When waiting...

In the morning my precious child leaves on a trip with her little family.  I will have to wait eight days to know she is back safe.  The trip was an invitation from a close family member, who will travel with them.  I have details of the distance and a bit of the itinerary.  Several details about the trip trouble me but the hardest part will be - the waiting.  

She is usually good to check in when she is away but this mother's heart tends to think the worst until she does.  The Lord has given peace, still the waiting....is hard and at the time of this post she isn't even gone yet.

I'm reminded of another time, one of the darkest times in my life, when I was called upon to wait.  Visitation ruled from a divorce required this momma to "wait" until she was back in my arms safe too many times.  Each time, standing at the window, peeking thru the blinds, waiting to see headlights come down the driveway, the waiting was almost as hard as the separation while she was gone.  She was only 6.  We had never been apart until that time.  So, presently, I must once again, wait until eight days to know she is safely home again.

How will I endure?  I will because I must.  It is out of my hands.  However, I will hold fast to the One who lent her to me before she married.  I knew the day she was handed to me in the hospital for the first time,  that God had given her to me, not her daddy, to raise.  I made many mistakes but loved her and protected her with all this mother's heart was allowed. 

Today, again, waiting...

During the dark time previously mentioned, a still small voice whispered these words to me; "I can see her when you cannot." These words from my heavenly Father, by the precious Holy Spirit were my lifeline.  These words were my oxygen.  These words were refreshing, cool water.  These words carried me thru such an dark time.  I could quote many verses but you, dear reader, probably have a few of your own that would work here.

So, as I wait, I will trust and remember that He "can see her and her little family, when I cannot."  I will also trust in the peace given to me a few days ago, against this time.

God bless and keep you.  Ps 57.7

He looked beyond my fault and saw my need

A few days ago, feeling discouraged and not a little lonely, the tune and these words were on my heart.  Then, I understood I Peter 3.18. For Christ also hath ONCE suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. The things in life that may discourage and disappoint are for our good and His glory. Romans 8.28 states it this way;  And we know, that ALL things work together for good to them that love God (them is any believer, by faith) to them who are the called according to HIS purpose.

Dear reader, let the words of the scripture and the melancholy, healing words of this song seep into your very soul.  My prayer is that it will encourage and lift you up in your lonely hour.

God bless and keep you is my prayer.

the Blahs

 Morning devotion was the ever popular Psalm 121.  

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  Will it cure "the blahs?"  
• Will it encourage the weary heart?
• Will I recover and "keep pressing on?"

Well, lets look at the few verses the Psalmist penned here:

First, the Psalmist determined to lift up (his) eyes unto the hills from whence cometh (his) help.  Anyone with sound mind and eyes is capable of "looking up" to enjoy the sights, sounds and smell of creation.  

• The sun as it breaks through the eastern sky and casts a multitude of color at the world waking up where you are.
• The many shades of blue in the sky, not to mention the ocean when viewed on the horizon; navy, royal blue, "sky" blue, azure, cyan, cobalt, denim, periwinkle, turquoise, midnight blue. 
• Who couldn't appreciate such wonder?

Then, the Psalmists recognizes that looking up causes one to understand this is from whence cometh my help.  My help comes from the Lord, which (of course) made heaven and earth. The "blahs" and downcast countenance must be encouraged, even a little, when looking up.

Second, in verses 3 and 4 we are reminded; He WILL NOT suffer thy foot to be moved: AND He that keepeth thee WILL NOT slumber. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.  The Lord does not sleep, so you can!

But what about not suffer(ing) thy foot to be moved? What does that mean? Since He never sleeps, you may rest assure that stability and protection ensure you will not be moved from your spiritual foundation or fall.

Third, we are told in verse 5, The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

Like a mother cradles and protects her child from any harm, including the hot sun, so He does the same with His children. We may rest, without any apprehensive thoughts or feelings. We may feel safe, secure and protected in His arms, day or night.

Then, we are told that The Lord shall preserve thee from ALL evil: He shall preserve thy soul.  If He is to protect us and make every believer to feel safe, even our very soul, why should we worry?

Lastly, when we DO wake up, we are reminded that The Lord shall preserve thy coming out AND thy coming in from this time forth, AND forevermore.

So, as a child of God and believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, I will keep my heart fixed on God that I may avoid "the blahs" and endure the burdens from this time forth, AND forever more!

God bless and keep you as you remember Him who NEVER sleeps, so you can wake up like the child in this picture.  

He is faithful

This post may seem devotional but it is the state of the bloggers heart this morning.  Any lovingkindness gleaned from this heart, is because of the Psalmist words in another place; my heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. (Ps 57.7) Though I do not sing often, this heart is almost always, fixed on the most High. 

 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.         (Ps 89.33)

Many emotions find themselves crowding the inner man today. (Eph 3.16, 2 Cor 4.16) Yet the desire is to stay true to the Lord in all.  Not impossible but at times, challenging. Because we understand that a doubleminded man is unstable in ALL his ways. (Jms 1.8)  I want to be fruitful (Col 1.10) to the praise of His glory (Eph 1.6) rather than unstable to all who would observe my witness of Him. (1 Jn 5.9) 

If I did not stay fixed always on the Lord, any one of the emotions would win out over praise.  The Psalmist penned my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him (man), nor suffer My (the Lord's) faithfulness to fail.  When so many conflicting emotions are swirling about it is a comfort to know He still loves my, "kindly" and will always be "faithful" to this believer. 

Because the Lord Jesus told us that He would not leave us comfortless, (Jn 14.18), we may depend on the Holy Spirit as Comforter, Guide and Teacher. (Jn 14.26, 16.13).  This is my desire today.  Regardless of the "man emotions" swirling about, I may remain, steady, faithful and fixed on Him because He is such with me.

All that being stated, I will explain a few details about yesterday.  My heart was happy because of a joyous birthday of a sweet, wonderful, darling six year old.  The same celebration yielded of few mixed emotions from the past due to one guest.   Most of the memories of the past are put far behind and the Lord has moved me "farther on."  Daily life still includes burdens but nothing that cannot be borne.  Yesterday, many conflicting things happening at church.  Since my heart is fixed on Him, I choose to yield all to His perfect will. 

Flash forward to this blog post and several auto details need to be addressed today.  Personal prayer and bible reading is completed.  A beautiful, glorious Spring day is seen outside the bedroom window.  "Life goes on" and He is faithful.

Conclusion of todays thought:  He is faithful, are you?

God bless and keep you is my prayer.

In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

 Do you ever feel perplexed, confused, uncertain?  Of course, there are times in our lives those feeling come when we may be overwhelmed by circumstances or the wrong counsel. 

The verse above is from Psalm 71.  The next verse reads;

Deliver me in Thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

Many other verses may be found to answer confusion in a believers life.  One other comes to mind, Ps 61.2 says when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.

So, where do YOU go when you feel "perplexed, confused, uncertain?  If you are a believer, you may trust in His Word(s).  If you are not a believer, you may still trust in the blessed old book, the 1611 KJB (King James Bible).

Many scholars and "learned" men, whether they realize it or not, glean much of their understanding and wisdom from the bible.  

Much of the laws we obey are based on the ten commandments.  If carnal, unbelievers, follow the "laws of the land," then it is a true statement that "everyone should." Thus, leading to sound minds and lives.  There is no confusion in the Words of God.

The path to doing the right thing?  The pattern for this blogger has been this; If you do not have to make a decision right away, don't.  Waiting often leads to an answer.  If you DO have to decide quickly, make the best choice possible based on the information available. You'll know soon enough if you did the right thing or not.

It is clear, we are imperfect beings and make bad choices. However, if your desire is to do the right thing, follow the instructions above and you'll be alright.