Masters Degree

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Genesis 4:7

            Master sin. Sounds easy, but my masters degree over sin has proven illusive. Scintillating sights and aromas tempt from every corner. Even thoughts that promise to expand the mind threaten to pull me over lines I never meant to cross. An insatiable appetite for living, over-stimulated by mythical sounds and sensations, goes down fighting.

            So what is my problem? 

I want the results of discipline along with the pleasure of surrender. I want to show off all the frosted artistry of the winning entry in a cupcake war, even after I’ve consumed it. What I desire is physically impossible.

Self-control comes as part of the whole Holy Spirit package. The moment I accept with my whole heart and say aloud, “I believe in Jesus’ sacrifice for my sins!” then I get all the goods that I need to fight this battle with sin.

But I have to choose. I can’t work toward a masters until I have first decided that is, in fact, what I want.

 Scripture NIV Text and Photos © 2012 Reggie http://creativecommons.org

New Creation

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Last night I tried memorizing the above scripture before I went to bed. When I woke up this morning, I had almost the whole thing in Spanish in my head. I had left out the part about being a new creation, which is funny because that is the most important part.

Over the last six months, I have been trying to lose seventy pounds in order to take excess pressure off my arthritic joints. I have lost about 35 lbs and am half way. My Achilles tendons feel a great deal better. But over the last two weeks of Christmas baking and gift giving I succumbed to my cravings for caramel and chocolate. I gained four lbs in a little less than two week, which I have a hard time believing, but there it is. I lost sight of the fact that the Scriptures say that I am a new creation. The old is gone. Now there is only the new.

So who is this “new me”? I am a healthy eater of smaller portions. Someone who exercises on a daily basis. A person who focuses on long term health rather than temporary pleasures. A servant of God who needs to remain fit for the tasks that fit into the plan and will of my Creator.

This new me has determined to learn one bible verse per week in Spanish for the next year. This first day seems successful, though the week has only just begun. It is important to remember that living by the word of God is really the point, not just being able to spit it back out just a stream of meaningless words. My new year’s resolution of sorts I suppose. But I pray that this exercise will benefit others besides me. That those memorized words will be an encouragement to others struggling with their own issues, not by power or might of my own, but by the Holy Spirit. This is my New Year’s resolve.

Scripture NIV Text and Photos © 2011 Reggie http://creativecommons.org

UNCOIL

A baby snake got lost in my basement this morning. Immediately the cats started playing with her. She coiled herself up tight and prepared to strike, rattling her tail. At one point she froze belly up playing dead.

After reading on the internet what to do, I got a broom, brushed her into an empty cat litter bucket and closed the lid. She was only confined long enough for me to get dressed. I dumped her out at the edge of the woods. She immediately relaxed from her uncoiled position and glided peacefully into her proper environment.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation that you knew was wrong for you, but you couldn’t figure out how to get out of it? Did you assume a defensive posture to survive the hostile environment? Did someone intervene to get you out of the threatening situation?

Temporary confinement, though unpleasant, is one way to move us toward the place where we were meant to be. God’s word can also help us change direction.

“Every word of God is flawless;  he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

 Psalm 30:5

The law of the LORD is perfect,     refreshing the soul.  The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,     making wise the simple.  8 The precepts of the LORD are right,     giving joy to the heart.  The commands of the LORD are radiant,     giving light to the eyes.  9 The fear of the LORD is pure,     enduring forever.

The decrees of the LORD are firm,     and all of them are righteous.  10 They are more precious than gold,     than much pure gold;  they are sweeter than honey,     than honey from the honeycomb.  11 By them your servant is warned;     in keeping them there is great reward.

¹⁴ May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart  be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:7-14



Scripture NIV Text and Photos © 2011 Reggie http://creativecommons.org

The Key

Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?” John 7:11

The Greek translation of “he” is a demonstrative pronoun referring to a person, place or thing that is remote from the speaker.

My Spanish translation said “metido” which I couldn’t find in my dictionary but Google translated as “key”. When I looked metido up in other dictionaries I got many different translations.

Personally I never throw away a key, especially when I’m not sure what it opens.

The religious establishment was farther from Jesus in philosophy than in physical distance. They may have seen him as the key to their undoing, but many viewed him as the key to freedom from the oppression of Rome.

I see him as the key to forgiveness and restored relationship with God.

So many definitions. I suppose it doesn’t matter which one we pick, the main point is perspective. On the outside looking in or on the inside looking out?

Do we want to remain remote from Jesus?

Scripture NIV Text and Photos © 2011 Reggie http://creativecommons.org

Where Is Home

Rooftops of San Pedro, Costa Rica

The day I came home

I didn't see the dust

on the floors or the furniture.

or feel the dog hair

on the blankets or the sheets.

Never noticed that

the bathroom needed cleaning.

The pet hair rolling

along the floorboards like tumbleweed

greeted me like an old friend.

Odors were familiar not foul.

Marks on the walls reminded me

Of the twenty years of living

that marred them.

My husband's smile as he led me

Into the family room where

he had vacuumed the rug

was like a special gift.

I looked forward to

my daughter coming home

for her birthday the next day.

This was the place

I called home when wanderlust

Left me.

When you call the creator of the universe friend

Everywhere is home, but here is where

I take off my smile along with my hat

and hang it by the door.

Text and Photos © 2011 Reggie http://creativecommons.org

Rise, Carry, Release, Rise

 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.  Luke 23:1

As you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him. Luke23:15-16

He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.  As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus Luke 23:25-26

Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!  Luke 24:5-6

A crowd rose and carried Christ to Pilate.

Pilate wanted to release Jesus.

A murderer was released instead.

Simon carried Christ's cross.

Guilt carried two men to be crucified.

Faith carried one criminal to paradise.

Christ rose from the dead.

Scripture NIV Text and Photos © 2010 Reggie http://creativecommons.org

Pray for the Depraved

These prayer warriors have my back.

Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.


With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood!


These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”2 Peter 2:2, 14, 17-22


When I read these words I am convicted. My conduct is not yet depraved, but my thoughts are not what they should be. My mind needs renewing. I am fighting a spiritual battle and my brain is the battlefield. I am in need of much prayer. I thank God for my friends, godly men and women who are not afraid to get down on their knees and intercede for the likes of me.

Thanks guys.Scripture NIV Text and Photos © 2010 Reggie http://creativecommons.org