Unfailing Love

Sometimes I have a hard time going to sleep. Worries, plans, or problems of the day seem to come out of everywhere and assault me as I'm trying to settle down. I usually pray for sleep, but sometimes I pray that morning would hurry up and get here. 

Does that ever happen to you?

In the verses preceding verse eight, the Psalmist, David, is crying out to the Lord for mercy and relief. He feels crushed, his spirit is faint, and his heart is dismayed. Then he remembers all that God has done in the past and he just wants God. His soul is thirsty for God. 

David knew that God's love never fails, he trusted God and believed that He would answer Him in the morning. 

The rest of the verse says:

"Show me the way I should go, 

for to you I lift up my soul."

I have no way of knowing, but I get a sense that David laid out all of his worries before God and then he went to bed and slept peacefully. He was confident that God would answer him in the morning and would show him what to do and where to go. He placed his soul in the Almighty's powerful hands and slept. 

What a wonderful lesson for me. I too know that God's love does not fail and that my soul, my entire life, is safe in His hands. May He help me to sleep peacefully, knowing that His unfailing love and guidance will greet me in the morning.

I pray the same will be true for you.

How's Your Mind?

When I was young, there was a man who walked the streets of our town and asked those passing by "How's your mind?" That's a really good question. So much of our attitude, mood, and how we respond to people and situations has to do with the condition of our mind.

If my mind is clouded by worries, anger, fears, problems, anxieties, annoyance, frustrations, selfishness, etc., I'll most likely respond to others in that same vein. This shows a mind in turmoil. Peace will not be found side-by-side with these thoughts.

Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, 

whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

This is one of my favorite verses. I have it on a little card in my car as a constant reminder of where my mind needs to dwell.  It's faded from the sun after several years of riding there, but the message remains. Keep my mind continuously connected to God and I will have peace. What a promise! 

It's our choice to make. 

Do we prefer to flail about using our energy on things that jump up and shout for our attention and tell us we have a right to feel this way?

OR

Are we going to trust God? Are we going to take Him at His word, place Him front and center in our mind and peacefully walk His way?

The response is ours.

 So....How's your mind?

Hold On

This dragonfly fascinated me. If you look closely at the photo, you can tell that it was a windy day by the double images of the green blades. He was a tenacious dragonfly who kept holding on to the tip top of that blade even though the winds were blowing all around him.

This reminded me of the passage in Ephesians 4 where it speaks of our growing in the knowledge of the Son of God so that we won't be children any longer and won't be "blown here and there by every wind of teaching". It is so important to know what the Bible says and to keep holding on to the truth that is contained within it. 

However, if we do not read The Word of God on a regular basis and listen to Godly, Biblical teaching, we can easily be tossed back and forth and here and there by all the teachings that sound good or make us more comfortable or politically correct. In order to stand firm amidst the changing currents and winds in our world, we need the firm foundation of the truth that is only God-given. 

Ephesians 4:11-16

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Seeking the Light

Brody likes to lie in the sunny spots in the house. It's bright and warm there and evidently makes him feel secure. As the sun moves, so does Brody. First he is in the light from the window, then when that light spot becomes too small, he moves to the back door where it is growing.

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world". Wherever Jesus is, there is light, warmth, and security. I don't believe He is necessarily concerned with our comfort, so at times we have to get up and move in order to follow Him and remain in His light. 

He does promise that when we follow Him we will not be in darkness. It may feel dark at times, but that is where faith is needed. We must trust Jesus' word to us. Not only is He light, but He is also life. 

Seek the light while He may be found. (Isaiah 55:6)

John 8:12 (ESV)

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying,

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will 

not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Hidden Treasure

I had been checking the fig trees every few days hoping to find a ripe one. As I walked by pushing the wheelbarrow one afternoon, I caught a glimpse of something golden half hidden behind the healthy green leaves. I quickly stopped, pushed the leaves aside and found the treasure I had been anticipating. Delicious ripe figs! Six to be exact. I savored the soft sweetness and rejoiced in the glimpse that yielded this special treat when I wasn't even seeking. Dad went by on the lawn mower and my joy was doubled in being able to share with him.

In today's America, fewer and fewer families and individuals are actively seeking the things of God. Especially not in the traditional sense of going to church every Sunday. For many, the only glimpse of God they will see is from the Christians they encounter during their normal weekly routine. If that glimpse is hard and sour or rotten, there is little likelihood that they will have any interest. However, if that glimpse is pleasant and inviting with a sweet flavor they may desire to move the leaves aside and investigate what this hidden treasure is all about.

Scripture says we will be known by our fruit and that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Since we are a reflection of Christ to a world that isn't even looking for Him, and since we have His Holy Spirit dwelling within us and giving us guidance, there is no reason for us to be hard, sour, or rotten. In all of our interactions let's allow the unsaved to glimpse something deliciously golden and appealing that will cause them to ask what is hidden in our hearts and spirit. Then our joy will be doubled as we share about our Savior and Lord.

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.