Sept 14,2025 – Monitor Your Thoughts
Yesterday morning I started painting the backyard iron fence. I was just going to sand and cover the rust spots for now, but the new shiny black paint looked so much better than the dull grayish black paint; so, I found myself reaching (with my arm that is about to undergo surgery) to at least three of the sides of the slats and brushing against wet paint – a lot – and without gloves. (I didn’t finish before the sun invaded my workspace.) I did the same at the rental house later as I coated the old tub with new porcelain (which I really shouldn’t have done – again, without gloves). During both projects I found myself wishing we weren’t trying to save money and we had paid someone to do the work; however, doing the work makes me understand why it likely would have cost more than I was willing to pay (until I did the work myself).
I also found myself thinking about Charlie Kirk and how he had no clue Wed morning that he would never do projects around his house again. I know he wouldn’t choose to come back from heaven, but I do imagine he would have chosen more time here, despite chores and angry debaters. On our walk this morning, Don and I saw a dad setting up a net and tossing a plastic ball to his son’s plastic bat – another something that Charlie Kirk and his son will never get to experience. It’s really difficult to redirect thoughts from loss and hurt, but it’s vital that we do….
JC – “This is My desire for you: that you stay near Me as you walk along your life-path….present yourself as a living sacrifice. Even the most routine part of your day can be a spiritual act of worship, holy and pleasing to Me.”
Power – Proverbs 23:7 – “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Joyce writes, “If we think of something unjust…over and over, it will be difficult, if not impossible to treat that person with God’s kindness the next time we see them….with God’s help, we can think on things that will benefit us rather than hurt us.” And others. It’s so sad when people, like Charlie Kirk’s assassin, don’t think beyond themselves. Was the anger he unleashed worth his loss of freedom and peace and perhaps loss of life – potentially his in addition to Charlie’s?
Max – “You aren’t merely a slave, servant, or saint of God. No, you are a child of God. [even thieves and murderers etc? Yes] You have a legal right to the family business and fortune of heaven. We ALL have sinned. We all fall short of the bullseye and the perfection of Christ. How did the assassin, who seemed to come from what so far seems like a good family, lose sight of the better side of life and of hope and of the values and faith he was probably raised with? Revisit Proverbs 23:7. I feel so sorry for his parents and other family and friends who are likely so confused and anguished.
The current series at our church (Church of the Highlands) is “Goodness of God: A Field Guide.” Today’s focus, which was ironically (Divinely) decided months ago, is about forgiveness. Forgiveness does not dictate condoning or reconciling. It does release the offended from harboring destructive resentment. It’s up to the offender to receive.
Utmost – 2 Corinthians 11:3 – “The simplicity that is in Christ.” Chambers writes, “Simplicity is the secret of seeing things clearly….In intellectual matters you can think things out, but in spiritual matters you will think yourself into cotton wool.” In society, wrongs must be punished/paid for. That is intellectual. Forgiveness, though, isn’t based on payment of wrongs -that is spiritual (and was paid by Christ – past, present, and future sins). “If there is something upon which God has put His pressure, obey in that matter, bring your imagination into captivity to the obedience of Christ with regard to it and everything will become clear as daylight….When the natural power of vision is devoted to the Holy Spirit, it becomes the power of perceiving God’s will and the whole life is kept in simplicity.”
JA – “A long term problem can become an idol….it’s important to monitor your thoughts.” How timely that is (and, again, a theme is woven in the contributing thoughts from each of my devotion book friends). We are to monitor our thoughts (and our rants on social media) rather than indulge them. “Each time you cast your worrisome concerns on Me, you are redirecting your attention from problems to My loving Presence….I not only died for you, I live to make intercession for you.”
Streams – Wow. Just wow. I want to write the whole devotion, but I’ll try to pull in the highlights while encouraging you to read the entry for yourself (and get Streams in the Desert if you don’t have it). Add your own list of burdens, concerns, issues, etc when you see the “…”
“The cross that my Lord calls me to carry [makes me think of Erika Kirk] may assume many different shapes. I may have to be content with…. I may be required to…. I may be asked of God to nurture kind and loving thoughts about the very person who has wronged me and speak gently to him [like Jesus did and does], take his side when others oppose him….I may have to openly testify of my Master before those who don’t want to be reminded of Him or His claims. And I may be called to walk through…. He draws close to me in order to mature my wisdom, deepen my peace, increase my courage, and supplement my power. All this He does…so…I will be of greater use to others.” See? Wow.
Prevail 257 – Acts 1:7-8 – “He replied, ‘The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times [birth, events in my life, death]….But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses….’ “
After Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples understandably asked if/when He would “overthrow Rome and liberate the Israelites. But Jesus didn’t give them the answer they were hoping for. If He had, you and I wouldn’t be part of the kingdom today. Jesus had a much bigger mission in mind….” I think about the short time Erika Kirk had with her husband here on earth and it reminds me of how I felt after Richard died, when I was 17, and how I felt robbed of our potential future together. But I also realized that God didn’t have to give me that brief time with Richard to see the kind of man he was and likely would continue to grow into. I don’t know what God was doing for everyone else who was mourning, but in the midst of my lamenting, He assured me He always works things out for good. In time, I learned to let go of what never would be and to realize that God had given me hope when He gifted me with the measure of a man with which to move forward into my future. [I’m not indicating here that I used that knowledge well at all times! Sigh…but then, there’s forgiveness and grace, right?!!]
