devotion

"Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them." -Hebrews 13:9 (ESV)

My sister Tricia shared this verse with me this week. I had her send it to me because I wanted to study it in context and explore what the Lord might want to say to me. I came to several conclusions.

1) I do not want to be devoted to foods.
I do not want to be devoted to anything, saving Christ. Not THM for me. Not paleo for Trish. Nothing but Him. Jesus as Lord.  Good, fresh, healthy, chemical-free, organic food is very important and is essential to living an active life. It is. But my passion and devotion belong to Jesus.

2) I want my heart to be strengthened by God's grace.
Which is sufficient. I have to trust that, not just believe it. Sufficient...enough...words that grow in meaning and depth the longer I live. My strength does not come from human sources, but from my Creator.

3) I do not want to be led astray by "diverse and strange teachings."
In all my learning and studying and exploring remedies for Tricia's diseases, I will never compromise my faith in Almighty God to save, deliver, and heal. I will not dabble in the reflexology, or any other heathen or humanistic practice that is present in essential oil instruction or any other treatment that I explore.  Thankfully, my local group and upline in YLEO is not into all that!

4) I am thankful.
I an grateful for the THM lifestyle, paleo eating plan, essential oil education, and all other tools for living a healthy, courageous life, but my lifeline and source is Jesus Christ in whom and by whom all things exist. My life depends on Him, my Sustainer, not on what I eat.

So I don't agree with something like this:

Grace

At different times in my life I have had differing measures of Grace from the Lord...

Grace to handle complex situations.

Grace to make difficult decisions.

Grace to handle sibling stress and relationship hick-ups.

Grace to handle suffering in various forms.

Grace to accept Daddy's dying.

Grace to handle not being married by now.

Grace to deal with my students and their parents.

Grace to conquer my sins and character faults.

Grace to love my family even when it hurts.

Grace to accept a close loved one's not getting saved for so many years.

Grace to minister to anyone God sends my way.

Grace to plug away at college.

Grace to witness of God's saving grace.

Grace to overcome my natural reaction to people who irritate me.

Grace to not get into debt or spend too much on what I don't need.

Grace to do one wedding cake after another.

I have been inspired by people who had Grace in times of hardship and distress, heroes who have demonstrated utilization of Grace to deal with difficult people and situations. I have a tendency to react strongly against those who are mean-spirited, cruel, sadistic, selfish, lazy, unfaithful, and purposefully wicked. I am reminded today to extend the Grace that my Jesus has extended to me.

"If you strike out at everyone and turn them off, you might lose your ability to speak into their lives. When God is ready for you to speak...,the doors might not be open." A mature Christian gave this sage advise to a Keith Green who was unknowingly nearing the end of his mortal life. As a young new believer, he had lashed out at error and misguided Christianity that he perceived as crippling to the church. Later, as he grew more mature in his faith, he realized that his rash rage was wrong and graceless, and he apologized.

"May He grant you your heart's desire And fulfill all your counsel!."

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you."

"With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory."

"Many plans are in a man's heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand."

"There is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the LORD."

"Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man's counsel is sweet to his friend."

May I be continually filled with Your Grace, O Lord, that I may extend it to others in turn.