Responsibilities

 

Here’s a controversial topic: personal responsibility.

This is a subject that divides a lot of conversations, from politics to religion to household chores and beyond.

Of course, I’m going to veer into the spiritual side of things, hopefully it’s what you’ve come to expect from me.

Where does my responsibility to God begin and end versus where God’s begin and end? (Hint: His load is greater.)

 

I used to think it was my responsibility to work my way into Heaven; to earn my place there – to be good enough to “get in”. But after reading that my own personal righteousness (and yours) is as filthy rags to God (and let me emphasis that by filthy rags, I mean used menstrual cloths. There’s a phrase I didn’t imagine using in a blog post).

If all I could do to earn entry to the heavenly realm was as impressive as that kind of filthy rag, I knew I needed to find another way, if one could be found. Otherwise, that meant that Heaven was out of reach for all of us.

(from reddit)

There are plenty of verses in the Old Testament that point to our Salvation, but He hadn’t shown up on the scene in the flesh, just yet. The need for a redeemer – a Messiah, was explicitly shown to the people of the Old Testament and there are plenty of prophecies regarding the coming Christ.

The New Testament tells the story of that coming Savior and spells out the details of what was necessary from this Man, the Son of God Himself and His needed sacrifice to redeem us from sin and reunite us to Him – and His Father. These scriptures also reveal that salvation is not an end to the story of our need, but the beginning. Once we begin to live in the reality of the Cross, God fills us with His own Spirit. We become one with Him! The rest of the story is joyful adventures, even in the worst of situations. He is always with us, promising to never leave us alone.

(from choosethisday .com)

Jesus’s responsibility was to provide the way for us to become one with Him and He CHOSE to do that. He created us, knowing well the responsibility He endowed us with when He gave us the right to choose our own destiny. He trusted us to choose wisely, knowing we would fail. He CHOSE to take on the responsibility of making right our wrongs.

He’s completed His part of the arrangement, having done all that was required of Him. The punishment for our sin was death (separation from His Father). He took that upon Himself so we wouldn’t have to suffer it. He, Himself paid our penalty. In His last breath on the Cross, He stated that, “It is finished.” The work on the Cross to redeem us had been completed. We cannot add to it.

(from etsy)

Now, it is simply our responsibility to believe.

I say “simply” - because He even made that possible by planting within us the faith it will take to believe in Him. To us is given the measure of faith as a gift. We are allowed to CHOOSE what we’ll do with that deposit of faith.

When we accept His sacrifice for our sin and ask Him to forgive us, we become one with Him. We’re guaranteed Heaven, but we also get to live life in this world filled with His Spirit and with complete joy (which is our strength).

 

Our next responsibility is to share the love and freedom we’ve found, to rescue the lost, not condemn them.

It’s been said that the sin of the desert is to know where the water is and tell no one.

Once we acknowledge our need for a Savior, and allow God to forgive us, He can begin the wonderful work of healing us and delivering us from everything that’s held us captive, empowering us to live for Him, sharing His love with everyone around us. Once we allow Him to love us the way He wants to, we’ll want everyone to experience the freedom and grace and mercy we have.

(from instagram)

“God in Heaven, I recognize my need for a savior. I choose You, Jesus. The world has only trapped me more each day. I turn away from sin and into You. Forgive me and accept me as I am and wash me clean, like Your Word promises You’ll do. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and with Your power so that I can edify Your body here on earth and lead others out of captivity. Instruct me by Your Word and lead me by Your Spirit, in Jesus’s Name. Amen.”

If you’d like scripture references for anything I say, just ask!

Good Morning!

 

Good morning, Lord!

Thank You for waking me up today with ridiculously insane potential and amazing purpose. Thank You for loving me and teaching me to love myself. How can I love those You love (everyone) withOUT loving myself? How can I love my neighbor as myself if I can’t love myself?

You love me so much that You allowed Jesus to sacrifice His life for ME – to pour out His life in exchange for mine! How could I not love someone that You love that much?

Today I choose to celebrate all that You made me to be, for Your glory. I choose to love everything that You love, including everything You love about me. And I love that You love me so much that You’re taking me all the way to complete wholeness. You’ve clothed me in Your righteousness, what more could I ask for? You’re perfecting me among the beloved! Your joy is my strength, and Your joy is crazy powerful!

Thank You for Your amazing grace and Your unfathomable mercy and patience.

In You - I live and move and have my being, and it’s so exciting here!

Thank You, Lord. Let’s color the world together today with Your love, and by Your kindness You’ll draw everyone to You!

Love,

Me, yep, the one You love!

The Change

(it.wikipedia .org)

The Change – that took place that day.

Over the Easter holiday season, we watched a few movies about the resurrection of Christ. Fortunately, movies of this nature are improving greatly in quality. In one depiction of the days leading up to the crucifixion of our Lord, we saw people buying lambs to sacrifice at the Passover Feast the Jews celebrated at that time every year. The dots that history connects to bring us the story of our redemption are profound.

When the people purchased their “spotless lambs” for sacrifice, the prices were apparently hiked up, just as we would expect to pay more for food or extras at any festival. While we can eat or spend our money before or after attending festivals, they were commanded by Old Testament law to bring a spotless lamb to sacrifice. Rather than bringing a lamb with them over however many miles they had to travel to get to the Feast festival, it was more convenient for many to purchase one there. Those selling the lambs knew that the needs of the people would yield them a hefty profit. They could demand pretty much any price they chose.

Sometimes I “put myself in their shoes” and imagine what it might be like to walk a mile in those Jewish sandals.

I’d want to speak up and complain about the high prices being charged. But to be a Jewish woman then meant what I had to say carried little meaning. My husband would just pay the price being asked. Suffice it to say that I would have a hard time hiding my anger and frustration at being ripped off for what was a religious obligation.

(fity .club)

While singing during praise and worship a few weeks ago, this scene came to mind, where in the movie the Jews were paying for their commanded sacrifices. Almost as if I was really watching the people in front of me purchasing their lambs, someone in the distance caught my attention. A friendly looking young man waved in my direction. What could he want? Was he looking at me or someone else nearby? My face conveyed my question, and the man waved all the more ferociously. He was definitely wanting my attention. I smiled back at him and he motioned for me to come to him. Well, that’s silly – I’d lose my place in line. He shouted something I couldn’t make out and kept motioning for me to head his way. He cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled louder. Curious and amused, yet happy that we would be next to buy our lamb, I stood still. He began to jump up and down. I focused on him intently and I could hear him screaming with joy, “Helen, I paid for your lamb! I bought your sacrifice for you. Come get it!”

Back in 2025 I gasped and began to cry happy tears, shockingly wet, thankful tears.

Yes, that’s just what He did! As Jesus called out to me, I realized in a whole new way, He paid the price for me; that profoundly high price that was demanded for my atonement – my peace with God. Jesus paid it for me. My sacrifice was paid for! Jesus IS my sacrificial Lamb! The mighty change that took place that day, He took my place. He died for me so that I can live with Him.

Selah.

(worshiphousemedia .com)

“The next day John (the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” – John 1:29 NKJV

Watering.....

 

Mother’s Day brought flowers, I’ve planted new plants in my yard. They look beautiful, yes, thank you for asking. I make sure to water them regularly because they’re just getting rooted in fresh soil. They’ll take hold and perhaps next year, they won’t need quite as much extra water, though I do pamper the ones I planted last year with some extra water too.

What would become of them if I’d carefully dropped them into the soil of my yard and turned to walk away, never going back to tend them again? Out here in the dry Colorado dirt, they’d quickly wither up and die without some love, attention – and water.

Making this a point to ponder, we can see how watering is important and necessary for spiritual growth. Whether we’re talking about a brand-new Christian who’s just been introduced to the new soil of Christianity or a seasoned Christian whose faith has already been tried, we all need the watering of encouragement.

Evangelists sometimes get a lot of attention; they often make a big splash exposing our need for a Savior. Many of them are louder than the average bear and might pack a bit more energy into their presentations. But we daily share Jesus with the people around us, sometimes quietly and without words. Evangelists might be considered the ‘seed planters’ – and might also be seen as the harvesters. To the lost soul coming to Christ, it may feel like they’re hearing these truths, these ‘seeds of faith’ for the first time. But God has always been sending people along the path of their lives, planting seeds they may not have been aware of, preparing them for the harvester who will come along and lead them straight to the Throne of Glory to receive the salvation they’ve been needing, that maybe they didn’t realize they were looking for.

But what happens in between and after? While some have been planting seeds from the Word of God into the fertile heart of one searching for answers, others come along side them and water those seeds, showering them with encouragement and stories of God’s faithfulness in their own lives.

Without water, seeds quickly die off, even after they’ve sprouted up out of the ground. We may stumble across seeds of Truth, not realizing that God was at work behind the scenes preparing them for us, unnoticed there in the background of our lives. Jesus didn’t die in vain, He’s at work with His Father and His precious Holy Spirit wooing us, revealing Himself to us, softening our hearts and opening our eyes and ears to see spiritual things - and by His kindness, drawing us to repentance.

Without the waterers, what would become of us?

Even those of us who are firmly established in our faith need God’s living water poured generously over us from time to time. God won’t deny us that. He has plenty of waterers around us. No doubt, you’re one of them!

How do we water the people around us? Well, how do you find yourself watered – or refreshed and encouraged? That’s what the people around you need, too.

God’s Word is called Living Water, among other things. The River of Life that flows out of us is the Spirit of God that moves through us to the people around us when we encourage them. When we need encouraging, God sends someone across our path with a fresh bucket of Living Water for us.

If we’re not refreshed or nourished by the Living Water of God, perhaps it’s because we didn’t like the looks of the bucket (pride). How long will we go thirsty?

Much of my poetry refers to gardens and flowers because that’s one wonderful way God relates to me, He fills me with joy and stirs His Spirit within me when I’m outside amidst the beauty of nature, or when I’m breathing in the fragrance of the pretty bouquet my husband nourished me with. (He’s my favorite waterer!)

“As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs for God.” (Psalm 42:1)

And sometimes - it's just rains......

You, my friend, are an incredible waterer. Keep up the good work. You’re VERY important! I thank God for you.

 

Interrupted

 

(picture from ar.inspiredpencil .com)

When our hearing gets interrupted… by the voice of the holy God.

I’ll be the first to admit it, I’m often listening to what’s going on in my own head more than to what’s going on around me.

I hear the voice of God when He speaks to me.

Sometimes.

The voice of God, as well as the voices of the people around me often fades away as I contemplate my own thoughts. I’m guessing that might be true for a lot of us. Talk to me while I’m reading a book? Don’t expect me to respond. I can get lost in what I’m reading. Sometimes I’m focusing hard to understand what I’m reading, sometimes I’m imagining the scenes unfolding around me as I delve into a story.

There are many times I don’t seem focused at all; times I seem to tune out and disconnect from the world around me. That might be normal too, in a world where there are so many distractions thrown at us from every direction. Maybe that’s why I love hiking through the mountains, it’s easier to disconnect from the world out there. Do I bring my phone? Of course! I have to take pictures of the beauty that surrounds me! Or do I? Sometimes God interrupts my glee with a whisper suggesting that maybe I don’t take a picture of that flower or mountain view or creek bed – that He made it just for me to enjoy, not to share. Sometimes I think He creates certain flowers just for me. I can almost feel His hug as I bask in His beauty, like it’s just the two of us and the rest of the world spins on without us.

(picture from sermos.logos .com)

I believe God is always communicating with us, whether through nature, His written Word, a voice we “feel” or even in an audible voice. He speaks to us through the people around us, He speaks to us through circumstances, He talks to us through the stories we find in history. He speaks through science. He shouts through the arts. Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything He can’t use to speak through. As He relates to us, He’s always seeking to draw us closer to Himself, where He can protect us and keep us safe and love on us more intimately.

Sometimes, whether we’re listening or not, He interrupts us.

Have you ever been working diligently at something, then absent-mindedly looked up from what you were focused on to gasp in wonder at the sight of something (or someone) beautiful?

Have you ever been worried or concerned about a situation, only to discover the solution was within you the whole time?

(picture from peopleimages .com)

Have you ever been so staunchly convinced that your viewpoint was correct, then suddenly realized that you were looking at it wrong, that your perspective was off, all without anyone needing to persuade you?

Have you ever been sincerely praying for someone from the depths of your heart, then furrowed your brows, almost in confusion as you began to pray in a different direction?

God’s interruptions can be gentle or abrupt. He will surprise us, maybe taking us in a new direction, and He will confirm things for us – sometimes all in the same breath.

The only lenses we can see through are the ones we’ve seen through in the past, until we’re interrupted with a new lens.

This is one of the many exciting benefits of having the God of the Universe living within us!

And yes, He interrupts those who don’t know Him yet, too. His interruptions will captivate our hearts and on some (maybe unknown) level, we’ll feel His love quieting our hearts and healing our wounds and guiding and directing us through His perfect peace.

(picture from youtube)

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord.” 

– Isaiah 55:8 (NKJV)

His thoughts are not ours – but He’ll share them with us! Hallelujah!

Tell me about some of your divine interruptions. Where has God turned you around – or simply surprised you?

Other People's Prayers

 

(picture from newlifeprismo .com)

Some of us explain everything in detail to God about a situation, as if we're explaining everything FOR God. This reminds me of a method of writing a report that needed to be a certain number of pages long, where we might include abstract points just to take up space on the pages.

Some of us are a bit flowery with our prayers, as if the beautiful, flowing words of our prayer will impact their power. 

Some of us insert a phrase or title for God multiple times in each breath of a prayer. 

Some of us equate the length of our prayer to how well it will be received, trying to impress God with the effort we've put into it. 

Some of us interrupt ourselves while we pray, perhaps to talk to someone else in the room or to mentally make note about things we need to do later in the day or week...

Some of us are pithy or pray bullet points, giving just the facts to God, as we see them. 

(picture from instagram)

Some of us pause often, perhaps listening for what God is saying in response, or maybe we've lost our own thought. 

Some of us cry while we pray, maybe we feel our prayers are more earnest when accompanied with tears, perhaps because what we're praying about truly moves our heart and we expect that it will move God's heart, as well.

Sometimes our prayers may come out sounding vain and repetitive. Only we know if they're coming from the heart or are merely a grouping of words we've memorized. 

Sometimes our prayers sound desperate - sometimes we ARE desperate. 

Sometimes we can't find the words to pray. 

(picture from hopelutheranchapel .org)

Some of our prayers may sound trite and unimportant to anyone but us.

Some of us may even think our prayers are unimportant to God, Himself. 

Some of us may feel unworthy to pray, bringing our prayers and needs before the perfect God of all. 

Some of us pray very loud, perhaps thinking the louder our voice, the better God will hear us. 

Some of us refuse to pray out loud or in front of others. 

Some of us fall asleep while praying. 

Some of us repeat ourselves when we pray, perhaps we've forgotten we just mentioned it to God or we're making sure He takes special note of this particular request. And then, we repeat it again. And again. 

Some of us kneel when we pray. 

Some of us stand or walk around or sit or lie down when we pray. 

Some of us write out our prayers.

Some of us close our eyes when we pray, some of us keep them wide open. 

(picture from worldchallenge .com)

Some of us are embarrassed to pray. 

Some of us are very proud to pray. 

Some of us pray bossy prayers. 

Some of us pray as if we have no clue what to say. 

Some of us pray as a tradition or habit (over our meals, for example) without giving thought to what we've prayed.

Some of us pray spontaneously. 

Some of us fold our hands when we pray. 

Some lift our hands toward heaven. 

Some of us pray, not believing God hears us. 

Some of us ask God for things like we're reading off a Christmas wish list. 

(picture from incourage .me)

Some of us judge the way others pray. 

 

Some of us pray..... 

 

Other people's prayers are theirs to pray. 

Our prayers are ours to give up to God. 

God desires our company, our attention, our time and our love. He'll direct our prayers if we'll allow Him into our prayer time. He wants to hear our hearts, yielded to Him. Honestly, humbly and boldly. 

We're not being graded on the quality or style of our prayers. We're making way for and creating a time of communion with God; unity between Creator and creation. We're surrendering our heart.

(picture from kingdombuilders .com)

 "Pray without ceasing."

1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV

 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Philippians 4:6 NIV

 

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

Matthew 21:22 KJV

 

"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."

Mark 11:23 KJV

 

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession."

James 1:2-18 NLT

 

(picture from biblestudytools .com)