Proverbs 21

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” Prov 21:1

I believe strongly in the sovereignty of the Lord. I believe God works through individual people to achieve His goals and to display His glory. I’d love to think we have some say in the course of our life, but it’s verses like these that make me really stop and wonder – do we really have any freedom in life?
I’m glad to know that whatever freedom we do have – God is still in control of it.
This verse gives me a picture of our life and God like this:
We’re a raging river coming down a mountain side. By nature water will flow towards the area of least resistance. But as that rushing water flows down the mountain side God may see that we’re getting to far off course from His plan. So He may set a huge boulder down right in front of us. Depending on the flow of the river there are several options. We can either slow down and build up enough pressure to push the boulder out of our way. We may slowly chip at it and chip at it till it wears down or falls apart. We may build up enough water to go over the boulder or we may just turn to the left or right and change our course.
I think God knows exactly what boulders we need and where. Luckily as long as we stay in God’s will I don’t believe he punishes us for going through, over or to the left or right of a boulder. He doesn’t punish us for making a right or left decision. But He is keeping His eye on us and is ready to put another dam in or way if necessary to get us back on track.
What do you think? Share your comments and suggestions about this verse. I’d love to hear some more feedback.

Huckabee on Wolf Blizter

Mike Huckabee talked with Wolf Blitzer on Sunday morning about the war in Iraq and the Fred Thompson campaign.

Love this quote (re comments from Mitt Romney):
“We’re not spending money like he is so we don’t have to raise it. We’re getting where we are going by being frugal just like I want to be with the federal treasury. I’d be worried if I was a voter and a person were spending millions and millions of dollars to barely be in double digits I’d be beginning to think I don’t want that person running the federal treasury. We don’t let Gov. Romney decide our campaign budget or our campaign message.”

Proverbs 20

As I was reading this morning in Proverbs 20, two verses stood out to me.
Prov 20:10 and Prov 20:23

Differing weights and differing measures—
the LORD detests them both.

The LORD detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.

The same idea presented twice in one passage of scripture. You think it’s important?
So what does it mean when Solomon writes, “The Lord detests differing weights and dishonest scales?” I’m sure there’s many other interpretations but I picture Lady Justice with a scale held in her hand.

I picture the scale tipping from one side to the other in the courts of our land.
And then I have to picture many of us giving a little more to one person than another – just because we like them.
Maybe they treated us nice so we give them a little larger tip. Maybe they gave us a favor last time so we go the extra mile for them. So the scale tips further in their direction.
But isn’t justice supposed to be fair? Should we really pay a person just because we were treated better?
Shouldn’t we pay a worker or friend or stranger the same that we would pay our own mother, father, sister or brother?
And when I speak on paying someone I don’t necessarily mean with money. It could be time, gifts, talents etc.
If you’d take the time to do something for your best friend – why aren’t you taking the time to do that to your neighbor who complains that your dog whines too much?
Maybe then the scales will even out and we will no longer weigh a person by their deeds and actions but by the love Christ has for them.

Things to do with boxed wine

To continue with my recipe postings…
Wisebread has seven things to do with boxed wines:
Mulled Wine
Fruit Salad Glaze
Sangria
Marinades
Salad Dressings
Spritzers
Gourmet Cooking on the Cheap
It may be a while before Laurie and I try any of these. We bought a red and white wine from De Vine Wine Saturday and I think were planning on saving that till Friday or Saturday when we close and move into our new house! Whoo hoo!