SELAH

I will abide in Your tabernacle

forever; I will trust in the

shelter of Your wings. SELAH

Psalm 61:4

Recently in a ladies Bible study session, we ladies got into a discussion I hadn't anticipated. We are doing a study in the book of Psalms and on that occasion, we were delving into one particular Psalm. I read the Psalm aloud for the ladies to follow with some discussion following. In the Psalm I was reading was the word SELAH at the end of a couple of verses. Suddenly we were dissecting what we knew about that particular word.

The word SELAH is found in the Bible 74 times with 71 of those being in the book of Psalms. There are two views of the word itself most Bible scholars tend to accept. It isn't surprising that the word is thought of as a musical term. It's thought to be a word of some musical direction as Psalms are sung. On the other hand, many see SELAH as a term that encourages one to pause, rest or reflect on the Scripture SELAH appears at the end of a particular passage. We often do one or more of those three things when enjoying music that blesses us, as well as meditating on Scripture read.

Thus, may I encourage us to do something we probably don't do very much. We may at times read large passages of Scripture, finish the reading, close the Bible, rise and then get back to whatever we need to get done. So many times, we wouldn't be able to tell someone ten minutes later what we had read in our Bibles. I wonder how much more meaningful our Bible reading would be if we observed some SELAH time after finished reading. When I remember to do that, my reading is more meaningful and then I have been blessed beyond measure. Food we eat keeps us strong and alive. Spiritual digesting of Scripture can do the same, resulting in unbelievable growth.

Thank You Father, for Your Word. It has brought us to spiritual life in the beginning and continues to encourage our faith and our love for You. Holy Spirit, keep teaching us and thank You Jesus for all You mean to us. Thank You for being my Selah. In Your precious name...Amen 

REMEMBER WHEN

And I said,”This is my anguish;

But I will remember the years

of the right hand of the Most High.”

I will remember the works of the

LORD; surely I will remember

Your wonders of old.

I will also meditate on all Your

work, and talk of Your deeds.

Psalm 77:10-12

It's been said that the older we get, the more we lose memories of wonderful events that have occurred during our growing up and maturing years. I don't remember many things but there are those seared in my brain I'll never forget in this life. We all have our memories. In our humanity, we tend to recall very clearly the negative things that happened to us in the past, but there is so much more to remember. If nothing else, we have the goodness of God that has been ours for years.

In the verses above, I couldn't help but notice the “I will remembers” listed by the Psalmist. His intent was to remember...God's right hand in his life, the works and wonders of the Lord, all of God's works in his life. Remembering isn't future thinking...it's looking back for whatever reasons. In this Psalmists case, he wanted so very much to remember the works and blessings from God. When down in the dumps, I remember instances in my life when God stepped in through miraculous ways. Those things encourage us along the way. The Holy Spirit if great in reminding us of precious moments long forgotten.

I love remembering the day I was saved at the age of 10 on a sunny Sunday morning. I was baptized the following Sunday evening. I still remember things I learned and loved about summer church camp. I remember the names of school teachers and teachers in my church. Attending a Christian college was such a blessing and later meeting Brian, my future husband.

In between all those things are numerous events of note. When days are filled with concerns, remembering those precious spiritual times can be so healing and a blessing. They remind us of how very far our Father has brought us despite storms life may bring in the present. There are so many other things I have on my memory list as you probably do that bring smiles because such precious memories are precious indeed.

Thank You Father for all Your goodness in my life that has left me with a multitude of sweet memories. There are some days those memories have warmed my heart and encouraged me to keep going. Thank You, Jesus, for being so generous with Your love and grace in my life. In Your precious name...Amen

 

SURE SMELLS GOOD

And walk in love, as Christ also

loved us and given Himself for us,

an offering and a sacrifice o God

for a sweet-smelling aroma

Ephesians 5:2

Laying in bed last night recalling from years and more years back the pleasant smells I used to enjoy. Life was much simpler back then and the simple things had meaning. Fall was always special. Who can forget the smell after a spring rain. On Mondays, I had to go out and take down the newly washed sheets that had been pinned to the clothes lines earlier in the day. The smell inside a new car will always be special. Can't forget that smell for anything.

Even today, while those memorable scents us recall of wonderful times, are often ones that aren't so memorable. I never got any kind of boost in smelling a dirty diaper fresh off one of my babies. Burning the bacon on occasions is not only offensive but seems to last in one's house for a very long time. Being behind a car that is gushing exhaust fumes is offensive and often dangerous. Of course, there is the notorious skunk and little needs to be said about avoiding that cute animal.

Smells all have their individual scents that are either a blessing or curse. Rarely is there one in between. There is one scent that cannot be duplicated or damaged in any way and that is the sweet aroma of Christ. One can be around another person who seems soaked with perfume and folks who hug her come away smelling like her. The same can be for us when we stay close to Jesus. There is a sweet aroma all about Him. Won't it be wonderful if we can bear that sweet aroma of Him because of Who He is and our closeness to Him.

Father, thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son through whom we have life, love and a wonderful relationship. Keep us close through Your sweet Holy Spirit that because of our relationship with You, folks may see You in us. In Jesus precious name...Amen

 

 

WORD ON A HEAP

The grass withers,

the flower fades,

But the word of our God

stands forever.

Isaiah 40:8

Many of us live within a relatively short distance from all of the flooding and devastation we have had since the arrival of a hurricane up this way and have been keeping a close eye out on the situation. Where I live, there was heavy rain with minimal wind but our neighbors to our east didn't fare so well.

It's been a privilege to be prayer partners with hundreds of victims in this situation as well as getting survival supplies into those hard-hit areas. Somehow, it just doesn't seem to be enough. I'm sure it's of great encouragement, however, to so many who have lost everything....everything. Clothes can be replaced as well as dishes, bedding, furniture and appliances, but what of those things that have been gathered through a lifetime that in essence is a keepsake of one's life...pictures, baby books, wedding pictures, jewelry, grade cards, Christmas ornaments and on and on the list could go.

I saw one picture that just about did me in within the last few days. It's a picture of a close-up flood setting that seemed to be washed up branches and weeds. There on top of that dirty mess was an open Bible. It looked like it had really been through the flood with it's rips and dirt. There it was, open in what seemed to be sunlight of the moment. Two TN Tec students had found it. The home near the Bible had been leveled, but there was...that open Bible.

Can't say what thought process was when I saw it. For me in those circumstances, I don't know what I would do without my Bible. My Bible is such a friend and don't know what I'd do without it. I've looked at it a little differently since seeing that picture of that lonely, tattered, dirty one laying in the aftermath of a flood. We know God's Word lives on and ministers in the worst of times. For me, reading and loving it just doesn't seem to be enough right now.

Thank You Father for Your Word that is always available to us. I pray for that dear person who has lost their Bible that perhaps can be reunited with it despite it's condition. If not, that another copy would reach that person soon. Help us to appreciate Your Word, not just for reading but for living in us in both the good times and in the floods of life. In Jesus' precious name...Amen