Who Is Influencing You?

'...But who do you say I am?' Matthew 16:15 NLT

Matthew writes: 'One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that He show them a miraculous sign from Heaven to prove His authority' (Matthew 16:1 NLT). The Pharisees were bound by tradition, so they opposed anything new. The Sadducees were bound by reason, so they opposed anything supernatural. Since Christ brought a new revelation of God and a new dimension of His power, both the Pharisees and Sadducees opposed Him. So Jesus warned His disciples: 'Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees' (v6 NLT). In a culture where people used yeast to make bread, Christ's point came through loud and clear. Just as yeast works silently and spreads slowly, so doubt and unbelief work the same way in our hearts and minds.

Then Christ asked His disciples two questions. First: 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is' (v13 NLT)? He wanted them to know when their thinking was being negatively influenced by those around them so that they would be on guard against it. Secondly: 'Who do you say I am?' Immediately Peter answered, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God' (v16 NLT). Jesus replied, 'You are blessed, Simon son of John, because My Father in Heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being' (v17 NLT).

There are things that people can teach you and if you're wise you will listen. But there are things that only the Lord can reveal to you and if you're wise you'll listen and do what He says.

I will tell you what is influencing me right now - THE WEATHER.

This weather is depressing me. All year i look forward to summer. It is my favourite season. I love it. Right now, i can't handle any more rain and that is all it is doing today. It is rainy, cloudy, and gross - and it is just depressing. Every night i go to bed thinking tomorrow might be a nice enough day to make me feel like summer is actually here - and every day i wake up to the sound of rain.

The fact that summer is more than a third over and all it has done for the past month is rain - is really getting me down.

I can't handle any more rain. I can't handle being stuck inside any longer. I braved the elements yesterday and went for a run. I just ended up looking like a wet t shirt competition loser with a sheepskin rug on top of her head.

Now my home smells like wet dog.

Cabin fever is also causing the T to REALLY get on my nerves. I suppose i am getting on his as well. I even went so far as to change my relationship status on Facebook back to single the other night.

That showed him!

I was single for a whole night - and slept through it. What a waste.

Please God - send me a reminder of what the sun looks like. The photos from Billy's trip to Wanaka and his stories about 30 deg weather were not sufficient.

Not. Happy.