Snarling Dogs

 

 

“But I will sing of Your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.” Psalm 59:16(NIV)

Singing of God’s strength, singing of God’s love!  What a wonderful thing to do on a beautiful day, when birds are singing, the sun is shining, and life is good.

These were not David’s circumstances when he wrote Psalm 59. Outside were men sent by Saul to kill him. Verse 14 describes the men as “snarling like dogs”.   

In spite of threatening circumstances, David chose to sing of God’s strength and of His love. He chose that occasion to remember that God was his refuge and his strength.

Have you ever gone to bed worrying about the next day’s problems? Have those troubling thoughts ever seemed like a pack of snarling dogs?

David’s solution was to remember who God is and to sing praises to Him. Perhaps the songs of praise drowned out the snarls of the dogs. Two things were true. Snarling dogs were outside. God is more powerful than snarling dogs.  Two facts. Which truth to focus on?

In today’s world, Christian music is available 24 hours per day. When I am worried, I turn on my favorite Christian station and set the volume on low. I fall asleep thinking about the words of praise songs. It’s a wonderful alternative to thinking about “snarling dogs” all night long.

Praise you, Lord God. You are strong. Your love never fails. You are my refuge in times of trouble.

 

 

 

 

 

Eclipse

  

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1(NIV)

Total darkness. Dropping temperatures. Birds roosting in the middle of the day. The moon blocking the sun. The corona. The “diamond ring”.  How awesome! How magnificent! How great is our God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth!

Before yesterday’s eclipse becomes a distant memory, let us pause and stand in awe before our God, the Creator of heaven and earth.

I am not a scientist. I am a simple follower of Jesus Christ who believes that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. There are Christian scientists who have scientific arguments for Creation.  I am not a scientist. I am simply a woman who spent an afternoon watching the tv account of the eclipse. I am a woman who gazes each morning at the sunrise. I marvel at the beauty of spring flowers. And I wonder how anyone could not believe that there is a Creator.

 How great is our God, the Creator of heaven and earth!

Invitation to Meet

 

                                                  

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6 (NIV)

There is something special about lunch with a close friend. Especially when it is just the two of you. A private lunch invites private conversation. Things can be shared at a private lunch that would not be shared in a larger group. Personal joys and personal struggles. A time to listen and a time to speak. A private lunch with a friend is a precious joy. 

Amazingly, God our Father invites us to meet privately with Him. When we pray, He invites us to share our personal joys and our personal struggles. He always listens and always understands. As we open His Word, He speaks to us. Like a good friendship, our meeting includes both speaking and listening. A private time with God is a precious joy.

Lord, thank you for inviting me today to meet with You. Thank you, too, that You will invite me again tomorrow. And that with each sunrise comes a new invitation. What a privilege to have a God who wants to spend time with me!

 

 

Exactly

 

                                                      

 

“I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.” John 14:31B

 

“Now Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” Genesis 6:22

 

Jesus loved the Father and pledged to do exactly what the Father commanded Him to do.  For Jesus, this meant going to the cross.  

 

Noah was a man who desired to obey God.  For Noah, this meant building an ark in a world that had never seen rain.

 

Do I do “exactly” what God commands me to do? Or are my standards of obedience 99% or 90% or even less?  The Sovereign God deserves 100% obedience.  Anything less is sin. 

 

If God tells me to do something, I must do it.  When God says to go, I must go. There is no room for negotiation. It is audacious to suggest that a Sovereign God is wrong! When I disobey or partially obey, that is what I am doing. And, sadly, I do just that far too often!  

 

Lord, open my eyes to see who You are. Give me the tiniest glimpse of Your greatness, holiness, and majesty. Cause me to remember Your love and goodness and wisdom. May I bow before You in worship and submission. Give me the grace, dear Lord, to do exactly what You tell me to do. You deserve nothing less.

 

 

 

Word of the Year 2024: Hope

                                   

 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13(NIV)

 

Hope. What a perfect gift for the year ahead! Romans 15:13 identifies God as “the God of hope”. He delights to fill those who trust in Him with all joy and peace and hope. 

 

As the new year begins, there are many unknowns, both in our own lives and in our world. God doesn’t promise us a problem-free life. He does promise to walk with us. He promises to take care of us and to “work all things together for good for those who love God.” Romans 8:28. As we put our trust in Him, He gives us joy, peace, and hope in all circumstances. 

 

Every year I choose a word of the year and a Bible verse of the year. I type out the verse and place it on my bathroom mirror. I read it every day. For 2024, my word is Hope and my verse is Romans 15:13.

 

Let me invite each of you, my readers, to choose a word and a Bible verse for 2024.  If you do, I would love to hear from you. Let me know what word and what verse you choose for the year ahead.

 

May God fill us with all hope, joy and peace as we step into 2024. Happy New Year!

2023…2024

     

                                            

 

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago.” Psalm 77:11 (NIV)

 

One of my favorite holidays is New Years. This will come as a surprise to anyone who knows me. I never go out on New Years Eve. I am asleep before midnight. I don’t watch football on New Years Day. So…why do I like New Years? For me, New Years represents a new beginning. And with a new beginning comes new possibilities and new hope.

 

But before I start thinking about the new year, there is something important that I must do first. I need to pause. I need to think back on the current year. What has God done in my life this year? What blessings can I thank Him for? What lessons have I learned? What will I do differently in the year ahead?

 

Remembering is important. Let’s take some to pause. Let’s rejoice and praise God for His many blessings. Let’s ask Him to show us what we should do differently in the year ahead.

 

Then, when December 31st comes, let’s take time to celebrate, each in our own way. May God richly bless each of us in the year ahead!

 

A Prayer to the Child Who is Born

                              

“For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

 

My God, I come into Your Presence. I thank You for Your many names.

 

I praise You, Wonderful Counselor.  You are wise. Things that puzzle me are clear to You. I come to You asking for wisdom. Guide me in decisions, both big and small. Thank You, my Wonderful Counselor.

 

I praise You, Mighty God. You are always strong and mighty.  I am often weak and frail. I ask for Your strength, as I step into a new day. Thank You, my Mighty God.

 

I praise You, Everlasting Father. Earthly fathers leave this world, but You are always here. Your love never fails. You bring comfort when I hurt. You provide when I am needy. Thank You, my Everlasting Father.

 

I praise You, Prince of Peace. This world is full of chaos and unrest. You are full of peace. Your peace passes all understanding. I bring to You my cares, my fears, my anxieties. Take them and replace them them with Your peace. Thank You, my Prince of Peace.

 

Precious Child, You were born and placed into a manger. Thank You for coming into this world. Thank You for dying for my sins.  Thank You for being my Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Amen.