Sunday, January 24, 2021

CALL ME


Call upon Me in the day of
trouble; I will deliver thee,
and thou shalt glorify me.
Psalm 50:15

Call unto Me and I will answer thee,
and show thee great and
mighty things which thou
knowest not.
Jeremiah 33:3

Calls come to us in our day in many forms. I realize there are all types of phones and then there is the computer we can use for contact, but we usually have our one phone we are used to using. Through time, we've heard the word “call” in various forms.

Call me...we'll have lunch.”
“Got the call...I got the job.”
“The pastor called to just check on us.”
“If you need me, don't hesitate to call.”
“The grand kids called to sing HB to me.”
“Calling to see how you're feeling.”
“You haven't called me in ages.”

We use the “call” word all the time and don't think much about it. However, such calling no matter the reason is a major form of contact for us. Through it we are informed how any number of situations are going. We learn of the needs of others in our calls. People can share needs, joys and heartaches over a phone they might not want to speak of in person.The word “call” means communication in any form even if it's justcalling someone's name across the street from us

Scripture gives us many instances where we are encouraged to call upon our Heavenly Father. The two verses I have led with have a little different feel between them. In the first verse, we are encouraged to call up the Lord when we are in or have troubled times in our lives. I think we are pretty good calling under such circumstances. Today, I had to go have a Covid test prior to my surgery tomorrow. Had to wait for an hour for the verdict. I knew I wasn't ill but one never knows about those tests. I just gave it to the Lord. If He wants me to have surgery tomorrow, it will happen. It it meant a later time, well, that was in His hands. The call came and I'm cleared for surgery. When God comes to our rescue, I wonder if we take time to praise Him and give Him the glory He so deserves. In this case I'm still praising Him.

The second verse I listed is a favorite of mine. It may be one you love as well. It's quite different from the first one. This verse doesn't necessarily speak of troubles or problems although in such times, God can certainly show us great and mighty things. It can also refer to wondrous things He wants to show us that perhaps we could never have imagined. Even if we don't call on Him to reveal those great things, He has a way of showing such to us anyway. However, He invites us to call on Him and when we do, think of all He has in store to reveal to us. Again a heartfelt, sincere glorifying Him is certainly in order.

Father, what a privilege You give to us to call on You at any time. We don't have to have a problem to call upon you. You've promised to listen to us whenever we do call on You and no phone is needed. Help us to learn to enjoy talking to you at any time under any circumstances. We love You and know You love hearing that. In Jesus' name...Amen 

Friday, January 15, 2021

EIGHTY-TWO AND COUNTING


I have been young and now I am
old, yet I have not seen the
righteous forsaken or his
descendants begging bread.
Psalm 27:25

Writing this blog early will have to do for Monday. I chose to write today because it's my birthday. Can't believe the Lord has given me 82 years. I may have mentioned my mother talking about my Sunday school teacher when I was about 5. She said that Nellie Barker was 65 years old. I remember crying because it sounded like she was about to die.

I recall talking to Brian's grandmother when we were first married. She was in her eighties at the time and spoke of all the things she had seen historically during her life. I guess in my lifetime, I too have seen major events and changes. One of my biggest changes was going from my Royal typewriter to now a computer keyboard. I would go back to the first in a minute.

Aside from wars and various tragedies that I felt deeply about during my lifetime would have to be that of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was my first stark memory in my life as I was only about three at the time. I remember women in our neighborhood talking about pearls. Back then, most women had pearl necklaces and I thought someone had lost theirs and everyone was crying over it

At the age of ten, I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I wish I could say there were bells and whistles with fireworks, but it wasn't anything like that. I knew I was saved but had a lot of growing to do. I received my first Bible when I was twelve and from that day, loved it's cover but loved more the pages inside. I wish I hadn't had so many growth spurts in the Word through the years, but did. Since getting married in 1969, my Bible has been a constant companion.

All of us have our favorites in Scripture...some may be verses we have memorized or just lean on. There may be a chapter or two we almost have by memory because of reading them so often. Our Bibles might fall open to certain pages because of so many visits to them.

One such chapter for me came into my life about 45 years ago. I suggest it for women who struggle with depression or who have had rough life histories. I again soaked in this chapter last night and will continue to do so today. That chapter is Psalm 139. This chapter just oozes with God's goodness in our lives. I strongly recommend it for the good or bad times as well as the so-so times.

In this chapter we see how well God knows us...in entirety. It's hard to absorb the fact that there is Someone who knows my history, my in's and outs, my every move and thought, etc. It puts me on alert to do better. I'm also assured in this chapter of God's consistent love and care for me, loving me despite who and what I am at times. A love like all of that is impossible to find, but it's Him, our Father. No matter our age, young or old, this chapter speaks to us all. We see how precious we are to Him and yet challenges us to be more for Him than we ever thought we could be....no matter our age.

My utter shock in these moments is how fast my age seemed to come upon me. Life sure flies which encourages us to make the best of it all for God's glory.

Father, how precious is Your Word to us. It is clear, challenging and full of Your love and concern for us. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for speaking through David and on into our individual hearts. Thank You that through Jesus, we share spiritual birthdays. In Jesus' precious name I pray...Amen 

Monday, January 11, 2021

LET'S GET REAL

 
Thy word is a lamp to Psalm
my feet and a light to
my path.
119:105

Some of us who are in the older years of life are in more and more spiritual jeopardy the older we get. Many of us have been in church and Sunday school most of our lives. Most of the Bible is overly familiar to us. We may own well marked Bibles which I have said to myself, “So what?” My desire for my own self and friends is that we get real with the things of God. That means not just reading Bibles, but soaking in the Word. Hopefully the soaking will be enough to seep into our spirits where we will respond to the Spirit's leading in our quest.

We're in a new year and the last one was tough. If I learned nothing else, I came, all over again, to appreciate how the Spirit can speak so clearly to us even in the difficult times. His Word is our rock and comfort and because of those days of 2020, I've come to re-evaluate how I approach God's Word. I want a freshness of it in my life not in just looking at a new year, but in looking at my “every days.” Scripture tells us all the things God IS and wants to be for you and me. He says to come to Him when we are weary and heavyladen and He'll give us rest. He stands ready to be all we need and we can be overcomers.

At times, I've read my Bible through several chapters in one sitting, but don't ask me an hour later what I read. Sound familiar? It's not that way all the time, but I don't want that to happen at all. I want to read, even if just one or two verses, that I can chew on, gleaning all the truth from them that I can. In this process, I hope to do some slimming down in my reading so I can really hear what God wants to say to me.

I've been preparing for knee replacement surgery 1/25. I've had most of my duckies in a row for a little bit while looking toward that time. It dawned on me that I had done little in spiritual preparation. I am changing where and what I read. I came up with fixing Scripture verses on a binder ring that I keep with me wherever I go. If I have some free moments, I pull out my little ring with my Scripture cards and read slowly over them. Right now, I'm not trying to memorize them. Reading makes me go word by word, absorbing as I go. The 3x5 cards are cut in half. Every now and then I add a card. It has been spiritually fun and I find nothing wrong with that.

Another thing I like doing is having a lined notebook where each day, I write a verse. Again it doesn't mean typing it on a computer. When I do this daily a verse is impressed in my heart. I may end up with 2-3 or more verses on a page. I write the date and reference on it's own line. If I miss a day, I catch up or keep on moving.

My challenge for all of us is that we get real with Scripture, not casually reading but reading with purpose, applying however the Spirit leads. We've been through some tough times and they aren't over. We must be “strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Stripped of so many things we've come to love and depend upon, God wants us back with our attention focused on Him. May it be so as we change that date indicating a new year.

Father, thank You for Your patience with us. Forgive our becoming so entwined in the problems of our world, often leaving You to one side. Give us a peace and resolve as You walk us into coming days. Keep us close...nudge us when You must. In Jesus' precious name...Amen 

Monday, January 4, 2021

GOING BEFORE


And he Lord, He it is that doth
go before thee:
He will be with thee,
He will not fail thee,
neither forsake thee:
fear not, neither be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31:8

Much time is given to God's instruction to His people prior to entering the Promised Land. He spoke to the people and to Moses and then to Joshua as the new leader is commissioned. Moses because of disobedience knew he wouldn't be entering the Promised Land because of past disobedience. I must say that looking at these final chapters of this book of Deuteronomy reminds me in so many ways of our own culture today and I'm still wading my through it.

I can't imagine the fear the people felt knowing they would be venturing into the Promised Land minus the leader they had come to know and love. It had been a long “field trip” but Moses wouldn't be going any further with the people. This left Joshua in charge and I really can't imagine his feelings...feelings of loss of Moses while looking to future days with him the new leader. He had some really big sandals to fill.

We too are now into a new year. We're told to be encouraged of new days filled with wonderful opportunities...the encouraging phrases continue. However, having come out of 2020 with much of the dust of it still clinging to us, there is uncertainty. Uncertainty in anyone breeds fear. We are commanded over and over to “fear not.” We should know by now that God never gives us a command we cannot obey while relying on His power in our lives.

I've deliberately typed out the above verse like I did for a reason. There are a lot of God's promises bundled into that one verse. Someone might say, “Are you taking this verse out of context?” Having seen the character of God throughout the Old Testament and knowing we are His people now just as they were, what He promised them is for us today. Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. They were venturing into a new land and in that land there were difficulties as well as joys awaiting them. You and I sit at the start of a new year. There will be joys but there will be difficulties. Lest we begin to wallow around in the unknown, look what God promises in this new venture:


*God will go ahead of us making our way plain
*He will be with us
*He won't fail us
*God won't forsake us ( run off and leave us)

Thus we aren't to be fearful nor dismayed stepping into new territory. The word “dismay” can cover a lot of territory: loss of courage, sad, upset, all that can lead to depression. Let's step forward with courage knowing God will make our way clear and will make all things work together for our good.

Father, we claim Your promises for this and any year. May we live in obedience and in Your power. Help us to keep an eye on You as You lead. In Jesus precious name...Amen