Category Archives: Authority

Lord of the Sabbath

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What Do You Think? Wednesday

It’s 9:48 p.m. and I am just writing today’s blog post. There were no preemptive activities or technology issues. I just didn’t have anything to say. Well, I did, actually, but that was the problem: I had something to say. I’ve learned if I have something to say and God didn’t tell me to say it then I am on my own, and I can’t be out there like that, you know what I mean?

I remember that time, I’m sorry, those times, when I dated that boy because I wanted something to do. Then there was that time that I went to that place because I wanted somewhere to go and other times I said something because I wanted someone to know and each time ended in disaster: hurt bodies and emotions lay scattered, I was scattered wishing I had just listened to God.

We’ve all been there, wanting immediate gratification so we follow our flesh instead of waiting for God’s best for us. We try to rationalize, even spiritualize, our decisions. Sometimes that’s just easy to do when we are out of God’s will but want to be in His will. We work hard to make our will look like His will. I tried to do that in my mind. Thinking to God, I said: “You told me to start this blog and post every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I want to be obedient to posting on the days you told me.” Even saying this I knew I couldn’t write what came to mind because I didn’t have a release in my spirit. Had God forgotten what He told me or did He change His mind? I know God doesn’t have any memory problems and doesn’t change His mind (though a change for us may seem like He does) so I decided to wait on him. He would tell me what I needed to know when I needed to know it.

This afternoon when telling a friend about my dilemma I said, “He’s the Lord of the Sabbath. He can do what He wants” (Luke 6:5). After the scripture popped in my mind, I understood my delay. Just like Jesus could heal on the Sabbath, the day Jewish law designated at God’s command as the day of rest—a day set aside to honor God—Jesus could tell me not to post just to remind me that He is the Lord of my blog. In the beginning He told me what days to post. If he decided to change my post days, He could do that; He is the Lord of my days. He is the Lord of all our days.

So what are you fretting about? Did He give that to you to do? Did you say you He was your Savior and Lord, too? Well, I had to let Him be. Won’t you let Jesus be the Lord of your days? C’mon, what do you think?

Copyright 2011 by Rhonda J. Smith

God Knows

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How about them apples? These are two that I found, faced-down, in a bowl of drying fruit, swiped by my 2-year-old Nate and then replaced because he knew he wasn’t supposed to have more fruit. This week, the child training challenge has been on. We talked with our 7 year old about standing up to bullies, even recognizing when they’re putting him down. We encouraged our fruitaholic to save us some apples; and we directed our 11 month old not to throw a tantrum and fists and get beastly with his baby talk when he can’t play with the phone or remote control. Frankly, Flynn and I don’t know what we’re doing. I’d like to tell Josh to give the bad boys a beat down, hide the fruit from Nate and block the baby in the corner, but none of this is godly behavior. We don’t know, but the omniscient one knows and I’m glad He does.

He knows that I feel helpless when Josh hurts from the words and I want to yell stop when Nate’s grabbing fruit and Justus is babbling beastly. God knows and sees all, and, like Hagar and how he has done for me before, he will show me what I need for my children—how to get it and how to give it. I am His child and He will take of me. He will take care of us. When I remember that God is omniscient, I live like I will know what to do even though I might not yet know what to do. This is the life I plan to lead, continually, along with embracing His daily grace and mercies. How do you live or plan to live in light of God’s omniscience? I look forward to your comments.

Copyright 2010 by Rhonda J. smith

The Omniscient One

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He knew me before I was formed in my mother’s womb is what David tells us about God knowing us before any physical manifestation of us. He knows every hair on our heads is what Matthew tells us about God’s complete knowledge of us in our physical manifestation. And those who are dead in Christ will meet Him in the air is what Paul tells us, revealing God’s knowledge of us even after our physical death. This is the God who created humans, having full knowledge that we would sin against Him. Having that full knowledge He created us anyway and before creating us He had a plan to save us from the penalty, practice and presence of sin—salvation through belief in Jesus Christ and His resurrection from a death that paid the price for our sin. God’s all knowingness, His omniscience, is ever present and continually impacts our lives. I saw His omniscience at work in one major way while on break; God knew what I was in store for during the time of my break so I believe He had me take a break exactly when I did.

A friend of mine is experiencing the greatest challenge of her life and issues surrounding this challenge got deeper while on my blogging break in July but came to a head this month while on break from leading my discipleship group. God knew I needed to rest up in July and have my schedule free in August so I could be there emotionally, physically and spiritually for my friend. I have had the strength to cry with her, sing hymns to her, pray and fast for her, create bible studies for her, and walk with her through and hold her accountable to applying these bible studies. The time has been intense, but God’s omniscience equipped me for one of the biggest fights in my life on behalf of a dear friend.

Do you see God’s omniscience in your life? Yes, I know you have probably been in awe of His knowing you before forming you, that He knows every hair on your head and that He knows where to find and how to bring you to heaven. But have you stopped to think about his omniscience in your daily life? What is the implication of His knowing you before forming you and that He knows every hair on your head? How does God’s knowledge impact your life right now? God’s all knowingness goes beyond bible trivia and can help us take a broader view of and cope with what happens to us, especially when we don’t understand. His omniscience surrounding my breaks helped me see greater that His thoughts and ways are higher than my thoughts and ways and they give me exactly what I need.

Copyright 2010 by Rhonda J. Smith

The Mercy

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When I was on break, I reflected on how God’s mercy shined and helped me to be oh so grateful. Before my break, I pushed so hard that something should have attacked my body. I worked so intensely sometimes, that I missed when my children almost got hurt. At times I forgot to meet my husband’s needs. Phone calls went unanswered. I forgot a meeting or two. If it wasn’t for God’s mercy,

I would have been sick;
My kids would have been harmed;
My husband would have been mad at me;
Some friends may have left; and
Some contracts would have been broken and a host of other losses.

God’s mercy—not giving me what I deserve—is ever present and brand new every morning. I thank Him that His mercy begins with not allowing my home to be the hell He prepared for Satan and his imps. Jesus’ death and resurrection saved me from my certain penalty of hell and continues to save me today from myself. I praise God for his mercy seen in greater measure when considering how He kept me before my break.

How has God had mercy on you? Think about it daily and praise Him greatly. He definitely deserves it.

Copyright 2010 by Rhonda J. Smith