Sep

1

When OOPS Happen

By Julie B Cosgrove | Leave a Comment


 But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer. For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me when my foot slips!”   Psalm 38:15-16

Years ago before the Christian Rock Band DC Talk went their separate ways, they sang a song asking what would happen if  their fans witnessed them stumble and fall in their walk with the Lord.  How often do people watch Christians with a jaundice eye, just waiting for them to mess up and not “be perfect”.

But we aren’t perfect,  are we? Otherwise, we wouldn’t need a Savior in our lives. Bumper stickers, back in my college Jesus Freak days of the ’70’s when some of us refused to join the Hippie generation, said, ” I’m not perfect. God isn’t finished with me yet.”   We underwent a bit of ridicule and persecution then because we had different morals.  I felt so much pressure to be good, and behave well, until one day one of my college buds said to me that he wanted to know more about my Jesus because I was the first believer he knew who was a “real” person. He had seen me in times of stress and happiness, in times of surety and in times of doubt, but never losing sight of God, or rather never believing He lost sight of me.

We will stumble, our foot might slip. But the difference is we know our Lord will catch us, brush off our scraped knees, hold us tight and comfort us. He will see us through the consequences and even teach us a valuable lesson. But more than that, He will forgive us. 

Psalm 121:3 says “He will not let your foot slip–he who watches over you will not slumber . . .”  Is this a contradiction?  I don’t think so.  If we walk that closely with Him and not veer off onto our own slippery slope, He will make our feet as sturdy as a deer’s on high places.  But, of course, we are human. That slope beckons us. If, and when it does, we can wait on the Lord to come to our rescue, again.  We can confess, and go on, not wavering in our resolve that the Lord of All loves us and died on the Cross so we could be forgiven.

That is the message for those who watch and wait for the “oops” in our lives. That is our witness to the world, until the day comes when God has perfected us in Christ for all eternity.

for more devotionals on the Psalms, please consider purchasing SONG NOTES through Amazon.com.
 It is dedicated to this website.

Aug

31

Clean Hands

By Julie B Cosgrove | Leave a Comment


I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O Lord  Psalm 26:6

I grew up as a tomboy.  I wish I had a dollar for each time my mother called out when she heard me coming in as I banged the screen door, “Julie, go wash your hands.” I’d be retired by now and lounging on a Carribean island!  I hated to take the time to wash my hands. What as a little dirt? She’d cluck her teeth and say, “Clean hands make a clean heart.”   Sure enough, when it was time for  me to be the mother of a little boy who liked to be outside, I became just like her, calling out each time he came in the house, “Go wash your hands.”

Clean hands not only ward off diseases, they are a sign of respect. Who wants to shake hands with someone who has dirty hands? In order to establish a right relationship, before we want to touch someone else, we’d prefer they be clean, right?  God requests the same from us.

Remember Pilate washed his hands can claimed himself innocent of Jesus’ death? That is where we get the saying, “I wash my hands of this matter.” Ceremonial washing was common in the ancient world. You wanted to appear clean before God.  In many denominations, before preparing the Communion at the altar, ministers and priests still do that. They use a lavabo bowl and towel. Lavabo means wash. 

Before we come to God’s altar (into His presence), we must be washed of our sins.  That is why confession in our prayer life is so vastly important. It cleans the slate. Christ, through His sacrifice, can wash away our sins, but we need to present them. he acts as the soap, but we must stick our hands under the faucet, so to speak.  If we don’t confess, if we do not approach God with a clean heart, He will know, and so will we.  True, honest and meaningful relationships cannot be based in lies or hidden secrets. In fact, deep down, we know we cannot hide anything from God. Our unconfessed wrongdoings become the 6 ton gorrilla in the room we  are trying to ignore. It’s like having dirty hands. We want to hide them behind our back.

So, before you approach the altar of God on you knees, go wash your spiritual hands, i.e., your heart. Cleanliness is next to godliness, right? My mother always said that, too.

Aug

30

On God Authority

By Julie B Cosgrove | Leave a Comment


 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.  John 8:28

Are you one to bite your tongue, swallow down your thoughts and never make a comment? OR do you have foot-in-mouth disease? Do you always wish after the fact you had not blurted out and spoken your mind so hastily? How many bruised feelings and heartaches are caused when we open our mouths before engaging, not only our brains, but our prayers? My times scroll across my heart just thinking about it. You,too?

Then there are those other times when 20-20 hindsight kicks in and you slap your forehead and say,”I wish I’d say that instead.” Or when you wished you’d had the guts to speak up and say what was in your heart. We could dwell in that “wish I had” place for a long time. But it does no good. What is done is done.

Few of us measure our words to God’s standards, but it is worth the try. Jesus did, and as Christians we are to emulate Him.  He spoke only what The Father had taught Him and turned to God as his sole authority.  That meant yielding to God’s will, seeking His counsel in all circumstances and trusting.  Would life be easier if we did that?

No. Nobody can hardly call Jesus’ life here one earth an easy one.  He was misunderstood by his relatives and home town, by his religious authorities and even his closest friends. He traveled with little possessions and had not place to lay His head. He was shunned, plotted against, beaten and crucified. But He always turned to God.  His life was purposeful, and his conscience clear. When He spoke, it was more than good authority, it was on God authority.

Whatever we go though in this life, we can do the same. We can choose to do nothing on our own authority, but Seek His guidance first – in the major life changing decisions and in the every day quandaries.  As Proverbs 3:5 states, Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

 

Aug

25

Speak Openly

By Julie B Cosgrove | 1 Comment


And there was much muttering about him [Jesus] among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.  John 7:12-13

Are you afraid to speak openly about Jesus for fear you may be shunned? Are you concerned that people will back off, roll their eyes or tune you out? During my parent’s post World War II era, Christianity was the norm. Stores were closed on Sundays. Everyone went to church. Norman Rockwell painted people praying Grace over a meal for the cover of LIFE magazine. The Principal, over the intercom, began each day of school with a prayer and the Pledge.

We don’t live in those days now, do we? It is not so popular to be a follower of Jesus today. We no longer blend into the crowd. No more fence straddling.  We must choose to be a sheep or a goat ( Matthew 25:32).  As women we must stand strong in our faith, and if we are blessed to be rearing children, instill that faith in them. Society will no longer do that for us. We must cocoon our loved ones in prayer so the world doesn’t contaminate them with “global” religion- a white wash conglomerate that paints Jesus as a “good man” among many and preaches over-tolerance for all faiths as equal paths to God.

If you believe Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Light, then He must be your only way, not just a way. Lean on Him and not your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5), seek His ways first (Matthew 6:33) and let His Spirit guide you. Don’t be afraid to openly proclaim Him in your actions, and your life- and if necessary, use words.

. . .because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.  1 Thessalonians 1:5

Aug

23

Is this Not the One?

By Julie B Cosgrove | Leave a Comment


And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”  But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.   Acts 9:21-22

I have heard it said a zebra can’t change its stripes or a leopard its spots. Or that an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. In other words, people are who they are, they don’t change.  But through God, all things are possible. He can create a leopard with a houndstooth pattern or a zebra with squiggles if He wants. He can cause a mighty wind to pick up the apple and carry it hundreds of miles. He can and does change people.

Perhaps the hardest people to convince about Jesus is the ones who knew us beforehand. The ones who remember all the things we did or said and like to bring it up now and again. Maybe, they are old hang-out buddies who can’t understand why you don’t want to participate in those things anymore. Maybe it is a sibling with whom you never quite got along. Perhaps, they are people at work who are used to the old grouchy stressed out you. They see a change and want to believe it is a phase – a temporary thing that will wear off.

But, like Saul, your new life will make your stronger. The old temptations won’t pull you as much. The more your new ways become habit and the old fade away, the more Christ-like you become, the more the caterpillar becomes the butterfly, people will take notice.  Don’t lose heart.  Eventually, your life will be proof that Jesus Christ is Lord. God will have changed your stripes! You are indeed a new creature.

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