Sunday, May 26th
Today we are heading down to Iowa for a picnic with family and to stop at the cemetery. We try to get down at least once a year. It's been raining a lot. Hopefully it clears off by the time we get there. :-)
On our way back we are stopping in Faribault to visit Grandma Gloria.
The last few days I've had some bloody discharge...not sure what this means or why I would have it.
I'm going to call the Dr on Tuesday to let her know.
Yesterday, I was cleaning and by the end of the day I was really sore...I guess I need to slow down and not push it.
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"But Samuel replied: "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22
Elizabeth Elliott tells the story of a little girl who, instead of doing her chores, decided she should spend that hour practicing on the piano. She sat proudly plunking away, "Yes, Jesus Loves Me." Her mother called from the other room, reminding the child of her duties; but the girl continued to fill the house with the melody of praise. Was her piano playing rewarded? Not at all. Songs of praise lose their meaning when offered out of disobedience.
We are not unlike the child at the piano. Like Saul, who disobeyed God, keeping the best of the Amalekites' oxen and sheep to enhance his sacrifices to the Lord, we try to justify our disobedience with a show of religion. We remain in an evil trade, thinking that we can then earn more to give to the Lord. We hold on to a small but corrupt habit with the excuse that we balance it out with faithful attendance at prayer meeting and choir rehearsal.
The truth is, the Amalekites' sheep and cattle were a better breed. Those animals would have made for a "better" sacrifice. For that matter, the child's rendition of "Jesus Loves Me" at any other time would have been sweet music to her mother's ears. In the same way, giving more to the Lord is a wonderful thing and faithful attendance at prayer meeting is to be admired -- but all of it is ram fat when offered through disobedience.
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Be quiet for a moment and let the Spirit scrutinize your offerings of late to the Lord. What is He whispering to you right now?
Lord, obedience is much more of a holy thing to offer You than anything else, no matter how pleasing it appears or how much sacrifice was involved. Help me to remember this. Amen
Another great day!
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