Psalm 98 Given To Establish God’s Truth
Walking Or Running
How often do you walk or run?
I prefer walking over running. Walking is low impact, and helps maintain joint flexibility and can improve circulation.
Understanding Idolatry
The biblical definition of Idolatry is “any worship, veneration, or extreme attachment other than the One true God, placing it at an equal or higher position of authority and affection than the Creator.” Idolatry can manifest in various forms, including physical objects, ideas, or even oneself.
One key factor in idolatry is the “idol of self.” This is prioritizing one’s own interests and desires above all else, leading to a distorted sense of worth and purpose. When we as Humans tend to focus solely on ourselves constantly it inadvertently places our own desires on a pedestal, we effectively end up worshipping our own identity and ambitions.
There are a few signs of self-idolatry I think we need to begin to recognize to be able to turn back to God and not fall into a pattern.
- Self-centered decisions: Making choices that only benefit ourselves without considering others.
- Pride and ego: Believing one is superior or more important than others.
- Neglecting Relationships: Failing to nurture connections with family and friends due to self-absorption.
- Materialism: Valuing possessions and status over spiritual or community well-being.
The Bible warns us against Idolatry, emphasizing that true worship belongs to God alone. In Galatians 5, it talks about various acts of the flesh, including selfish ambition and idolatry, and are listed as behaviors that can lead us away from spiritual fulfillment.
Leaders
Do you see yourself as a leader?
I see myself as a gentle leader. I lead by example. Strength and clarity is about guiding others with quiet confidence.
I don’t see gentle leadership as a weakness. It’s about staying calm, being grounded under pressure, but also commanding respect through presence, not volume.
I can hold people accountable, without shaming them. It’s about leading with compassion, kindness, and empathy, while still maintaining clear standards, and accountability..
It’s about serving others and building trust. Being an honest communication my active listening. This requires emotional intelligence and the strength to hold people accountable with grace, not weakness.
Well Liked Words
What’s your favorite word?
My favorite word is few people have anymore. It’s respect. I like the word respect but I also like what it stands for.
Valuing others – valuing people’s feelings, boundaries, and perspectives. I have had these 3 things taken away in my life and honestly I don’t want other people to feel the pain that comes from this.
Self-respect – I hold myself to the standard with dignity and self-worth. I know I deserve. Everyone is worthy of dignity and self-worth with no excuses.
I believe in respect as integrity in action. Like shaking hands you show you’re present, acknowledging the other person by looking them in the eye. And doing what you said you were going to do shows your reliability and accountability.
It is honoring your word and showing up.
We have lost respect for each other, because of our breakdown in communication. Because of cell phones we cannot have a conversation without burying our heads in our phones.We talk at each other instead of talking with each other. Along with the erosion of accountability. And we have a us vs them mentality.
It’s is because of lack of respect we lost a great man yesterday. Charlie Kirk had respect for everyone. And was trying to bridge the gap between a breakdown in communication. He spread love and respect to everyone he met, yet because of this he lost his life. It is such a tragedy. And it solved absolutely nothing.
Ignoring God’s Will
What happens when we ignore God’s will?
We see over and over again in Scripture what happens when we ignore God’s will. When we place our own desires or human reasoning above divine instruction.
This act of disobedience, can lead to both earthly and eternal negative consequences. Matthew 7:2 tells us, “…For whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged, and whatever measure you measure it will be measured to you.”
God is not the cause of sin, it is the rejection of His will. In essence sin is understood as a conscious rebellion against God‘s authority and a substitution of our own will for His. This can manifest as willful disobedience, stubbornness, and pride.
The Bible provides numerous examples of ignoring God’s will with catastrophic results:
- Adam and Eve: Their disobedience in Eden brought sin and spiritual death into the world (Genesis 3).
- The Israelites in the wilderness: Their refusal to trust God’s promises resulted in 40 years of wandering instead of entering the promised land (Numbers 14).
- Jeremiah’s Warnings: The people’s refusal to heed God‘s warnings, resulted in Judah’s downfall (Jeremiah).
Ignoring God’s will can lead to spiritual regression, a hardened heart, and a lack of peace and purpose.
When we ignore God’s will our lives can be miserable, because of loss of blessings, hardened hearts, and judgment, but there are also eternal consequences. The New Testament teaching warns of eternal separation from God for those who persist in ignoring His will.
Jesus’s parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7 emphasizes the ruin that awaits those who hear His words but do not act on them.
Unforced Rhythm Of Grace
There’s a place a strive to be every day. A place of unforced rhythm when it came to God. It involves accepting His grace and learning to life freely without any burden of self imposed expectations. A place where allowing His love to guide my actions rather than striving for the approval through my own efforts.
This is actually a concept from Matthew 11:28-30 which suggests that true rest and fulfilling service come through learning to work with Jesus and relying only on His enabling power, that leads to a burden free life. It involves prayer, solitude, and a time to slow down and savor God’s gifts.
I’m sure we have all heard, or read Matthew 11:28-30. But getting to a place where we can do it is a different matter.
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Resting in God’s grace.
Instead of trying to be a better person. Maybe it’s about resting in what God has already done for us. When can we give our burden to Jesus and receive His peace as He carries us through life’s challenges, I believe it can happen. Yet, we choose to pick up our burdens again and again.
Walk with Jesus
It’s a call to work with Jesus, not to work for Him. Watching how He works, and embracing His easy yoke, and living in His strength and ease.
This requires a glowing rhythm that is not forced by comes from a thankful heart. It implies riding a wave gently down, finding release from problems, and maintaining peace.
Matthew 11:28-30 doesn’t include a rigid set of rules, but is an extraordinary invitation to a new way of living that is light, free, and fulfilling.
My pastor always says, it’s a simple as hearing God, and obeying Him when He speaks. But that’s not so simple for me.
I think it has to be an approach to life. A shift from self-effort to reliance on God’s sufficient grace. A source of rest that brings recovery and freedom from our burdens. And a way of living, which involves a rhythmic, flowing, and easy way of walking with Jesus in His strength and peace.
Peaceful Evenings
What are you doing this evening?
As the dips low, painting the sky, there’s a soft breeze stirring the trees and fall begins its season. I spent my evening reading “The Awe of God by John Bevere with my household goblin (aka my kitten) lying on my lap while I’m enjoying a cup of cinnamon tea.
Having The Mind Of Christ
God is not interested in busy bees but He is looking for people who are kingdom-minded.
In Matthew 16:23 Jesus told Peter, “Get behind Me, satan! You are a stumbling block to Me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.”
Jesus rebuked Peter and told him not to set his mind on the things of man, but to upgrade his thinking on God’s interests. It’s no surprise that worldly people are unable to understand the things of God, so, Jesus had to rebuke Peter.
God said in His Word, worldly people would like to play leapfrog (skipping the difficult things) and be successful without actually following or obeying God, they fail to understand that blessings come through obedience to God and not through having a “smart” life (relying on their own mind). It’s like someone saying they have no time to read the “Old Testament” because of their busy work schedule. If we don’t have time to sow into God and His Kingdom, we will not receive the blessings that come from it.
Paul tells us in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Many don’t realize that it’s possible to set their minds on the things of God, by simply filling their mind with the Word of God. God tells us in Hebrews 8:10, “I will put My laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall by My people.”
The best way I can explain it, is when I was diagnosed with cancer. Before I was going through the world. I was what I call a “Sunday Christian” As soon as church was over I began living in the world. When I was diagnosed, something happened to me. I began drinking in the Word of God and became fully sold out to Him. Maybe it was the thought I wasn’t going to make it. But, no matter what it was, I changed my thinking. Sadly, it took a potentially fatal disease to get me where I needed to be with God.
His Word shaped me into what I am today. God had a plan for my life, more than I ever thought possible, before the cancer. They say “seek and you will find.”
Colossians 3:2 tells us to, “set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth.”
At the same time, it’s important not to be “worry-minded like Martha in Luke 10:41. We will have no time to sit at the feet of Jesus and get saturated in His glory. We need to be like Mary who was not taken away from Jesus, because of worldly things.
I think there should be no time for satan to take to have a foothold of us to capture us.
“Finally, brothers (sisters) whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about those things” Philippians 4:8
Do these things and the peace of God will be with you.
Red Flags
What personality trait in people raises a red flag with you?
The red flags I stay away from are people with exaggerated emotions or unnecessary theatrics.
Someone who reacts to minor events as if they were catastrophic. They cry, shout, or express intense joy or anger over trivial things.
They always seek attention, they have to be the center of attention, so much that they may stir up conflict or drama to stay in the spotlight.
They are easily offended or hurt, take things personally when they’re not meant that way.
Someone who uses tears, guilt, and outbursts to control others. They twist facts to suit their narrative to gain sympathy.
These red flags show me they are a “drams queen or king.” And that I need to stay away from them.
Being Blessed Rather Than Being Stressed
In a world that thrives on comparison and competition, the ability to remain unbothered by jealousy or intimidation is a huge gift. It is a mindset that’s rooted in self-assurance, contentment, and the belief that one’s path is uniquely their own.
We can choose to never be jealous, never be intimidated, and never compete with anyone. If you can do it, it is a philosophy that rejects someone’s power over you. It fosters a deep sense of peace and fulfillment and allows you to love through life with confidence and grace.
Jealousy at its core, comes from a feeling of lack. Whether it’s the belief that others have something you don’t or that you are somehow inferior in comparison. It’s an emotion that often stems from society’s conditioning that measures success by external markers: wealth, fame, and appearance. It creates an environment where we must constantly “win” or outperform others to feel validated.
Yet, the truth is these emotions of jealousy can be harmful. They erode self-esteem. And competition can create unnecessary stress. When we measure our worth against others, we forget that we are unique because of our individual strengths, experiences, and blessings. True success is not defined by comparison but by our ability to be content with who we are and to celebrate our own achievements without external validation.
I think the key to living a life free from jealousy and competition is cultivating self-assurance. But not by being arrogant or dismissing other people’s accomplishments, but by recognizing that each of our worth is inherent, not dependent on the approval or achievements of others. When we are secure with ourselves, we no longer feel threatened by someone else’s successes. And we don’t need to prove our worth by competing with others.
We can be self-assured when we understand that we each have our own journey to walk. Comparing ourselves to others is not only unfair to ourselves, but it also ignores the unique circumstances and opportunities that shape lives. The moment we let go of the constant need to measure up, we open ourselves up to a deeper sense of peace and self-contentment.
There’s a reason I chose not to be jealous, or compete with anyone. The reason was that it exhausted me. I was tearing myself down constantly. And the intimidation was kind of a given. I had been intimidated my entire childhood, and I got to where I stopped caring.
Gratitude as a foundation.
A powerful antidote for jealousy is gratitude. When we focus on what we have -our health, our relationships, or opportunities, our blessings, we shift from, scarcity to abundance. Gratitude creates a mindset of sufficiency, where there is no need to desire what others have. Instead, we learn to appreciate the richness of our own lives.
Gratitude fosters a mindset that sees life as a series of opportunities rather than challenges to overcome. It teaches us to value the present and recognize the blessings that we have around us, no matter how small they may seem. It’s an attitude of thankfulness that allows us to embrace personal growth without the need to compete with others for recognition.
When we are no longer driven by jealousy or competition, we can focus on living with purpose. Our goals can become aligned with our values, and our actions can be driven by the desire to grow and become a contributor rather than to surpass others. This creates a sense of fulfillment that cannot be found in external recognition or material success.
The true measure of success isn’t what we achieve by comparing ourselves to others but how deeply we connect with our inner selves and live authentically.
Instead of seeing others as obstacles, we can recognize them as fellow travelers on their own paths. We can shift our perspective to a more compassionate, supportive world where success is not a zero-sum game, but a shared journey of growth.
Counting our blessings is a powerful affirmation of self-worth, contentment, and peace that comes from, knowing that one person’s value is not determined by external values.
An Ideal Week
Describe your ideal week.
My ideal week is pretty laid-back.
Sunday – attend church early talk with the pastor. I prepare the communion tray for the church. Listening to the worship team warm up, gets me closer to God. After church have a light lunch. Then 1 usually read or take after noon nap.
Monday – Go to a prayer meeting, usually come home and clean my kitchen and get ready to cook.
Tuesday -Tuesday is laundry day this usually takes most of the day. While that’s going I sit down and do an overview of the scriptures we are going oven in a Bible study I attend on Wednesday.
Wednesday – Bible study, after wards I will usually go to lunch with a friend or stop and get my weekly ice coffee. Then I usually come home straighten up house, maybe go from a walk and pray what’s on my mind.
Thursday – read my Bible, go grocery shopping. In the afternoon I catch up on books I’ve been reading and start dinner.
Friday is about reading, and worshipping God and do a litter meditation. Have coffee with a friend and visit a few friends
Saturday -is a ride in nature, preferably in the mountains. Spend time with my husband and sometimes my children.
Every week I try to keep daily silence. Spending at least 10-15 minutes for God.
Life around can have so much chaos . I think if we live our lives based on our faith we can and based our life on God has done for us. of we are able to see the blessings we’ve had usually leaves peace and hope.
Anytime we can spend daily time with God, it is a plus in my day.
