see and relate to the story of Hosea in modern day especially Hosea 4:6 (KJV) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

This world is full of information from how to live, be married, be single, be a parent, even “resume writing for dummies.” The information is so easy to access and we like things as simplified as possible. The less that is required of me as a person the better. However, after reading Hosea in its entirety and understanding the prophet’s message, I gathered a sound truth that without knowledge: all things available to me are destroyed for the lack thereof. That is very unsettling. If the Bible was sent for us to learn about God, how will we know God if we don't read it? It’s impossible. Just like it is impossible for me to know the laws of the land if I never read the Constitution. It applies to the entire USA even if you don’t read it, it’s law and you are to adhere to it. So does that mean the same for the Bible? Yes, it does and if you don’t read it to gain knowledge just like the Constitution it will be too late when you are being told what you missed.

If there is one truth I can leave you with on this Thursday please read things entirely and don’t just take someone’s word for it, go find the truth yourself especially if you’ve never heard it before. 

Love your sister in Christ, 

LolaInspired

The Good Shepherd

 

Family, 

We still have a Shepherd. Psalm 23 reminds us of this truth and how our Shepherd is always there and we are never without guidance for the day ahead. This compels me to give thanks to God for waking me up with benefits like David said in Psalm 103:2 (KJV) “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” just waiting for me to access. All before I start my day, I have eyes to see, ears to hear, hands to touch, and feet to walk.  Knowing we have a good Shepherd who sent a Comforter (the Holy Spirit) to be with us daily, brings clarity to Psalms 23:3 (NKJV)  He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. It makes me say, Lord, I need you to lead me today. 

In the book of John 10:11-14 (NKJV) Jesus said “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.” With everything happening in the world around us we need this type of encouragement. Our God is intentional, He is not prone to making mistakes with His creation, even when our humanity causes setbacks through it all. He still shepherds us.

It's hard to ignore that caring for others requires sacrifice. Have you ever had to care for yourself and another person? It takes wisdom and understanding. There is a scripture in the book of Proverbs 8:1 (NKJV)  “Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice? It does and we must hear and know the voice of the Good Shepherd and obey for it is Jesus who laid down His life for us, the sheep. Since this cannot be retracted by God, take Psalm 23 and pray it and believe it. I do!

Love your sister in Christ, 

LolaInspired

Love Until it hurts, Love until it works!

 Family, 

There is a song by Foreigner called “I Want To Know What Love Is.” I remember asking the Lord the very same question. Then, Christ came into my heart and revealed that in order to know Love (in the form of God), I had to know Sacrifice (in the form of Christ). When I began to discover that it was an act of love that saved  my soul from a place of despair, it was unbelievable.

It takes wisdom to know what love is and what love did and continues to do. 1 Corinthians 13 explains it all. But I want to focus on one verse in that book 1 Corinthians 13:8a Love never fails. 

Do you ever wonder why Love gets a bad rap? I have heard so many references to love, like it’s blind, it’s mean, it’s rude, it doesn’t exist, or  it’s impossible. However, none of those statements tell the truth about what love is but rather expresses an emotion someone felt after someone said “I love you.” Until I read the Bible and gained insight that God is love (see 1 John 4:8), hearing those words would pierce my soul. Once that truth sunk into my mind, I read chapter one of the book of Matthew which details the genealogy of Jesus Christ. That inspired me to see that God had a plan of love in action and His love for us would save the world from sin and destruction. Oh what a love! 

God continues to show me how His love works. I watched this video on YouVersion by Pastor Jon that referenced Psalm 23:2 “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.” Love doesn’t need you to add to it or take away from it, love needs you to obey it!  

If we are to love until it hurts we must identify with Christ until it works. God is waiting.

Love your sister in Christ,

LolaInspired

While I am waiting...

Family, 

One of the most dismissed topics is patience which simply means to wait. Here’s a task: try talking to someone who is waiting on test results, loan decisions, a job interview, or news from a doctor.  Most people will not even blink and actions will show…waiting is not an option. The world has conditioned us to rush without stopping to consider “why?” or if there is purpose in what we are doing.  A short story about my Uncle who was waiting to finish his home. He dreamed of a completed trailer by Summer of 2007. He had his tools, all the materials, even started working on it. He told me his plans and boy did I get excited right along with him. Until the day he was found dead in his unfinished trailer late Summer of 2006. He died of cancer. When it was time to go through and clear out his belongings, I noticed so many projects he began but did not have time to complete. My Uncle believed there was always something missing. It was at that moment I realized my dear Uncle was not “waiting” the right way. If he had thought about time, he would have put at least one knob on the door. All the materials were there, but death is so untimely and life is unpredictable. The only comfort I had was this  scripture: Isaiah 40:31: But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;  They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. 

I learned a new way to appreciate life and accept death as a natural part of the process. Try not to take anyone for granted. Appreciate one another and learn to truly love without conditions, that it makes life worth living, time worth giving, grace worth sharing and hope worth building. Praise God for His goodness.

If you find yourself wanting to give up, don't.  One day to the Lord is like one thousand years.  2 Peter 3:8-9 (read the entire book on your own): But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward [a]us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 

Even though you think it’s over - think again and know that whatever you may be waiting on, in time it will show.

Love your sister in Christ,

LolaInspired

Whom Will You Serve?

Family,

We have many priorities in life, but devotion to God should be number one on the list. Just as Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve, and gave His life a ransom for many.( see Matthew 20:28) This poses many questions like “who do we serve,” “are we self-serving,” and “do we serve others?” If we have to think about it too long, we are probably self-serving which in most cases happens unconsciously. We tend to believe that we are serving God’s way and end up taking credit for things that come out positive, but when it’s negative begin blaming everything else. The one thing I love about the bible is that it covers everything. 

In Philippians 2:3 it says: Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in low lines of mind let each esteem others better than himself. We live in a world that does not care to give respect and admiration to another person. It’s usually “if i did anything, i did it” no matter who helped. Even if someone else started it, people will come along and take credit for everything. This is a prime example of self-serving and if you didn't know, now you do. There is a Chinese proverb by Lao Tzu “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” The truth in this quote is self-serving people will keep giving fish to have company, but selfless people will teach people to fish and say go teach others.

Let me end with this scripture in my kitchen and bedroom, Joshua 24:14-16 says: Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. So the people answered and said: “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods.

I’m with the children of Israel on this one ”far be it from me.”

Love your sister in Christ,

LolaInspired

Just Wow!

Family, 

Do you have someone in your life who is just awe-inspiring? The type of person that no matter what happens there is nothing but good things to say to describe them. I do; his name is Jesus.   The book of Hebrews 12:2 says: looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Reading this verse warms my heart to know that we have Jesus in heaven. We can have confidence that in His life from start to finish, he endured the cross, for humanity. Now isn’t that good news!

I read a book a few years ago called “Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman” and there was a solid truth that stood out to me in chapter 4 under diagnosing Fandom - Question 3: Is Jesus One of Many or Is He your One and Only. 

The reality is we all have that someone in our life: parent, child, teacher, friend, boss, colleague, cousin, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, stranger, or grandparent who is unchanging and consistent in our life. They remain even when our actions are not the best. They don’t hold you to that moment because they know who we truly are. I can boldly say that Jesus is that for me. Now, this doesn’t mean I don’t have someone to be accountable to here on earth, but Jesus is my One and Only. He (Jesus) allowed me to be absolutely transparent until God developed authenticity in me.  Word to the wise being transparent is important but it has limits based on how much you choose to share; but when you become authentic there is truth behind your words and actions.

Proverbs 13:20 says: He who walks with wise men will be wise: But the companion of fools shall be destroyed. I choose Jesus. Who will you choose?

Love your sister in Christ,

LolaInspired

You can have good...

Family, 

Psalms 84:11 (NIV) says: “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” 

Can you say that to be true of you? 

Regardless of your answer, this scripture helps you better understand that it is the Lord who bestows favor and honor. Whether you messed up or got something right, let this sink in: when God bestows favor and honor upon you; that is all you need. In Romans 8:31 it says: What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

I thank God for loving us so much and not withholding good things from us. There is a song by William McDowell titled: Withholding Nothing. When you hear the song, there is a cry out from within that causes you to hold nothing back from God. When I read Psalms 84:11, it provided even more context. God does not withhold good from us. So why do we withhold the good parts from Him? Oh let me clarify what “good” is. It’s the parts you hide in the dark that only you, Jesus,and the devil know about. What you may call ugly, God calls good.

 
My question above is not just a question. It is an instruction. Find an accountability faith sister/brother to confide in and pray before doing so. I dare you to go to God on your own and tell him exactly what it is you are ashamed of and be freed in your walk to be blameless. Watch as the Lord bestows favor and honor upon your life.

Tell the truth to God and yourself and be free. Withholding nothing, surrender, give it over and be favored by God because He does not withhold good from us. 

Love your sister in Christ,
LolaInspired