Most everyone has a place of refuge they like to retreat to when stress and trouble seem to become overwhelming. It may be a cabin by the lake, cabin in the mountains, condo on the beach or even just the solitude of your own home.
Many times in the Psalms the Lord is referred to as a refuge or hiding place, rock or dwelling place, for His people (Psalm 9:9, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 71:3, Psalm 31: 2, 3, Psalm 91: 1,2).
David knows well the days of deep trouble and stress. He speaks of them many times in the Psalms. David was raised to know the Lord from his childhood. In Psalm 71, he speaks of the Lord being his hope, rock and refuge (vs. 3-5). David says, "For you are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth. By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother's womb" (vs.5,6). Because of this truth, David says "My praise shall be continually of You."
David knew he could find refuge in the Lord continually. The Hebrew word translated refuge means "dwelling; a place to live." When we are faced with the stress and trouble of life, we need to remember that He is our hiding place and He is our dwelling place. We do not have to go far to find this refuge. He is there if we will, as the Psalmist does, cry out to Him.
I was reminded of that as I traveled this morning in traffic that was beginning to frighten me and cause me great stress. I cried out to Him and He brought me relief.
Having the cabin on the lake or condo at beach is a great place to visit from the stresses of life, but it can never take the place of the refuge we have in the Lord. Let us resort, continually, to the Lord who is our strong refuge.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Are You Generous?
Generosity comes easy for some, but is difficult for others. I can think of three reasons why a person would be generous. One, they hope to give thinking they may get something in return. Two, they give out of duty because they know it is the right thing to do. Three, they give out of thanksgiving to the Lord because of what He has given them. This kind of giver understands the gospel message. Christ died for them and has forgiven their sin, and now walk in the mercy and grace of the Lord. Because the Lord has been merciful to them, they show mercy to others. They also know that all they have belongs to the Lord. It is His to give away.
We have some close friends who are givers of the third category I described. They are consistently generous with their money, time, and material things. They are overjoyed to be able to help and serve others with the blessings the Lord has given to them. Consequently, the Lord continues to bless them financially even in an economy where many are struggling. They don't take that lightly. They thank the Lord every day for His generosity to them.
Proverbs: 22, 9 says "He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor." Paul tells the Corinthians, ".....He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver"(2 Corinthians 9:6.7).
When we give cheerfully, we are blessed. Not that we necessarily receive monetary things in return, but we are filled with joy. That is the blessing.
Let's examine our hearts and see which of the three categories we would place ourselves. May the Lord in His mercy help us remember all He has freely given to us in Christ, so that we may freely give what is His to give to others.
We have some close friends who are givers of the third category I described. They are consistently generous with their money, time, and material things. They are overjoyed to be able to help and serve others with the blessings the Lord has given to them. Consequently, the Lord continues to bless them financially even in an economy where many are struggling. They don't take that lightly. They thank the Lord every day for His generosity to them.
Proverbs: 22, 9 says "He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor." Paul tells the Corinthians, ".....He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver"(2 Corinthians 9:6.7).
When we give cheerfully, we are blessed. Not that we necessarily receive monetary things in return, but we are filled with joy. That is the blessing.
Let's examine our hearts and see which of the three categories we would place ourselves. May the Lord in His mercy help us remember all He has freely given to us in Christ, so that we may freely give what is His to give to others.
Friday, April 23, 2010
The Day of Trouble
When we find ourselves pushed into a corner with serious decisions to make, we often look to different people or ourselves to help us get out of those situations. We turn to doctors for hope of healing, teachers to help our children in school, good friends who will give us counsel, credit cards because we think that is the answer to a financial issue, etc. In other words, there are many areas we look to in a "day of trouble". Even if the people in all these areas were the best at what they do, it is the Lord who delivers.
In Psalm 20 David has the assurance of the Lord's help and strength in the day of trouble. In verse 7 he says, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. There are several places in scripture where horses and chariots are referred to in terms of strength. Psalm 33:17 tells us a horse is a vain hope for safety..." Proverbs 21:31 says, "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the LORD." Isaiah 31: 1 says, "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor see the LORD!"
The Israelites had a tendency to trust in the strength of their horses and chariots in the day of trouble. We may not trust in those things today, but we do trust in people and things just as they did. The more intimate we are with the Lord, the easier it is to look to Him first in the day of trouble. I didn't say it was easy, but easier.
Our trust in those areas listed above should come first from our trust in the Lord who is in control of these people and uses them to bring about His plan and purpose for us.
In Psalm 20 David has the assurance of the Lord's help and strength in the day of trouble. In verse 7 he says, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. There are several places in scripture where horses and chariots are referred to in terms of strength. Psalm 33:17 tells us a horse is a vain hope for safety..." Proverbs 21:31 says, "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the LORD." Isaiah 31: 1 says, "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, Nor see the LORD!"
The Israelites had a tendency to trust in the strength of their horses and chariots in the day of trouble. We may not trust in those things today, but we do trust in people and things just as they did. The more intimate we are with the Lord, the easier it is to look to Him first in the day of trouble. I didn't say it was easy, but easier.
Our trust in those areas listed above should come first from our trust in the Lord who is in control of these people and uses them to bring about His plan and purpose for us.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
What Have You Done For Your Marriage Today?
There is a billboard on interstate 75 that says "What have you done for your marriage today"? I am convicted every time I read that sign. We do many things in a day for us or for our children, but what have we done for our marriage.
My husband and I have spent a lot of time teaching marriage overseas. I want to begin with what Paul has to say about marriage in Ephesians 5. Wives are to submit to their own husbands realizing that her husband is her head as Christ is the head of the church. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ has loved the church and sacrificed Himself for her. He does this to sanctify her - to make her holy without blemish (Ephesians 5: 22-27).
Now let's look at some specifics. Are we kind and tenderhearted, forgiving our spouse as Christ has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32)? Do our words build up and impart grace to our spouse (Ephesians 4: 29)? Are we concerned more with our spouse's interest than we are our own (Philippians 2: 4)? Do you look your spouse in the eyes when he or she is speaking with you? Do you pray for your spouse for their physical struggles, mental struggles, areas they work in and more importantly their growth in the Lord?
If I asked "Do you love your spouse?" what would you say? There are those who love their spouses but they are not in love with their spouses. That is a topic for another day. Either way, we are to love our spouses and Paul shows us how to do that in I Corinthians 13.
What have you done for your marriage today?
My husband and I have spent a lot of time teaching marriage overseas. I want to begin with what Paul has to say about marriage in Ephesians 5. Wives are to submit to their own husbands realizing that her husband is her head as Christ is the head of the church. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ has loved the church and sacrificed Himself for her. He does this to sanctify her - to make her holy without blemish (Ephesians 5: 22-27).
Now let's look at some specifics. Are we kind and tenderhearted, forgiving our spouse as Christ has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32)? Do our words build up and impart grace to our spouse (Ephesians 4: 29)? Are we concerned more with our spouse's interest than we are our own (Philippians 2: 4)? Do you look your spouse in the eyes when he or she is speaking with you? Do you pray for your spouse for their physical struggles, mental struggles, areas they work in and more importantly their growth in the Lord?
If I asked "Do you love your spouse?" what would you say? There are those who love their spouses but they are not in love with their spouses. That is a topic for another day. Either way, we are to love our spouses and Paul shows us how to do that in I Corinthians 13.
What have you done for your marriage today?
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
A Light Bearer
As you go through your daily routine do you ever wonder how other people see you? Think about your response when someone cuts you off on the highway or messes up your order at a restaurant. Usually when we are with those we know, whether it be with family or our work environment, we are careful about our behavior. We want them to see us in a positive light. We may behave differently with those we don't have to impress.
When Paul writes to the Philippians he tells them they live "in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation." He tells them how to behave so that they will be light bearers. He says "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the mist of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights to the world" (Philippians 2: 14, 15).
As I began my day today, I asked the Lord to help me focus on those who do not know the Lord and that I would take every opportunity to share the salvation given to us through Christ. I seem to fail pretty regularly in that area. I was reminded of this passage in Philippians. Paul spoke those words a very long time ago, but we know sin is still in the world. Because of the ruler of this world (John 12:31), we live in a perverse and crooked generation. We don't have to look far. Between magazines, television, movies, etc. we see the work of the ruler of this world. Rather than have this thought bring us to despair, let us think of the privilege we have been given through Christ to make a difference and this difference comes through our behavior as light bearers to those who are outside of Christ.
As you go through your day today, remember you are a light bearer.
When Paul writes to the Philippians he tells them they live "in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation." He tells them how to behave so that they will be light bearers. He says "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the mist of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights to the world" (Philippians 2: 14, 15).
As I began my day today, I asked the Lord to help me focus on those who do not know the Lord and that I would take every opportunity to share the salvation given to us through Christ. I seem to fail pretty regularly in that area. I was reminded of this passage in Philippians. Paul spoke those words a very long time ago, but we know sin is still in the world. Because of the ruler of this world (John 12:31), we live in a perverse and crooked generation. We don't have to look far. Between magazines, television, movies, etc. we see the work of the ruler of this world. Rather than have this thought bring us to despair, let us think of the privilege we have been given through Christ to make a difference and this difference comes through our behavior as light bearers to those who are outside of Christ.
As you go through your day today, remember you are a light bearer.
Monday, April 12, 2010
"If Only..."
"If only I would not have married that man, my life would not have been so difficult." "If only I had not become a Pastor, I would have had more time for my family." "If only we would not have left Pennsylvania to move to Mississippi, I would have more friends." Many of us can identify with falling into the trap of "If only..."
In Numbers 14, the children of Israel are frightened because of the report they received from the spies who went to check out the land of Canaan. They had been told that the people were stronger and they were afraid to take the land. So now they go back to Moses and Aaron and complain. "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!(v.2)" God is the one who lead them there and promised this land to them after taking them out of Egypt. How easy it was for them to turn around and complain because the job of taking the land was going to be a more difficult than they thought. God would be with them but they wanted it to be easy.
My husband and I moved to Mississippi from Pennsylvania so he could attend a seminary that gave housing assistance to families. We prayed and asked the Lord's guidance in that decision and went believing it was what He wanted us to do. After getting there, it was tough. We and our children left friends we loved, a church family we loved, and a job I had which I enjoyed.
I was miserable after we got there. I began to think "If only..." By the Lord's grace and counsel from some Godly people, I realized we were right where we needed to be even though it was hard.
As the Israelites took their eyes off the Lord, they focused on their difficulties. We do the same thing even today. Let us remember what the Lord told Joshua, "Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)"
In Numbers 14, the children of Israel are frightened because of the report they received from the spies who went to check out the land of Canaan. They had been told that the people were stronger and they were afraid to take the land. So now they go back to Moses and Aaron and complain. "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!(v.2)" God is the one who lead them there and promised this land to them after taking them out of Egypt. How easy it was for them to turn around and complain because the job of taking the land was going to be a more difficult than they thought. God would be with them but they wanted it to be easy.
My husband and I moved to Mississippi from Pennsylvania so he could attend a seminary that gave housing assistance to families. We prayed and asked the Lord's guidance in that decision and went believing it was what He wanted us to do. After getting there, it was tough. We and our children left friends we loved, a church family we loved, and a job I had which I enjoyed.
I was miserable after we got there. I began to think "If only..." By the Lord's grace and counsel from some Godly people, I realized we were right where we needed to be even though it was hard.
As the Israelites took their eyes off the Lord, they focused on their difficulties. We do the same thing even today. Let us remember what the Lord told Joshua, "Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)"
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
I Will Not Go With You!
Psalm 139 speaks of God's spirit and presence being with us no matter where we are. He is always there, leading us and holding on to us (vs. 7-12).
What if (some very vain speculation here), the Lord said to you this morning. " ________,
(fill in the blank with your name) I will not go with you today because you are a stubborn person." I don't know about you but I find that to be a very frightening thought. Yet, this is what He told Moses in Exodus 33 when He said he was to depart from Sinai and take the people to the land that He swore to give to them through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He tells Moses He will send an angel to go with him but He said "for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people" (v. 3). Moses converses with God and the Lord then tells him "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest" (v.14).
God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. We know He never changes. However, before Christ came things were different. The way sin was dealt with was different. Praise be to God for His unconditional love in becoming flesh to live with us and show us who He is. Praise be to God that He sacrificed His only begotten Son for our sin, bringing us forgiveness and the promise of His Holy Spirit to dwell in us. There is no place we can go from His presence.
Like the Israelites, we are stubborn, stiff-necked people. We are still people who want to go our own way. The good news is because of Jesus Christ we know He will never leave us or forsake us. He is always there to forgive and cleanse us as we confess our sin to Him.
Go today in the joy of the presence of the LORD!
What if (some very vain speculation here), the Lord said to you this morning. " ________,
(fill in the blank with your name) I will not go with you today because you are a stubborn person." I don't know about you but I find that to be a very frightening thought. Yet, this is what He told Moses in Exodus 33 when He said he was to depart from Sinai and take the people to the land that He swore to give to them through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He tells Moses He will send an angel to go with him but He said "for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people" (v. 3). Moses converses with God and the Lord then tells him "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest" (v.14).
God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. We know He never changes. However, before Christ came things were different. The way sin was dealt with was different. Praise be to God for His unconditional love in becoming flesh to live with us and show us who He is. Praise be to God that He sacrificed His only begotten Son for our sin, bringing us forgiveness and the promise of His Holy Spirit to dwell in us. There is no place we can go from His presence.
Like the Israelites, we are stubborn, stiff-necked people. We are still people who want to go our own way. The good news is because of Jesus Christ we know He will never leave us or forsake us. He is always there to forgive and cleanse us as we confess our sin to Him.
Go today in the joy of the presence of the LORD!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Fruitful Growth in the Faith
"For if these are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (II Peter 1:8).
Now I know you are probably thinking "what things" is she talking about? I'm talking about virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance or patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love (II Peter 1: 5-7). If these things are yours and abound you will be fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. II Peter 1:9 says that if we lack these things we are shortsighted or blind and that we have forgotten that we were cleansed from our old sins. Notice he is writing to believers. He isn't talking about losing our salvation or an issue of unbelief, but he says "we have forgotten that were were cleansed from our old sins."
C. John Miller, who is now with the Lord, began New Life Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia in 1974. He had a heart for Christians to understand the grace that has been given to them through the gospel. He started World Harvest in 1983. This movement was primarily for us to focus on the power of the gospel and it's leading us to constant renewal as believers. You see, we do forget that were were cleansed from our old sins. Peter knew that. When we forget that were were sinners, cleansed by the blood of Christ and His sacrifice for us, we become "ho hum" in our walk with Christ. In other words, barren or useless.
If you are feeling "dry" and "ho-hum" in your walk with Christ maybe you need to be renewed in your understanding of the gospel and what God has done for you in Christ. If we are in Christ, we have been cleansed from our sins and we must not forget that.
Peter is preparing Christians to deal with false teachers and their destructive doctrines. Understanding the gospel of grace and forgiveness is the only way to fight the trials that are sure to come your way. We celebrated Easter yesterday. Let us celebrate it every day by remembering that we have been cleansed from our old sins.
Now I know you are probably thinking "what things" is she talking about? I'm talking about virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance or patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love (II Peter 1: 5-7). If these things are yours and abound you will be fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. II Peter 1:9 says that if we lack these things we are shortsighted or blind and that we have forgotten that we were cleansed from our old sins. Notice he is writing to believers. He isn't talking about losing our salvation or an issue of unbelief, but he says "we have forgotten that were were cleansed from our old sins."
C. John Miller, who is now with the Lord, began New Life Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia in 1974. He had a heart for Christians to understand the grace that has been given to them through the gospel. He started World Harvest in 1983. This movement was primarily for us to focus on the power of the gospel and it's leading us to constant renewal as believers. You see, we do forget that were were cleansed from our old sins. Peter knew that. When we forget that were were sinners, cleansed by the blood of Christ and His sacrifice for us, we become "ho hum" in our walk with Christ. In other words, barren or useless.
If you are feeling "dry" and "ho-hum" in your walk with Christ maybe you need to be renewed in your understanding of the gospel and what God has done for you in Christ. If we are in Christ, we have been cleansed from our sins and we must not forget that.
Peter is preparing Christians to deal with false teachers and their destructive doctrines. Understanding the gospel of grace and forgiveness is the only way to fight the trials that are sure to come your way. We celebrated Easter yesterday. Let us celebrate it every day by remembering that we have been cleansed from our old sins.
Friday, April 2, 2010
He is Risen!
Since I woke up this morning I have such a strong sense of Christ's resurrection. No doubt the coming of Easter this weekend has heightened my awareness and freshness of His resurrection.
Death is not an easy thing to think about - ours or someone we know. Yet, without Christ's death and the shedding of His blood there is no forgiveness (Heb. 9:22). We know that Christ has come to take the sting out of death. Death is swallowed up in victory (I Corinth. 15: 54, 55).
Jesus, in all His perfection, took the horrible suffering on the cross for my sin and yours. It was a dreadful death. If we knew someone personally who suffered this way it would give us great sorrow. Still, somehow we look at Jesus' death as more of just a historical event.
I think of Jesus having breakfast by sea with his disciples after His resurrection (John 21). What a totally glorious day that had to be for them. The horror of His death was behind them and now they could look forward to the final resurrection when they would be with Him. It should bring great comfort to those of us in Christ to know that the sting of death is gone. He has taken the sting out of death. Death now becomes a journey to be united with the resurrected Christ forever.
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this ? (John 11: 25, 26)"
Happy Easter!
Death is not an easy thing to think about - ours or someone we know. Yet, without Christ's death and the shedding of His blood there is no forgiveness (Heb. 9:22). We know that Christ has come to take the sting out of death. Death is swallowed up in victory (I Corinth. 15: 54, 55).
Jesus, in all His perfection, took the horrible suffering on the cross for my sin and yours. It was a dreadful death. If we knew someone personally who suffered this way it would give us great sorrow. Still, somehow we look at Jesus' death as more of just a historical event.
I think of Jesus having breakfast by sea with his disciples after His resurrection (John 21). What a totally glorious day that had to be for them. The horror of His death was behind them and now they could look forward to the final resurrection when they would be with Him. It should bring great comfort to those of us in Christ to know that the sting of death is gone. He has taken the sting out of death. Death now becomes a journey to be united with the resurrected Christ forever.
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this ? (John 11: 25, 26)"
Happy Easter!
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