I don’t know about you ladies, but when life’s distracting noises bombard my senses I best regain my equilibrium in the wonders of creation. There, the voices that declare God’s glory ring loud and clear.
The Sounds of Silence…When God Tells Who God Is
The endless cacophony between Job and his four friends is over and God essentially tells Job to be still: who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?” Indeed! And with that the LORD beckons His servant Job (42:7,8)—servant having the connotation of the one I trust, who worships me (Strong’s)—to come in close: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). You see, Job had to step away from his circumstances to know the One who was in control.
The Sounds of Silence…Be Still and Know
With the 2021 record Texas snow over, the big meltdown had begun and I had cabin fever. Caution! Caution! my brain said—those brittle bones should not slip and slide. So I stepped out on the back porch to take it all in. The crusty layer on the garden wall, sparkling like jewels in the brilliant sun, creaked and groaned, reluctant to shed its coat of white. The drip-drip-drip off the roof chimed in, running down delicate icicles, down-down-down to oblivion. Birds added their bit of harmony in their clamor for the remaining holly berries bared of snow. All quiet; yet all so alive.
Oh Wait, I’m Not Finished
My grandson loves to say the prayer before a meal. He finds it humorous to say amen, but then say, “Oh wait, I’m not finished.” Then he starts “praying” again. Of course, while doing so he looks around to see if we are looking and laughing at him. His parents finally have to tell him he can only say one more thing because he likes to go on and on.
Whatever
My principal asked me an opinion question. I really disagreed with the answer I knew she waited for so I said, “Whatever!” Of course, I immediately realized how rude I sounded and apologized profusely.
God’s Character
As we travelled through Mississippi almost to our destination, we noticed a car on the side of the road. A woman stood beside the opened back door crying so hard her whole face turned red.
Society Rules vs. God’s Rules
Everyone needs rules, right? But what if those rules tend to keep our spirituality bound instead of giving us the gift of freedom in Christ?
Strong Roots
2020, what a rough year for our family. And guess what? Nothing that happened had anything to do with Covid.
Nighttime Meditations
King David ran from his enemies more than once. Perhaps he wrote the words of Psalm 63 while running from an angry King Saul. Maybe, he wrote these thoughts while fleeing from his own son, Absalom. Both scenarios seem awful! I’ve driven through the Judean wilderness in an air-conditioned bus. I’ve also viewed it from the ruins of Masada, King Herod’s winter palace. Both times the wilderness appeared formidable. Thoughts of hiding there terrify me.
Pour it On Out! Transparent Prayers
David pours out his heart before God in many of his psalms. Psalm 62 is unique, however, in that he is telling others to pour out their hearts to God because He is our refuge in times of trouble. Psalm 62 is a psalm of faith that doesn’t mention fear or despair. It doesn’t even make a specific request of God.
Vulnerability: When You Feel Like A Tottering Old Fence
When the kids were young, they often helped me prop up our aging wooden fence after a storm. We’d use the fallen limbs to steady it—until the next storm. More recently, my father’s old wooden corral needed propping up. My daughter wanted to clear it of undergrowth and overgrowth because it held such wonderful childhood memories. As she did, however, some of the boards dropped to the ground as we cut the vines. Others broke into pieces when we moved them. A few had already decayed into the soil leaving their rusty nails behind.
Resting on a Rock
Where did this come from? Maybe it’s a meteorite!
We’d donned boots, gloves and pruning nippers to explore a deer path through the woods. My brother had just purchased the land we were curious to explore. We discovered the surprise just beyond a small clump of trees—the meteorite, or, more likely, an ordinary iron ore boulder. This one, though, was gigantic and resting awkwardly on top of the ground.
Rest is more than a Nap! Rest in God Alone
I often find the direction and comfort I need in the Psalms. King David penned the words of Psalm 62. The introduction mentions Jeduthan, a person or possibly a school or style of composition often used by David’s musicians. Imagining the possible rhythms and poetic Jeduthan style draws my heart deeper into its richness.
Faith with Feet
Jesus often said two words when calling His disciples: “Follow me.” Jesus emphasized that entering into a relationship with Him involved more than belief. It also involved commitment. Jesus said, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23). Upon belief, you and I begin a journey with Jesus that lasts for eternity. He leads; we follow.
Believing Prayer
Name a famous couple. There are many famous couples from history, legend, literature, or Hollywood: Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, Tarzan and Jane… The list goes on.
SMELLY SHEEP
We have a large wool rug in our den. Though we now have the rug professionally cleaned, I initially cleaned the rug by following the instructions I was given. I washed it with mild shampoo and let it dry naturally. Most of the time, this worked well. But one time I cleaned the rug and brought it back inside before it was completely dry. Damp wool is not a pleasant odor. I felt like I was living with a herd of wet, smelly sheep!
Up Close and Personal
My sister’s husband is a pilot. Years ago I went flying with him in a small plane. I remember flying over my house thinking how beautiful everything looked. The house sat on a well-manicured lawn, the trees looked perfectly shaped and small bursts of color came from the flowerbeds. It was a beautiful sight from on high. However, the reality was the lawn needed mowing, the trees had several dead limbs, and the flowerbeds were full of weeds. What appeared perfect from a distance was far from perfect up close.
Resisting the Forbidden
I noticed my Labrador standing perfectly still in a somewhat crouched position, half-in and half-out of the bathroom. Her gaze was fixed upon something. I questioned, “Chloe, what do you see?” She turned toward me, and then turned back, assuming the same position. As I came closer, I noticed her gaze was upon the trash can. Inside was an empty toilet paper roll—the forbidden thing she loves to shred and devour!
The Lord Is Good
This week, we’ve looked at the verses that In-N-Out Burger uses on five pieces of packaging. If you don’t have an In-N-Out Burger in your area, you might be interested to know that these verse references are very discreet – usually at the bottom or underside of the packaging.
You’re an Overcomer!
Today’s verse makes me want to dance.
This verse appears on the bottom of the fry container at In-N-Out. By the way, you may want to dance just to burn some of the calories if you eat the fries Animal Style (yes, another secret menu item).