Learning

Choices

© 1999 Debbie Turner Chavers

Joshua 24:15

It began simply enough. A directive followed by a reply, " But I don't want to.."
There was not an argument, nor was there much else to say once the clear direction of a stated intention was made known.
But I don't want to..
The words had been stated emphatically, by one who knew their own mind.
A mind that is still growing, still in the process of learning the effect of decisions.
I had spent many hours of helping, of showing a clear way, of setting a disciplined example, and yet the age old struggle.

The one who was learning a life lesson, taught me something.

A clear course of action had been instituted and many encouragements given.
I had said, "You are not a quitter", "You CAN do this" " Nothing is ever accomplished if you don't try. Just try."

After all of my efforts and encouragement, I experienced a moment of clarity that was delivered with the emphatic reply of a four year old.
She stated succinctly, "But I don't want to", as she threw herself backwards in the chair..away from the goal in front of her.

Ah! I thought, "There it is!"

From a small child to the grave each individual is in the life changing process of choice.
As a child we are generally presented choices that are age appropriate. If a child's "want to" is not matured enough to agree, then there is wiggle room in the choosing.

But all choosers are not 4!

There are adults in our lives who have not matured in their chronological age and are still pushing past all established boundaries with emphatic life statements and life choices of "But I don't want to.."

If after our best efforts are met with " But I don't want to.." My first response personally is prayer and then action.
I have learned that no amount of "teaching" will ever be absorbed by an unwilling pupil.
I don't want to...means "I don't want to..

Gain your life back, take your time back, sow somewhere else.
The world is a huge field of opportunity.
Obviously the majority of us are not teachers by trade.
Yet, everyone is learning and teaching someone and something everyday.
Our lifestyles and our choices set examples and give a witness in this world of who we are and what we value.
So the next time you meet a brick wall of opposition...consider the role you are choosing. Pupil or Teacher?

~Debbie

Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

Power Struggle

© 1999 Debbie Turner Chavers

1 Corinthians 6:12

Water-Man Series 

** If you click on the art parable painting title you will be redirected to its website for more information about the painting. Click on these links http://artparables.com
All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2016 Debbie Turner Chavers. Protected by US and International copyright laws. All Rights Reserved. Scripture references taken from the King James Version bible which can be accessed online at http://biblegateway.com

Art Parable: Disobedient, Wounded One

Disobedient,Wounded One

© 2014 Debbie Turner Chavers

Water-Man Series

1 Kings 13 and 2 Peter 3:9

1 Kings 13:26 And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake unto him.

Do you find it difficult to follow what the Lord has told you? Disobedience gives the devil a type of permission to devour and tear.
Stay on the path, toward the LORD. Do not stray from the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If you have left God's known way and direction to you, make haste and repent.
Ask God to forgive you and receive His mercy. He desires that no man perish, but that all come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

The wounded one was "a man of God." He was sent on a mission to deliver a message unto wicked king Jeroboam. He was to deliver the message and then to return to Judah.
A messenger came swiftly to him as he sat under an oak tree and proceeded to tempt him to ignore the LORD's clear directive.  Scripture says the messenger was an old prophet in Bethel.

The man of God was told clearly by the word of the LORD to not eat bread, nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that he had come. (1 Kings 13:17)
He obeyed initially.

Yet soon after he obeyed,  he sat down under an oak tree and turned aside and followed the direction given to him by a lying prophet. The lying prophet sought out the "man of God" and said an angel told him to bring him back to his house. (1 Kings 13:17-18)
Beware! Of any who try you or tempt you to leave the truth of God's word given to you.
Why did "the man of God" believe a lie? Why did he follow a liar, instead of the clear directive of the LORD? We must take heed and try every spirit whether it be of God or not.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Man or woman of God, once you have accepted Christ and are following Him, do not return unto your old way. Do not be disobedient unto the Word of the LORD.
The man of God in these scripture verses was slain, torn, and delivered to a lion. (1 Kings 13:26) due to his disobedience.
We are warned.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

Know, that as a child of God you can run to God.
His arms are open.
He loves you.

The Prodigal and Family

© 2010 Debbie Turner Chavers

Water-Man Series 

My understanding is that " the man of God" was torn and slain because even after his disobedience was brought to his attention..he did not repent.
He was not a prodigal..He did not come to his senses and return to his Father.
He ate and drank and left to go about "his way."
In the last days it will be even so..
Matthew 24:38
Let your eating and drinking be in remembrance (communion-the Lord's Supper) of what Christ Jesus has accomplished on the cross and continue to walk forward. Do not depart from the truth.

If you have been disobedient, repent quickly.  Depend on the mercy of the LORD that would have all come to repentance and not perish. (2 Peter 3:9)
As you read all of (1 Kings 13 ) you will see that even an evil king received mercy-but he did not repent.
Let us run to God, not from God.

1 Kings 13:6 And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was again.

The man of God prayed for a wicked king who was given mercy and healed of a withered hand, yet the man of God did not repent and ask for mercy for himself.

Let us follow the LORD.

~Debbie









** If you click on the art parable painting title you will be redirected to its website for more information about the painting.
All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2016 Debbie Turner Chavers. Protected by US and International copyright laws. All Rights Reserved. Scripture references taken from the King James Version bible which can be accessed online at http://biblegateway.com Click on these links http://artparables.com or http://debbieturnerchavers.com

Poem: Relationship With a Fickle Heart

1/2 Hearted Obedience, 

 Double-Minded Man 

© 2013 Debbie Turner Chavers

Water-Man Series

Relationship with a Fickle Heart

There was a time

when I said 

I love you

BUT

I changed my mind

I admired your

everything

with rose colored glasses

BUT

you changed my mind

I gathered your experiences

of time and place

BUT

forgot about mine.

I awoke with ..

a fresh start

and gathered my time

BUT

I changed my mind.

~Debbie Turner Chavers

Loved by Faithful Jehovah God

The love of the Father is not like this poem of fickle affections.
Human love..changes..at times constantly.
God is not fickle, but faithful.
A love given that builds not borrows, gives not takes.
Embraced, but free to go.
You are LOVED by He who will not lie and has told you so.

~Debbie

Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.

1 Samuel 15:29  And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

If you desire to have a firm foundation of steadfast love. Call upon the LORD. Ask Him into your heart and into your everyday life. Click here to read and say a quick prayer to invite Him into your heart. 

** If you click on the art parable painting title you will be redirected to its website for more information about the painting.
All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2015 Debbie Turner Chavers. Protected by US and International copyright laws. All Rights Reserved. Scripture references taken from the King James bible which can be accessed online http://biblegateway.com Click on these links http://artparables.com or http://debbieturnerchavers.com

Opened Eyes Still See Him

Close-up of Eyes-Art parable Isaiah 42:7

© 2013 Debbie Turner Chavers

Matthew 20:29-34  And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
And, behold, two blind men sitting by the wayside, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.
And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.
And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

Their persistence was rewarded as they ignored the crowd and sought the Lord. 
Our persistence is rewarded also. 
I once was spiritually blind and the Lord had compassion on me as well.
There are many types of blindness.  
Do not give up. 
Keep persisting.

I noted that they were leaving Jericho, what once had been a walled city. 
Unbelief can be like a walled city.
I noted they were by a wayside. 
If you have not chosen Jesus as your Savior, He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, "you also, are on the wayside. (John 14:6)
I noted that their persistence and verbal recognition of Jesus caused him to stand still.
Amazing.

Jesus knows when we are trying to get his attention.
Ignore the opposition, 
call louder, 
more persistent, 
keep calling on the Lord. 

Their cries of recognition were as a prayer. 
And Jesus answered, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

I also noted that when their cries were answered, they followed him. 
Yet in his compassion, he heard and healed them ...before they followed.

It is the goodness of God that leads men to repentance. (Romans 2:4)

New Testament...
His goodness passed by, stopped, and granted their request to see. Think of that! 

Old Testament...
Remember Moses, he asked to see also in Exodus 33:19-23
And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:

And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: 
but my face shalt not be seen.

Jesus is our intercessor. 
Look at the favor and the beauty of the gift given.
The Rock of our salvation , Jesus said if we see him we have seen the Father. 
Jesus is the Rock on which we are able to be hid in and rest on. 
Our Healer, blind eyes opener, Savior. 
We are covered. 
Opened eyes still see Him.

~Debbie

* There is a new Art Parable posted Disobedient, Wounded One *This was posted first at my blog http://lolo-livingoutloudonline.com 


John 14:9 ...he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; ...

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

For further study consideration -John 5:31-47




** If you click on the art parable painting title you will be redirected to its website for more information about the painting.

All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2015 Debbie Turner Chavers. Protected by US and International copyright laws. All Rights Reserved. Scripture references taken from the King James bible which can be accessed online http://biblegateway.com Click on these links http://artparables.com or http://debbieturnerchavers.com