You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed. The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out.... etc"
It goes on to say the same thing as the first portion only plainly states these things will be CURSED instead of Blessed.
So often people wander why they struggle. They can't understand why God's blessings aren't flowing in their life. God often gets the blame for others misfortune. Meanwhile, they're telling a lie here, or taking an extra something there. They are constantly choosing to ignore that small still voice. Instead of obeying, they're making excuses... "Oh I'm only human. It's not a big deal. I really need it, so God will understand." When given a choice between convenience or obedience, they choose convenience and expect God to bless them anyway. God is a God of plan and reason. He sets forth laws and they must be observed. He is a God of right and wrong. To Him there is NO gray area... only black and white.
God does not look at quantity. God does not see five dollars worth of barrettes and $1.25 worth of coke. God looks upon the heart and only sees a person who is either willing or NOT willing to compromise right. He sees a heart that is truly sincere about wanting to obey His commandments or a heart that is just going through the motions to spare appearance... a heart that is willing to suffer persecution for being obedient or a heart that is willing to give it all away for a little convenience. We can not even comprehend the blessings that He gives to those who are obedient. Don't we know that He will give back a 100 fold when we give up something for His name sake.
So call me crazy. Roll your eyes! Shake your head. Say I'm a complete moron. But I will always do my best to listen to that small still voice saying... Do the right thing!
For I'm not willing to trade.. a few dollars or even a billion dollars for...
My completely and abundantly BLESSED LIFE!
March 19th, 2010
Picnic at the Park