Showing posts with label devotion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label devotion. Show all posts

Saturday, January 27, 2024

Need an Umbrella?

Hosea 6:3

Let us acknowledge the Lord;
    let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
    he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
    like the spring rains that water the earth.

“Sometimes life just calls for an umbrella.”-Unknown

January rain poured outside and annihilated the snow from last weekend. For a few days, the ground was covered with beauty and calm, then the rains came and mud stirred. I’m not a fan of mud with a dog to walk, but we manage, as long as she doesn’t lie down and roll.

I’m not troubled by the dark days of winter, but I know many people struggle with the dreariness. We all need sun to balance the rain.

Dreary days may not come from the weather conditions, but from illness, too much debt, missing someone, making mistakes, sinning against God, or any other difficulty. It’s easy to curl into the sorrow and sadness of hopelessnessbut with Godhope is as sure as the sun rising.

I’m thankful God holds the umbrella for me. He stops the rain from drowning me and shines His light on my situation. When I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I knew I’d live the rest of my life in pain. At times, the pain gets me down. I hurt physically and mentally, but spiritually, I hold on to the hope of brighter days. Thankfully, my husband and family understand. With my hope in God and my support system, the struggle lessens, and I can store the umbrella in a basket.

Hosea reminds me that no matter my situation, God comes to me like he did the Israelites. They struggled for years, but God hung with them, reminding them to turn away from their sin and sorrow and follow Him.

Let God pour over you or let Him hold the umbrella against the rains. Whatever you do, seek Him.

Saturday, November 14, 2020

Thanks for Music!

Psalm 95:1-2

Come, let us sing joy to the Lord;
            let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and
            extol him with music and song.

Raise a hallelujah!

In the fall of 1975, I joined several other 18 and 19 year-olds on the campus of Kentucky Christian College. Fresh out of high school, we prepared to join the ranks of freshmen in higher education. I knew a few of my fellow classmates and met a slew of new friends. We gathered at least twice a week for campus worship, where we heard preaching and raised our voices together in praise. One song touched our class more than any other, It is Well With my Soul. To this day it's my all-time favorite hymn.

Fast forward 40 yearsseveral from our class gathered for a reunion. What a joy to meet with these longtime friends. We ate and chatted, then had a time of worship. And guess which song we all wanted to sing. It is Well, because even after all these years, we know whatever life brings, our souls rest in the Lord.

The words of the hymn may seem old fashioned, but they translate into peace, hope, and joy for our troubled souls today. With all the grief, frustration, discontent, doubt, and temptation, God is still watching out for us. Jesus still offers grace and salvation. The Holy Spirit still lives and breathes in the souls of Jesus' followers.

When I feel down, I plug into music that praises the Lord, and then I sing like nobody's listening. I'm thankful for the music written to praise the Lord, whether a psalm, a hymn, or a contemporary piece. Thank you, Lord for musicians.

Come before him with thanksgiving and song!