ALL THAT AND MORE

Blessed be the LORD my ROCK,

who TRAINS my hands for war,

and my fingers for battle--

My LOVINGKINDNESS and my

FORTRESS,

My HIGH TOWER and my

DELIVERER,

My SHIELD and the One in

whom I take REFUGE, Who

subdues my people

under me.

Psalm 144:1,2

At times when my reading of Scripture has been on the casual side, I must admit that I have missed so much. Because of such carelessness, I know I haven't been as observant as I should have been noticing folks in Scripture in their humanity. Lately, I've been reading of some people in Scripture who are so very human. There's much to be learned from such people as they handled some of the things in life we too are dealing with.

Even more as I read, I have often been remiss in watching for ways God works in our lives for our good and His glory. Reading in Psalm 144, I saw right away in the first couple of verses how God works on my behalf. It is mind boggling how He works for His children in so many wonderful ways.

I couldn't resist high-lighting words in verses one and two of that chapter seeing special things He does for me. David is the one who penned this Psalm as the Holy Spirit led. David uses the word “my” often in the two verses as he speaks with a strength as to God's functioning in his own life. David may have penned it, but just as David took the benefits mentioned in a very personal way, so do I as God's child also appreciate the benefits mentioned that are mine just as much as for David or anyone else.

Just look at God's functioning on our behalf. Not only is it hard to grasp how He can shower so much good into my life, I also realize how undeserving I am of even a moment of His attention. Books could be written on each spiritual benefit....Rock, Trainer, Lovingkindness, Fortress, High Tower, Deliverer, Shield, and Refuge. There isn't even quality there God has missed bestowing on me. All those things are mine and yours from the Lord...special delivery as only He can do.

Thank You Father for loving us as You do. You forgive and shower us with your grace and mercy. Then You send so much more and we love You for Your being You in our lives. In Jesus name...Amen

 

OUCH...THAT HURTS

I am the true vine, and My Father

is the vinedresser.

Every branch in Me that does not

bear fruit, He takes away; and

every branch that bears fruit, He

prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

John 15:1,2

Just came in from my front porch where I was reading my Bible. I was a little distracted but couldn't quite put my thumb on the problem. I stood up and peered over the porch railing to view my rose bushes. They were radiant with the varied colors of beautifully formed roses and rose buds. It was more than I could remember their looking so beautiful and full of life.

It dawned on me that about 7-8 days ago, I was sitting on the porch in the same chair and noticed there were all sorts of rose bush branches making their way through the slats of the porch railing. It may seem odd, but I felt I really needed Brian's permission to cut away at the bushes like I would always do, before taking on such a task. However, it had to be done.

In the garage I found the large scissors Brian used for such a task, stood on the porch leaning a bit over the rail and cut the branches that had grown to being offensive and out of control. It was also noticeable as I walked into the yard viewing the bushes that they really didn't have many flowers or buds on them. I didn't want to kill the bushes but knew that pruning had to be done and I did it.

Tonight out on the porch is where those bushes appeared to be really healthy, flourishing and so pretty. I couldn't easily count the flowers and buds. We planted these five bushes when we moved into this house when it was new. The bushes have done us well. I hate to say this but perhaps the older they are, the more pruning might be necessary for them to be their beautiful best.

Jesus was speaking to his disciples at their last supper when He shared with His disciples the importance of the pruned life. Spiritual pruning is far from fun or comfortable but it brings growth in the Lord and a beauty we may not even notice. I have seen in these days from my front porch what the price of pruning in our lives can be, and how God will use it to bring a growth in Him, and a beauty as well. With taking shears in hand and lovingly doing a miraculous work in our lives, may God see us even more able in loving and serving Him after the pruning process. May we then also bear the sweet aroma of Christ that will honor Him and be a blessing to others.

Father, we know although pruning our lives is going to be painful, You don't mean it for harm but for our good. We can only go through this in Your strength and want You glorified in it all. In Jesus' name...Amen

LIVING IN FEAR

The LORD is my light and my

salvation; whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the strength of

my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1

Not sure you have noticed, as have I, whether it be on my computer or television set, that fear is presented all over the place. We know that newscasts no matter the agencies saturate us with daily reports of all things negative. Sometimes we'll get a positive report but not very often.

Take medication ads, that is, if you want to. They tell us about many diseases and some that have been created in the last week or so. The answer is a new medication that is an answer to everything. We are to contact our doctors for a prescription that will take care of the problem. There are too many of those to count.

We are told foods we shouldn't be eating. At the age I am, I guess I should have died a long time ago from egg-itis and banana-ism. There are too many brands of milk to even consider, while we did quite well for years with just plain ole milk. Meats to some are bad for you so go for the veggies only. Oh yes, can't forget all the diet programs. If we don't latch onto at least one of them, we are on dangerous ground.

There are the investment programs we are told to grab hold of or go broke. Oh yes, don't forget to invest in gold, they say. We also are cautioned to have health, prescription, house, car and other insurance coverages. Of course, we can add all the threats a political year presents that's enough to do us in.

It goes on and on, ad nauseum, and we may think that none of it affects us, but it does. Satan is the author and encourager of fear. When we are bombarded with it day after day and ongoing days, fear can ever so quietly begin to sink into our being. We are all susceptible to fear of every kind. Why not adopt a Bible verse or two we can quote to ourselves over and over if we need to that can keep our thinking as healthy as God intends. I chose the above verse a few weeks ago and have about worn it out. II Timothy 1:7 tells us that God hasn't given us a spirit of ... but we know who has. God is still in control and aren't we glad.

Help us, Father to trust You in all areas of our lives. Help us to keep our eyes on You and You only in these days. In Jesus' precious name...Amen 

IT WAS ON PURPOSE

And we know that all things work

together for good to those who

love God, to those who are called

according to His purpose

Romans 8:28

I have to question the credentials of any parent who claims, with more than one child in the family, that they have not heard the above statement. With many little children, there is no such thing as an accident when feeling mistreated when another sibling has been near. Parents can usually sort it all out, but it's still a fairly frequent childhood complaint.

In viewing a couple of good definitions of purpose I got two views of the word. For some, purpose has to do with a reason for getting something done or even a reason for the creation of something. It can also get down on our own very personal level. Purpose can also have to do with one's reason for living or existing as they see it.

I find it interesting that the above verse from Romans refers to the word PURPOSE and is most often quoted when something goes wrong in one's life. However, the verse speaks of “all things work together.” Why can't we include good things too that are a part of God's purpose in our lives. God has purpose in both positive and negative events. Either will line up with God's precious purpose for us.

We must not lose sight of the fact that God has purpose in these lives of ours. The list could go on and on, but aren't we glad that when it comes to life, love, provision, etc. that God does it all on purpose. We may wonder at times why He would still have us here, but until God takes us home, we are to love and serve according to His plan and do it on purpose.

Thank You Father for honoring us with real, individual purpose. May we through the power of Your Spirit seek to fulfill Your promise. May it be so that we will serve You in love to the best of our abilities for as long as You see fit. In Jesus' precious name....Amen