Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Snow like Wool
Saturday, January 21, 2023
I Am Not Alone
Matthew 10:16-20
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as
snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over
to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account
you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to
the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or
how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it
will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through
you.”
God is with me.
A crowd gathered for the varsity boys’ game. On the opposite
side of the gym from us, the opposing team’s fans came together. A sea of blue
filled the bleachers, except for one lone soul dressed in gold and black (our
team colors.) When I noticed the fellow dressed in different colors, my
first thought was sympathy. A fan for our team sat amidst the opposing fans,
but then I wondered if he wore those colors without thinking about what everyone
else was wearing.
I’ll never know the answer, but the visual reminded me of folks
who stand alone in their faith or are on their own in their circumstances.
Missionaries go to places where they may be the only ones who believe in Jesus,
and they are responsible for living a life of faith. Teachers stand before classes
and work so hard to instill a love of learning in their students. Ministers sometimes
feel alone, even surrounded by many.
I’m sure the apostles felt singled out and on their own many
times. Jesus sent them out without earthly possessions and asked them to go to towns less
than welcoming. They traveled and taught about Jesus, even though they could be
flogged or end up in jail. What did the apostles know that kept them going? God
was with them. They were not alone. The Holy Spirit dwelled in their hearts.
Writing is a solitary activity, but I know beyond a doubt,
God is beside me as I write. He’s with me when I’m tired, disappointed, excited,
happy, broken, or weary. No matter what my circumstances may be, God stands
with me, picks me up, heals my heart, and keeps me going. For that, I am so
thankful.
God is with His people, even when we feel alone.
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
From Our Chaos
Saturday, January 14, 2023
And God Gave us Music
Psalm 92:1-3
It is good to praise the Lord
and make music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiming your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,
to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp.
Praise is the rehearsal for our eternal song. -Charles Spurgeon
Our grandson, Zeke, tried out for the OMEA seventh grade
band performance. I’m delighted to share he was chosen as first chair baritone.
The students from various districts came together to perform a wonderful
concert after learning the music in only three days. Kudos to Maggie (his
momma) for driving him to Cincinnati every one of those days.
On Sunday, as the band assembled, I sat in the audience with
family and soaked in each song. Each of the four songs inspired their own beauty.
They started with a song that might have been the soundtrack to an action
flick. Then they played a lovely song that invoked an inward peace. The third
song reminded of something you might hear in a palace, and the last song they
played was based on an African spiritual with a contagious rhythm.
As I think back on the music, the first song played reminds
me of Joshua marching around the walls of Jerico. The peaceful song left me
thinking of Mary holding baby Jesus. The palace song brought Queen Esther to
mind, and the African beat reminded me of David dancing and praising.
God gave us the gift of music, and we can use instruments
and voices to raise praises to God. Music also soothes the soul and offers a
respite from the cacophony of a noisy world. I’m thankful there are different
styles of music, and a variety of musicians so we can all find the tunes that
draw us closer to God. Contemporary Christian music, traditional hymns, pop, and
folk are among my favorites, and I’ll listen to almost any instrumental tunes.
As I am with nature, I’m amazed at God’s creation of tones and melodies. He’s
given us so many gifts, and just think how beautiful the music of heaven will be.
Find music that draws you closer to God.
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
Seek the Beauty
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Content and Obedient
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
Content and complacent are not the same.
This time of year, when snow falls or rain drenches the
ground, I’m content to stay inside and enjoy the peace and quiet. With my word
for the year being content, I’ve been thinking about what it means to live a
life pleased with what I have and having what I need.
Tim and I live a pretty simple life. We don’t need a lot of
things. We’re not extravagant spenders, nor are we wasteful. In pursuing a
content life, does that mean I stop striving and moving forward in my life, my
writing, or my spiritual growth? Of course not. No matter how old I am, or how
successful, or pleased with life, God wants me to continue to serve through the
gifts and circumstances He’s given me.
The apostle Paul spoke of how he’d learned to be content in
any circumstance, but guess what—he continued to strive to be a better
person, one who served the Lord and listened to his calling. In Acts 18, the
Lord even spoke to Paul and encouraged him to not be afraid and to continue
speaking and sharing the gospel in Corinth because God placed people around him
to care for him. Paul obeyed God and once again found contentment.
As a believer in God’s mercy and grace and as a person of
faith, I trust God in my circumstances and long to serve Him all my days.
Content and complacent are not the same. Strive to be
content and obedient.