Altars and false gods

"Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone” (Genesis35:3 NIV).

What golden altar do you kneel before?
What perfect offering do you lay at the feet of the King?

What false idols have you cast off in shame?
What sins, unconfessed, have been laid bare?

What broken roads have led you here?
What sacred promises do you cling to still?

What penance do you commit to pay?
What resting place will you call home?

"Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold. “‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you" (Exodus 20:23-25 NIV).

“I will hide my face from them,” he said, “and see what their end will be; for they are a perverse generation, children who are unfaithful. They made me jealous by what is no god and angered me with their worthless idols. I will make them envious by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation that has no understanding" (Deuteronomy 32:20-21 NIV).

"This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the LORD. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word" (Isaiah 66:1-2 NIV).

My prayer today is that you and I choose wisely which altar we approach and to whom we give priase.

Blessings on your journey,

Mary

Don't Forget Where You Came From

"Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery" (Deuteronomy 8:11-14 NIV).

In other words, don’t forget where you came from! These verses offer us an excellent warning not to become too satisfied with ourselves and with what we have accomplished or acquired. It’s all too easy to become complacent and to start believing we are somehow responsible for our own good fortune.

This admonition doesn’t discount intelligence, hard work and thoughtful planning. Not at all! This is simply a reminder that once you get where you were headed, don’t forget to look back with gratitude and thanksgiving. God sustained you along the way. He is the one who made a way for you in the world. God is responsible for your intelligence, fortitude and abilities. Rather than become self-absorbed and prideful, we are to bow down with humility and awe that God would love one such as us.

The other danger to us once we have achieved great success, is that we forget who we were before we got to the mountaintop. It’s all too easy to forget who we left behind, and who we surpassed on the journey. Now is the time to extend a hand, offer a word of comfort, to give of our time and talents to benefit others.

The bottom line is that no matter where you are in life, God is there with you. He has been there from the moment you were conceived, and He will be with you when you breathe your last breath. He waits for you in heaven to greet you with loving arms.

My prayer today is that you offer up everything you are and everything you have to God in heaven, certain you will be rewarded 100 fold for your faith. And that you share your life, your time, your possessions and your faith at every opportunity.


Blessings on your journey,
Mary

WORD-FILLED WEDNESDAY

Christy @ Crittyjoy is hosting Word Filled Wednesday this week. Stop on over to see her beautiful blog and link up to share how the Lord has spoken to you today!


The purpose of Word filled Wednesday is to share God’s word (no famous quotes or other literature — only the beautiful word of our Father) through photo’s & a Bible verse!




Blessings on your journey,
Mary