Cut and Paste

My mother worked in the newspaper industry for most of her life.  I helped the last few years.  I spent many nights up late typing, cutting and pasting.

In the years before computers took over the world, to lay out a newspaper for print you had to "Cut and Paste".  You typed, printed out and carefully cut the words you needed then pasted them on a "Master" page that would be copied final print

Someone I am praying for (and love) is going through a rough time.  They are in error and stubbornly refuse to consider counsel, wisdom or the possibility they are wrong.  Their life is falling apart and my spirit is grieved. 

Last night I had a dream. 

This person was cutting verses out of a bible and pasting them in a spiral notebook.  Making their own Bible.  It had a verse or two on each "page". 

The verse he was specifically cutting out, this time, was Deuteronomy 8:18.  "But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your ancestors, as it is today.".

They were so excited.  They were "pasting" it in their "Bible".   They were saying, "Yep, that's true.  That's what I believe.  That's how it's going to go." 

I was so grieved.  I knew they were wrong.  I knew they were going to suffer.  I knew they were going to be so disappointed.  I knew they had far too much pride to consider they might be wrong. 

My Spirit was very, very grieved.

As I prayed, I thought about the other verses in that chapter ... The chapter starts with, "Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today. ... "  You can not throw out the verses you don't want.  The Bible isn't a buffet, you can't just ignore what you don't like. 

Every means every.  The rest of the chapter reminds Israel of all He has done and admonishes them to obey ALL His commandments. All ... as in the whole Bible.  No, I do not mean a Legalistic, rigid view point where if you forget to pay a dollar of your tithe your kids will get run over by a bus.  No, quite the opposite.  When your heart is right, much Grace is available.  But, we have to do what we know to do.  We have to seek to know more.  When things don't work out ... we have to keep seeking. 

The Holy Spirit is faithful.  He is loving.  He is a consistent and diligent worker with our heart.  If you are missing it, I know He has already (tried to) discuss it with you.  He is also not going to violate your will.  If you don't hear Him, chances are He just quit talking because you're not listening anyway.  He will, however, revisit the situation if you ask Him to and .... AND .... will purpose in your heart to listen this time.

One thing is for sure, God didn't fail you.

One thing is for double sure, God's Word didn't fail you.

God's Word is true.

If you are not getting results, regroup and the first thing you need to do is examine your heart.

The heart is deceitfully wicked, the Bible tells us. Jeremiah 17:9  That doesn't mean we are all inherently evil.  It means we often aren't as innocent as we think.  You know how it makes you so angry when someone cuts you off in traffic.  Then you are driving, about to miss a turn and do the same thing.  Yeah, egg on the face.  lol  We have lots of reasons when we do something ... none when someone does it to us. 

We say we've forgiven someone but, every time we see them or hear their name we cringe inside and have to fight to keep from "making a face".

We say we want to go to church but we stay out late on Saturday and always plan something on Sundays.

We say we want to loose weight but keep buying processed foods.

This is also a matter of trust.   Sometimes we are afraid of our heart.  Afraid of what we will have to deal with.  Afraid of what's in there.  We need to trust God.  Trust He will lead us.  Trust Holy Spirit will be with us and help us down that dark path.  It's been my experience ... it's never as bad as we think ... as we're afraid of.

Fear is a paralyzing force.  Chase it out of your life!  Regroup.  Repent ... and be Blessed.  God longs to bless us.  Longs to help us.  Longs to heal us ... stands ready and waiting.  But, He won't violate His word.  You are wasting your time trying to get Him to.

"But we are redeemed from the curse.  We don't have to worry about all that."  True, we are redeemed from the curse.  False!  We can not live in disobedience and expect God's greatest blessing to manifest.  God doesn't reward disobedience.  Ever.  He will look at our heart and often give us Grace when we are struggling and trying but, that is very different from someone knowingly living in disobedience ...  expecting God to bless them, anyway ... hands over ears ... singing, "La la la".  Refusing to listen. 

Big difference. 

Sadly, so many don't realize they are transgressing the Word of God in this way because they don't read the whole chapter.  That is gross ignorance.  If you are basing your life, stand, blessing or situation on a verse ... read the whole chapter.  Reading the whole book even.  lol  Gross ignorance of the Word of God is rampant in our society. 

The Bible can not be cut and pasted.  It is not a Buffet.  It is a Smoothie ... you have to "eat" it ALL!!!

Pray for me, I'll pray for you.