Rumination Journal

“Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. For with whatever judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.” —Matthew 7:1-5 I have a condition. And it appears to be chronic. I have an impairment regarding how I view others and how I view myself. But God, through the Holy Spirit and God's Word, is making me aware of my condition and what I must do to treat it. Below are several Scripture passages God has led me to regularly meditate upon, as well as my notes on these Scriptures. I admit there are days when “God’s treatment” tastes alright, and there are days when “God’s...

But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. But he withdrew himself into the desert, and prayed. —Luke 5:15-16 Around A.D. 275, following the death of his wealthy parents, a young man named Anthony gave all his family wealth to the poor, consigned his unmarried sister to a Christian community, and began a life of devout seclusion. He eventually attracted disciples which he organized into a community. And while Saint Anthony of Egypt was not the first Christian hermit, he became known as the "Father of Monasticism," and was the inspiration for similar communities. Monasticism is a religious way of life in which one renounces worldly pursuits to devote themself fully to spiritual work. Many monastics live in monasteries to separate themselves from the secular world. The Christian monk embraces the monastic life as a vocation for God. His goal is to attain eternal life in God’s presence...

“Don’t remember the former things, and don’t consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing. It springs out now. Don’t you know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.  The animals of the field, the jackals and the ostriches, shall honour me, because I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen,  the people which I formed for myself, that they might declare my praise. Isaiah 43:18‭-‬21 WEBBE -

But now thus says the Lord , he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." --Isaiah 43:1‭-‬2 ESV God made you, God knows you, God loves you, God is with you. -

The affects of fear, worry and anxiety can be crippling. But you can find God's comfort and God's peace through God's Word. Meditate on Scripture and let God remind you of His constant presence, His perspective, and His promises for you . When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. —Psalm 56:3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas; though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling. —Psalm 46:1-3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. —Psalm 56:3 Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness. —Isaiah 41:10 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. —Psalm 56:3 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and don’t lean o...

Then David the king went in, and sat before the LORD; and he said, “Who am I, Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?” ––2 Samuel 7:18 In the above verse, the word sat comes from the Hebrew verb transliterated as yashab . In most of the Old Testament, the word means to dwell, settle, inhabit, live, and other variations. In other places, it means to stay, abide, remain, wait, spend. And in still other places, it means to sit. In our busy world, we find it hard to sit still for any length of time. Some suggest we have lost the art of solitude and contemplation. King David was busy. Yet he still made time to regularly sit in God's presence. You can see it in the psalms he wrote. They are of worship and prayer. They are rich and weighty and have the touch of the eternal. They are the product of wonder and musing. In the seventh chapter of the Second Book of Samuel, we read that David wanted to build God a house—a temple. But God had other plans. I...

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps, who didn’t sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.” — 1 Peter 2:21-22 The hurricanes of 2017 in my home state of Florida caused me to think about priorities. Many of the things we have and do seem to fade away when placed in the proper perspective, and rightly so. As German writer and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.” But what are the priorities for the Christians? The answer might be found in the example left for us by Jesus Christ. Jesus sought the Father Jesus demonstrated intimacy with God by seeking him continually in prayer. Forty-five times the gospels tell us that Jesus went alone to pray. Every aspect of his life and ministry was saturated with prayer. Jesus embraced the outcasts Jesus demonstrated the love of God by accepting the castaways o...