SECRET PLACES

He who dwells in the secret place

of the Most High shall abide under

the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:1

While reading this precious verse, the two words “secret place” caught my eye. Those two words brought back many childhood memories. As far back as I can remember, I loved having secret places, especially up until around age 10 or 11. I picked almost any crook or cranny to set up housekeeping with blankets, dolls, doll clothes and whatever else would suit my fancy.

I could make a secret place almost anywhere. I made tents in the yard, once had a high front porch I could take all my gear under and when my Mother looked for me, she often found me in our coal shed in the backyard. I went there to get a small piece of coal to chew on. It tasted very earthy as I recall.

My reading today took me to a different secret place. I can't say for me that it's any particular place. The place isn't as important as the Person. This kind of secret place for me isn't at church in Sunday school, Bible study or church services. That's too public for such a place. My secret places are any number of places. I have Brian's chair in my bedroom where I love sitting in reading my Bible. I can get in my car and go alone to any number of mountain areas I've come to love for this secret place of mine.

It isn't difficult...just grab your Bible, and Bible only and find that place where it's just Jesus and you. In the last several months, I have direly needed my secret places where the Holy Spirit has spoken to me through the Word and in just being in His presence...just us. What a joy...my secret place. Try it...you'll love it.

For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in

His pavilion; in the secret place of His pavilion;

in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall

hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

Psalm 27:5

Thank You Father for Your willingness to meet with me any time and any place with no distractions where You can minister to me and I can share with You. I'm grateful that our meetings have been such a comfort to me in these days as well as a real learning time. I'm so grateful for You in every way. In Jesus' precious name...Amen

 

STINKIN' THINKIN'

Let this mind be in you

which was also in

Christ Jesus...

Philippians 4:5

It isn't unusual, when someone makes a questionable comment, for a friend to laugh and say, “You've got a dirty mind.” Those things may be said in relation to something physical. However, a dirty mind can be anything we shouldn't be thinking about. Our minds can be cluttered with all types of negative thoughts. That kind of mind will never be in keeping with how God wants us to think.

There are two ways our thinking can go haywire. The first fact is that Satan loves to take advantage of any weakness we may be facing at any given time. I know this from personal experience. Through the last few months, after Brian's Homegoing, I've rehashed over and over the things I should have done to help with his recovery. There were many things I know I did but Satan wants to stop me with the first part, leading me to thoughts of shame and discouragement. I know I did all knew to do in those hours to encourage an earthly recovery, but God is in charge of those things. Only He is in charge of the departure of His children to be with Himself.

On the other hand, the other major problem in this is me and you. I don't believe we can always blame Satan for negative things that come into our minds. There are times I have chosen what to think about, where I choose to park my mind for moments or more. Each of us has a choice as what will occupy our minds. In Philippians 4, we also find a list Paul presents regarding things we should focus our minds upon. He closes by saying, ...”Think on these things.”

God has equipt us to lead mentally healthy lives. Alot rests on where we choose to focus our thinking and meditating. I realize the world pulls and tugs at our mental well being. I've been there and done that but even the world can't be totally blamed. Without God, the world doesn't know any better. However, the God of the universe in all of His power stands ready through His Spirit to put our minds at rest. It doesn't mean we will never have a care or problem in life. It just means we get those things under control the best we can and leave the rest with God. I know it sounds so simple, but for the most part it means our learning to put our focus where it should be.

Someone once told me to not let Satan drive me nuts. He said, “Stand up and let Satan drop from your lap.” Sounds almost too simple, but that's better than letting him linger to do all the damage he wants. He delights if he can keep us upset...mad at ourselves, others and perhaps even God. Let's be pro-active in this battle for that's what it is.

Father, I need Your help. I can become upset so easily when things come to mind that are upsetting. So often I have chosen to mull those things over and over, becoming frustrated and at times, defeating. You are more powerful than Satan or any circumstances I face. Help me to lean on You heavier than ever before. Thank You for Your love and grace in my life. In Jesus' precious name...Amen

LEST WE FORGET

They forgot God their Savior

Who had done great things

in Egypt.

Psalm 106:21

Since I was a very little girl, there was a medium-size statue that was in place outside our local VFW building. It was of a severely wounded soldier probably from WWI. I think now it was representing WWI because of the helmet that was on the soldiers head. He was in a slumped position looking severly wounded. Engraved at the bottom of that statue were and still are the words LEST WE FORGET. I can recall asking my Mother about that statue and what those words meant. She simply said that we should never forget the soldiers who were wounded or died in the war. That was her statement, short and sweet.

Today in my reading in Psalm 106, I found it to be quite historical God's people had been in the wilderness hopefully heading out of Egypt and going to the Promised Land. It ended up being a longer trek than expected because of the sin of the people but things didn't get better. God provided for them and protected them. They didn't get everything they wanted but still were cared for. They were complainers that grew into anger and gross sin.

Moses at one point went to Mt. Sinai where God gave him the Ten Commandments. Meanwhile below that, people were out of control with their sin. It all didn't erupt all at once but they had gone into just about every kind of sin from lust and envy to even sacrificing their children to Baal. In it all they came up with a golden calf, an idol they all could worship, dance around and continue in their sin.

What could of happened to bring the people to this. God had done everything that was in the well being of the people but it just didn't seem to be enough. Much had started with their attitudes toward the leadership God had provided in Moses. This is often where deep sin starts with many. People resist authority and the same is true today.

We can look at those peoples mind-set when it comes to sin. There seemed to be no restraint at all let alone remembering God's goodness in their lives since leaving Egypt. It would seem there was nothing too bad they wouldn't partake in. There was no regard for God at all...their memories of God had all but vanished with little memory of Him and His goodness.

We live in such a society today. God isn't totally forgotten, but for many, they seem to be close. Who would have thought we would have come to all the debauchery we know of in our country on a daily basis. We can be critical of it all and maybe we haven't forgotten God, but it can happen so easily if not just in intermittent ways. There may not be the statue of a soldier in our town but all of us have been exposed to a cross where our Savior died for us. Mentally, we should picture that saying at the bottom of it....LEST WE FORGET. For the born again believer, I would hope that we wouldn't forget that ultimate sacrifice given for us by a very loving God.

Thank You Father for all You've done for us in loving and providing for us everything we need. May we be in such relationship with You that we could never forget Your love and goodness in our lives, both past and present. In Jesus' precious name...Amen 

 

YEP, IT'S REAL

And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld His glory,

the glory as of the only

begotten of the Father),

full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

Sunday evenings at 6:00 was a time our pastor had a question/answer time prior to the service at 7:00. Anyone could ask him a Bible question as long as it was done with a good attitude. I loved these sessions as they were for the most part educational. However, on one particular evening, I found myself anticipating the pastor's answer to a question I thought was too simple. The young man stood and asked, “What do you consider the most important verse is in the entire Bible.” I, like others, probably thought we would hear about John 3:16. After all, it's probably the main verse memorized by Christians and maybe even among some non-Christians as well.

He directed us to turn in our Bibles to John 1:14. He wanted us to see it with our own eyes. I must admit I hadn't paid much attention to the verse that is written out at the top of the page of this blog. There were some important things he pointed out, the most important being that Jesus, the Messiah, born in the flesh to walk the dusty, dirty and sinful world had arrived. Whether recognized in the moment as the Messiah, the fact was that it's just Who He was.

Without the fact of that verse, the pastor pointed out that we wouldn't have a Bible as we know it, if at all. The Old Testament from the beginning points to a coming Messiah and the rest of that story is told in the New Testament.

The disciples had the privilege of beholding Jesus in a huge variety of everyday circumstances and in it all, beheld His glory as only the Father could bestow. He was also full of grace and truth, so noticeable to His followers.

Have you and I truly beheld the glory of Jesus? May it be so for each of us.

Father, we are so grateful for Your Son. May we love and appreciate Him in these days more than ever before. In His precious name...Amen

 

CHANGE? MAYBE

O LORD, You have searched

me and known me.

Psalm 139:1

A new year is upon us with hopes of change and dreams coming true. In reality, the only real change regarding a new year is within a split second when 2022 changes only by replacing the last numeral (2) at the end of 2022 to a 3. There are some of us who will be happy to bid 2022 farewell. We certainly have great hope for a more positive coming year, of positive change in our culture and our being drawn to Jesus like never before.

For many years gone by in teaching ladies in various settings, I have loved sharing with them some of the truths of Psalm 139. We live in a world of change, but the changes are often disruptive and even heart breaking. An in-depth study of Psalm 139 can be uplifting and spiritually encouraging in so many ways. You see, there's one huge fact we can “hang our hat” on....that is that GOD NEVER CHANGES. He doesn't have to look back on 2022 to His failures, nor should He dread any negative events in 2023. He's in charge and does all things well.

If one has problems with self-esteem, difficult childhoods, abuse in any way and on and on, the acceptance of the facts of this precious Psalm can be life-changing. Please open your Bible with me and jump in.

V 1-6

God knows me entirely, my comings and goings, my ways, every word on my tongue. He has His hand on my life and has hedged me in.

V 7-12

There's no running or hiding with God. We can't escape His watchful eye no matter how much we might try.

V 13-16

God has had His eye on us even from our very beginning. He saw us in the womb and every iota of our human formation has been under His scrutiny. He even had us written in His book before birth. This section alone should alert us as to how God feels about abortion.

V 17-18

We are in God's thoughts. There's no way of counting the times He thinks about us, as the sand of the sea. That's a lot of thinking.

V19-22

As David writes, there is a plea regarding the wicked and how much David would desire God to step in regarding those enemies.

V23-24

These verses are a prayer regarding one's soul searching and prayer for God's leadership in life that would be on-going.

I've written this out so you might look at this chapter and be blessed by God's love,care, protection, provision....all that is unchanging in our lives. Years may come and go, changes may come, but where God is concerned, we can count on His consistency and His never changing character.

Thank You Father for the days You give us. May we use them wisely in serving and loving You, knowing You do all things well through Your everlasting love. In Jesus name...Amen