Lead me, Teach me - to know You ways

Psalm 25:4-7

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.  Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you, I wait all day long.

 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.  Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!”

Reading these verses, I hope messes with you, for I should not be the only one that is saying like Isaiah the prophet, “Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips . . .” (Isaiah 6:5)

As I read verses four and five of Psalm 25, it was clear the Lord was speaking to me, let me share what the apostle Peter instructed all who are followers of Christ to do.  “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

On January 26 of 2019, my wife broke her ankle in two places while we were burning brush on the back part of our property.  It may be of help to say we live in the hill country of Texas and we were down the hill, and she slipped on a rock, and her ankle went under her body as she was falling, it was a nasty break.  Thank God we have strong neighbors who helped me splint the ankle and carry her up the hill to my car.

But talk about being out of my comfort zone, it has been nothing but, and that is how I’ve learned how blessed I’ve been to have a wife who can cook, clean, and keep a house looking perfect, wash clothes, dishes, and cater to my needs.  Now I’m learning how to do that, so far I’ve only broken six bowls, chipped a few plates, and made a mess of boiling stuff all over the stovetop.  That is the bad news and my actions when cleaning up my messes has not been holy in my conduct, and that is not good!  Learning how to use the washer, and clean the filter on the dryer, are examples of what this kept man has learned, we will not even talk about my learning how to make muffins or bake a pie.

So what am I learning, I need to wait on the Lord?  To seek Him before I’m in the middle of a mess, to listen when I hear that voice that tells me not to carry too many things or to try doing several things while I’m cooking oatmeal.  I have learned to despise, and I mean with contempt in my heart, the cooking of oatmeal and the problems it brings into one's life.  Yes, I’m learning how needy and ignorant I am in so many areas of this life.

And thank God for His great understanding and mercy, in that He not only has chosen to forget the sins of my youth, but the bad language I used when the oatmeal boiled over and I dropped another dish and glass went all over the floor.  For I, like King David, understand Jesus’ steadfast love for me. 

Note from the kitchen; it has been a joy to serve Jan and to be the kind of man I told God and a group of people at our wedding over 52 years ago that I would be. 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice