Idols in our Closets

My devotional this morning was so great I wanted to share it with you. I am currently using The Power of a Positive Wife devotional and journal on Monday Mornings. I love it!

The Key scripture for the day is 2 Kings 17:13-15 (NLT)

¹³ Again and again the Lord had sent his prophets and seers to warn both Israel and Judah: “Turn from all your evil ways. Obey my commands and decrees—the entire law that I commanded your ancestors to obey, and that I gave you through my servants the prophets.”

¹⁴ But the Israelites would not listen. They were as stubborn as their ancestors who had refused to believe in the Lord their God. ¹⁵ They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and they despised all his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves. They followed the example of the nations around them, disobeying the Lord’s command not to imitate them.

Arthur Wallis says, "An idol may be defined as any person or thing that has usurped in the heart the place of preeminence that belongs to the Lord."

Often you hear cast all your idols away or something of the sort and you hear how the Lord is in your heart, but I have never heard it in the way Arthur Wallis puts it.  He says that the idols take up the space in our hearts where the Lord is. If we have even one idol other than our Lord, there is less room for Jesus. I take things pretty literally and this time it works. I could immediately relate to this because I don't like tight spaces. If having idols makes a tighter space for the Lord, then by all means get them out! He deserves all the space, all the attention. In fact, we are blessed with His presence in our hearts. We belittle our blessing when we have those idols. 

I also believe that many people use the word "love" too often. You don't really love your shoes and if you do then shoes are one idol you have. Love is such a strong word to use, but most people forget. I know there are people who will only use the word "hate" very rarely. They believe it is a strong word with a lot of meaning. "Love" should be used in the same sense. I say all this because I feel that once you say you love something, it starts to take space in your heart. Now Jesus asks us to love one another, which we should. But this love comes from Jesus. If we truly love something than that love comes from God. We love it because he does. Our thoughts should be His.  

The book points out that "sometimes our idols aren't 'stuff' but things like security or orderliness or even ourselves. Husbands can become idols, too." This is so important to remember. Nothing can meet all our needs except God. 

Challenge: Ask God to help you become aware of your idols that take up the space in your heart meant for Jesus.

March Madness

Oh Happy Day! My Kentucky Wildcats won their 8th National Championship this year in New Orleans and I got to go! I absolutely love UK basketball. Growing up a large family, we had many (I mean over 40) parties a year. Some were for birthdays and holidays, but the others were for UK basketball.

At first my cousins and I would play spy, barbies, tag, or whatever other game you can think of while the grown-ups yelled at the refs, at each other, and laughed as well. But soon some of us (the young cousins) became more interested in UK following our parents' passion for the sport and love for the team. Kentuckians have many traditions that keep us together: basketball, horse racing, grilling out, and some might say bourbon (not me, I do not like it). My family has bonded over basketball and grilling out. We love to get together and have a good time.

I am reminded of these great times each year when March Madness rolls around and UK is playing their best. The TV plays this little tune announcing that scores are coming at the bottom or the game is back on. Every time I hear it I think of my family and how dear they are to me.

The crowd cheering, the fireworks, the excitement are just a few things you will encounter going into Rupp Arena for a game. I grew up going to games here and there with my Dad. I love it so much that I sometimes tear up with happiness when I'm there. New Orleans this year was one of those times. You bubble over with excitement that you cannot put it into words how thrilled you are to be at a UK game with your Dad. Ten years ago he took me to the SEC tournament for my birthday where the CATS lost the first game. We still had a great time together. This was like a reunion except we WON! I cannot express enough my gratitude to my Dad or to Jesus the blessings I have received.

Check out the pictures below from our trip!

Mom in the backyard on the (new to me) bridge over our creek.

Beautiful Redbud tree blooming.

Redbud Tree

UK Time!

My awesome purse!

Dad and I headed out to dinner our first night in Blue Orleans

Awesome rocking elephant I want for my kids. It's at an antique store and is over $1400, anyone want to buy for us? Ha Ha

Headed to first games Saturday night

Signs on the Superdome

Colors were pretty balanced out, surprisingly

Final score of the final four game

After the parade, at Jackson Park right before our pic from WLEX 18 was taken too.

Swamp tour on the airboat

This alligator is 12 years old! 1" snout = 1' in length

Bev and his Dad

Final score of final game!

A little video of after game, I think My Old Kentucky Home is being played/sung.