Short & Sweet: Cross-eyed by Mary Kane

Nourishment and refreshment for your soul.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:1-2

While we are walking out our life on this earth, a great cloud of witnesses have their eyes on us. In order to walk correctly, we need lay aside any distraction and every sin,that clouds our vision and keep our eyes on Jesus. Their eyes are on us. Our eyes are on Jesus. Eyes on the cross. Cross-eyed.

Scientific research proves where the eyes go, the body follows (Research Article). Therefore, if we keep our eyes on the cross, we will follow Jesus.

Verse 2 uses the term looking unto Jesus, which transliterates into one Greek word, aphorao. Aphorao means “to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something, to turn ones mind.” Aphorao descends form another verb horao, which means “to see with the eyes and mind, to become acquainted with by experience, to perceive, to know. ”

Mind … body … eyes. All connected. All leading somewhere. Eyes on Jesus. Eyes on His word. Eyes on the cross.

Cross-eyed.

Action Points:

Are you cross-eyed?
What is getting in the way of seeing Jesus? Do you need to lay something aside?
What do you think about and meditate on? What do you fill your mind with?
Do you know Jesus? How can you get to know Him better?

Life is sweet!

Short & Sweet: Paths and Ways by Mary Kane

Nourishment and refreshment for your soul.

Thus says the LORD: “Stand in the ways and see,

And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it;

Then you will find rest for your souls.

But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Jeremiah 6:16

As Christians, we should not be threatened by other religions or world views. God calls us to stand in the ways and see. The word see, in the original Hebrew means, “to observe, to consider, to give attention to, to learn about. This does not mean we should try every “-ism and -ology” before accepting the truth of Christianity. We are to “take a stand” in face of all the other ways and ask for the old paths, where the way is good and walk in it. Be assured, God’s way will bear testing and scrutiny and be found to be absolute truth.

For greater comprehension, please study the following words from our verse in the original language.

Hebrew Words:

ask: in Hebrew sha’al, which means “to enquire carefully, to ask of God.” Our salvation comes from the Lord.

old: in Hebrew owlam, which is defined as “everlasting, evermore, perpetual eternity.” The old is always relevant.

walk: in Hebrew yalak, which translates “a manner of life, a way of living, to die.” Christianity is a spiritual birth to death commitment.

Remember, there are ways, and then there is the good way. Jesus is the Way; the good path. Let’s choose the Way that will last for eternity, with no unpleasant surprises in the end. When we choose His path, we’ll find rest for our souls.

Action Points:

Ask for the good way concerning your current challenge.
How can you walk more closely to Jesus?
If anyone followed the current path of your life, where would it lead?

To start your journey with Jesus, please click on the link below:

Following Jesus

Life is sweet!

Short and Sweet: Nothing but the Truth, by Mary Kane

Nourishment and refreshment for your soul.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:1-6

There comes a point in our life when we must make a decision about what we believe about God, heaven, life, and death. Who’s truth will we believe: the world’s, our own, or God’s.

Living by my own truth was a disastrous plan. The world of science did not have a remedy for my massive sin problem (Darwin could not cover my guilt and shame). Then I met Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life. His truth became my truth. His way became my way. His life became my life.

Let’s dig a little deeper into our verse.

Way: In Greek hodos, which means properly, a traveled road, a journey, a course of conduct, thinking and living.

Truth: In Greek aletheia, which means “what is true in any matter under consideration, in reality, fact.

Life: in Greek zoe, which translates “life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed …” to be fresh, strong, and efficient. Life only found in Christ, to live as we were created to be.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him.

Action Points:

Where do you want to end up?
Is the way you are walking going to get you there?
What is truth? Does truth depend on people or circumstances? What does truth depend on?
Did any of the above definitions impact your heart?

Jesus is the way the truth, and the life. If you know you do not have truth, please click on one of the links below.

Life is sweet.

Short & Sweet: Open Wide, by Mary Kane

Nourishment and refreshment for the soul.

I am the LORD your God,
Who brought you out of the land of Egypt;
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Psalm 81:10

God spoke these words to His people, to remind them of all He had done for them. Egypt was a land of slavery, bondage and suffering. Jehovah had delivered His people from Egypt so He could bless them and fill them with His goodness … if they would only open wide. Even though this verse was written to the Hebrew people many years ago, we can apply it to our lives today.

We too can be in bondage, not to Pharaoh, but to our own sinful desires. It’s not God’s will for us to live in bondage to any sin. He came so we can have life and have it abundantly. When we empty ourselves of sin, we make room to be filled by God. How are we to be filled? Open wide. Open wide our hearts, and our lives to be filled by God.

The Hebrew word for fill is male’ which means, to fulfill, to satisfy, to complete, to accomplish. Male’ is an imperfect tense verb which signifies a continuous action. A continual filling. Always more, always wider, always more God. When we are filled with God, we will be able to complete and accomplish many good works for His kingdom.

Open wide! For a little bite, for a little sip? No, for a feast! Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Open wide.

How much God do you want?
How can you open wide to make more room for God?
What is God longing to give you?

Life is sweet!

Short & Sweet: Worry or Seek? by Mary Kane

Nourishment and refreshment for the soul.

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6: 31-33

In the verse above, we are given two directives–do not worry and seek first. In the original Greek, worry descends from the Greek root word meros. Meros and its derivatives mean, “to be anxious, to care, to promote one’s own interests, to be cut into pieces.” Worry diverts our focus to the future so we miss life in the present. Worry also contaminates every other facet of life; cutting out our joy and stealing our peace. Thankfully, God gives us an alternative to worry.

Seeking. Seeking His kingdom.

What thoughts come to mind when you think of the word seek? Looking … searching … finding. The previous words make up a small part of the Greek definition of seek. Interestingly, zeteo, the Greek word for seek means, “to seek i.e. require, to enquire into, demand, to to seek [in order to find out] by thinking, meditating, reasoning.” Seeking and worrying have a point of commonality; they both occupy the mind.

We have a two choices: We can be consumed by worry or be consumed with God. Which will you choose? You better think about it.

Action Points:

1. According to our verse, what causes worry?

2. What do you tend to worry about? Replace worry with consistent continuous prayer.

3. Is worry getting in the way of your relationship with God?

4. What does a God-seeking life look like?

5. How can you become a God seeker?

Life is sweet.

Short and Sweet: Forged by Fire by Mary Kane

Nourishment and refreshment for the soul.

29 “Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD

“And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

Jeremiah 23:29

In Jeremiah 23:29, God compares His word to two things: fire and a hammer.

Usually when I hear the word fire, I think of destruction. In the Bible, fire is used for refining precious metals, and for consuming useless things such as hay, straw and stubble. Fire is also indicative of the Presence of God. From fiery Mount Sinai, to the burning bush, to the pillar of fire, to the tongues of fire at Pentecost, where there is fire, there is God.

Hammers on the other hand, mean construction. Interestingly, pattiysh, the Hebrew word for hammer, refers to a forge hammer; the type of hammer a blacksmith uses to pound, strengthen and shape metal after it has been heated in … fire.

God uses both of these tools to mature our faith. Destruction and construction, forge and fire, work hand in hand. With the fire of His Word, God clears our lives of hay, straw, and stubble so He can build a sure foundation. Precept and doctrines are then hammered down, board by board, as we study and apply the truth of God’s word. God continues to refine and build until we become His church, living temples filled with the glory of God.

Action Points:

Identify the hay, straw, and stubble in your life.
What can you do to cooperate with the firing process?
What is God building in your life?
How can you aid God in the building process?

Sometimes God must tear down before He can build up.

Life is sweet!

For more information on God’s refining fire, please click on the link below.

Refining Fire Bible Verses