Category: Faith

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Spiritual growth

Hmm – He Has Stilled So Many Storms!

Psalm 107:28-31 (NIV2011)  Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.  He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.  They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.  Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.

I have been taught for many years that the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the life and impact of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Re-reading Psalm 107 while writing this blog I remembered there is a strong correlation to:

John 6:16-21 (NIV2011)  When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake,  where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.  A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.  When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.  But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”  Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

And also to

Matthew 8:23-27 (NIV2011)  Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.  Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.  The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”  He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.  The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

I have the icon below from Printery House in Conception, Maryland. I have provided their link if you would like to order one.

I have this framed print in my prayer area and also 3 x 4 inch cards

https://www.printeryhouse.org/ProdPage.asp?prod=A04

From The Printery HoUSE: Theology and Symbolism

“Dark clouds race overhead. Huge waves overtop the gunwales. The boat pitches at a sickening angle. How easily our problems and troubles overtake us like a storm at sea when we forget to let Jesus take charge of our lives!

“The Apostle Peter is depicted in the usual iconographic manner with curly hair and beard. He stands in the boat, pleading with the Lord to awaken and save them. His cloak flares behind him in the wind, suggesting angelic wings, although we know from the Gospels that Peter was much too human to be angelic! The other Apostle huddling in his cloak and looking very frightened is identified for us in barely visible writing as St. John the Evangelist, “the disciple Jesus loved.” He is traditionally shown as a young man in iconography because tradition says he was the last Apostle to die.

“Jesus is dressed in the traditional garb of red tunic and blue cloak. His cloak, called in Greek a “himation” is dark blue signifying the mystery of His divine life. His tunic is red to signify His human blood shed for us all. Christ’s halo, the iconographic symbol for sanctity, is inscribed with a cross and the Greek letters; omicron, omega, nu; spelling “HO ON.” (The “nu” is hidden by the boat.) In English, this becomes “Who Am,” the name used for God in Exodus 3:14: “I Am Who Am.”

“We all have experienced times in our lives when we felt like Peter in this scene, pleading for help and hearing no answer. We all have experienced times when we felt like this portrait of John, overwhelmed by our worries and problems. Pray for awhile with this icon, place yourself in the scene, lay your troubles at the feet of the sleeping Jesus. Then hear His words, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Our Lord Jesus Christ is God, so powerful that even the winds and waves obey Him. Yet He loves you so much that He gave His life for you. Let Him calm your storm.”

I love the comment that Peter was “much too human to be angelic.“

Who better in this unprecedented time on earth, Who better to calm your storm, than the Lord Jesus?

Posted on in Faith

Yoked

I am to be a co-laborer, co-worker, yoked to Jesus for cooperation in Kingdom building. Have you seen a nursery school class on an outing?

Kids hold a loop to make a chain, each one paired with his/her buddy? That is as close as most of us get to the idea of being yoked to Jesus. Linked with Him for cooperation in Kingdom building. He leads, I follow along and cooperate.

1 Corinthians 3:9 (KJV)  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

1 Corinthians 3:9 (NRSV)  For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.

How does this start after I decide to make Him my Lord and King? The building begins with that sanctuary of my heart, sanctified, set apart for His use, a dwelling place for God. I clear a place in my life and heart and soul for God to build His kingdom. He begins on the throne of my heart. Ephesians 2:8-10 reads: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

As the Lord sits on the throne of my heart, I am to take charge of how my mind and heart are occupied. I become God’s workmanship, His project, where He displays His craft and skill. Not by my performance and efforts, but as He rules and directs and reigns in me, His glory shows forth. I have a responsibility to let Him have His own way within me.

Father God, I want to cooperate with You. I want to be Your co-laborer, co-worker. Yoke me to Jesus and do Your work within me. Show me what You have prepared in advance for me to do . Give me the courage and faith to do Your will. Amen.

Posted on in Book quotes, Faith

Psalm 107 from Let Devotional

I would have to call Psalm 107 the LET Mall or perhaps the online shopping haven for Let verses!   Seven lets in just a few verses!  Verses 1-2,8-9,15-16, 21-22, 31-32 say:            

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever.  Let the redeemed of the Lord say this – those He redeemed from the hand of the foe.  “

8-9 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and  His wonderful deeds for men, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

15-16 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men,for He breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.

21-22 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of His works with songs of joy. 

31-32 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men.  Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people and praise Him in the council of the elders. “

In the Old Covenant there were many kinds of offerings and sacrifices.  In the  New Covenant Jesus is the perfect offering and the sacrifice for our sins.  There are very few references to any offerings we are to make as Christians.  The offering and sacrifice most often referred to in Matthew through Revelation is  defined in Hebrews 13:15 as a sacrifice of praise.  This one theme runs throughout the Bible: gratitude, thankfulness, praise, all contribute to our well being and are pleasing to God our Father.

Gratitude can change us in an instant.  If we let ourselves give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love, our emotions will follow our thoughts.  Step back from your intense situations and pray to see God’s hand at work.  The Holy Spirit will begin to show you His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds.  In order to see this way we must yield to Him our perspective, letting  Him guide and direct our view.  Sometimes my thank offering is made through tears and is truly an act of my will.  It never ceases to amaze me how my emotions will FOLLOW.  “Tell of His works with songs of joy,” and soon the very atmosphere around you will change.

Do we give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and wonderful deeds? When was the last time you did that? This Psalm says let them sacrifice, let them exalt, redeemed from hand of the foe; God satisfies and fills, God breaks down strongholds, God deserves our praise.

             Forgive me for failing to love You .  God, I want my life to be a veritable bounty of praises to You.  Let  me offer praise to You in every situation, regardless of how I feel.  Show me the value of this sacrifice.  You are a Father of unfailing love and wonderful deeds! I thank You and praise Your holy name.  Amen.

Bob wanted to be certain you understand that I wrote this devotional many years ago. The quotes are from the booklet entitled Let.

Posted on in Book quotes, Faith

Keep Watch

Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD), best known by his works which formed the basis of the development of Western Christianity, philosophy, and most importantly, theology. Of late, his most notable prayer that I know is in The Book of Common Prayer, Compline, the last “Divine Office” of the day.

Paul Burkhart writes online: “In the Church tradition of the day, “Compline” is the word used to describe that twilight space at the completion of the day, between evening and morning. Prayers and devotions for Compline are usually meant to be done right before a person goes to sleep.”

St Augustine’s words seem especially apropos in this era of pandemic.

“Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or
weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who
sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless
the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the
joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.“

And Amen.

Posted on in Book quotes, Faith, Nature

Ephesians 6:16

In Smoky Mountain National Park there is an “auto tour” called Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. In one parking lot along that motor trail I spotted this stone. Immediately the Shield of Faith came to mind. I think the rock is a natural formation, but it certainly looks like the finger of God to me!

Last Tuesday night during our Intercessory Prayer group meeting for The Crossing Church where we attend, there was a guest in our group. This child read the Scriptures we were to discuss and pray over the various groups each person was assigned.

Her final verse was Ephesians 6:16 New Living Bible, “In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.”

The lesson was about being childlike with God and having faith. The most precious thing was when she read this final verse she said we were to hold up the shield of faith to stop the feary arrows. Not fiery, but feary.

So today lift your shield of faith to quench, stop, and extinguish all those feary darts the enemy of your soul send your way. We have the power to put out the fires of doubt and fear.

One person in our group quoted from something she had read, “God is not able to work in our unbelief.”

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV 2011)
Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Nature

Birds of The Air

When this bird comes to the feeder outside my office window, he most often flits around on the ground. I see him from above and it looks as if he is wearing a helmet of black and white stripes!

We are encouraged to wear helmets to protect ourselves from injury, especially while riding bicycles and motorcycles. How about making certain your helmet is in place at other times? St. Paul encouraged us in Ephesians 6:17 (NIV2011)  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Also in Isaiah 59:17a (NIV2011)  The LORD “put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head.”

Then we are also told that since we belong to the day and are of the Light that comes from God, “we are to be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” 1Thessalonians 5:8 (NIV 2011)

God knows we need to protect our head, and most especially our brain and thought patterns. This pandemic has had me at times, floundering and struggling to keep my head away from depression. Ah! but here comes that sparrow to cheer me on.

It is so easy if you do not suffer from depression to just tell yourself and others to focus on the positive. We are even told repeatedly in Scripture to give thanks in all circumstances. I am one who needs object lessons and constant reminders to stay on the path, stay on the right path, think the right thoughts, look here at the Word and at the Lord.

He blesses me with this bird of the air and reminds me not to fret. Here is the white-crowned sparrow in song for us. In the first stanza, I just love how we can see into his tiny mouth! That tongue is so wee, tiny and small!

 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Matthew 6:26-27 (NIV2011)
Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Nature

The Lilac and the Cruet of Oil

In 1 Kings 17:8 The LORD told Elijah to go to Zarephath in Sidon. There he found a widow who was down to her last measure of flour and oil. The LORD told Elijah that the woman would supply him with food. And the supplies did not run out!

In our yard we have one lilac shrub. Several years ago it was getting way too tall. My son thinned it, but it was still too tall for my liking. So two years ago I cut at it to lower it to a height where I could reach to cut the flowers in spring. Bob was not certain it would ever bloom again after I took hold of the shears!

A few days ago the flowers were out and the overnight temperature dropped to 28 degrees Fahrenheit. In the early morning the leaves were limp. I worried about the survival of those blooms. I had invited friends to come cut lilacs for their cheer. I, too, had been bringing in branches to cheer our table.

The Lilac this week

Later in the day a friend came and picked bunches. I wondered how many more days we might have lilac flowers Several times I have mentioned to Bob that it seems the LORD’S hand has been upon that shrub this year. Just like the cruet of oil in 1 Kings, it continues and has not yet run out of blooms!

We cut, it blooms. We cut some more, it continues to bloom. I am waiting for the Bachelor Buttons and Columbine to open in abundance for bouquets. Until then, I trust that shrub will continue to bless us and others who may want the sweet flowers to take home for cheer.

Volunteers from last year about to bloom!

Posted on in Faith, Just do it

Every Thought

Indeed, we live as human beings, but we do not wage war according to human standards;  for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments  and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NRSV)

War in your mind. War is waging all about us as this pandemic darkness floods the earth. There is nothing more the enemy of our soul would like better than to have us frozen in fear. I admit there have been a few times when I have been frozen. Just plain stuck in an ugly place. Not able to move. I wonder if that is how wildlife feels when hit by our headlights? Research says it because their eyes are wide open and our lights blind them. I am thinking more of being blinded by darkness.

Divine power to destroy strongholds. Where are your strongholds? Do worldly thought patterns have a strangle hold upon you? Are you willing to fight that off?

We have been given “divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God.” Trust. A cross at the beginning of the word. A cross at the end of the word. And in the middle are us. Can we trust God in this time of uncertainty? Will we? If fear of death has a stranglehold upon you, you will have to put it off with these divine weapons. Does the cross and all the benefits Jesus brings to us appeal to you? Are you willing to take up your cross and walk with Him?

Hebrews 2:11-15 (HCSB)  “For the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers,  saying: I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; I will sing hymns to You in the congregation.  Again, I will trust in Him. And again, Here I am with the children God gave Me.  Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the Devil—  and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.”

Have you been held in slavery all of your life by the fear of death? The death and resurrection of Jesus have destroyed the one holding the power of death. We will pass from these bodies, but by faith in Jesus we will live forever with Him. Recently I have often been reminded of Paul’s writing in Philippians 1: 21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” What could possibly be better than to be with the Trinity for eternity? So what is there to fear?

Ah, but I digress. None of this is possible for me without taking every thought captive to Christ. That means the dark blips that come across my mind must go before Him and show their true nature. Brother Lawrence wrote, “Useless thoughts spoil everything and much mischief begins there.” Much mischief … oh goodness. This little dark thought can lead to one an hour from now and then build upon another to interlink and make a chain that is soon trapping me and hobbling my stride. If I allow that first little dark thought to abide in my brain I am soon crippled. Useless thoughts spoil everything.

I have taught 2 Corinthians 10:5b in various women’s Bible studies and without fail someone will voice the query “Every thought?” Well, many of our thoughts do not need to be taken captive. They are not a threat to our journey with Christ. If you watch your thoughts though, you will soon begin to recognize the ones that form patterns of darkness and ill will towards your soul. Your patterns of thinking will show themselves to you over time if you will pay attention to them. Who will win the battle between your own ears? The world, the enemy of your soul, or Christ?

When I take a thought captive to obey Christ I can tell almost immediately upon examination if it is something Jesus would approve of. Compare it to the beatitudes in Matthew 5 or Philippians 4:8-9 whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, etc. How does the captive thought compare? If it does not glorify God, send it packing in Jesus’ Name.

This weighty topic can actually bring you greater peace if you are willing to practice it. Why not try it out to experience for yourself if it is true or not? God will help you. All you have to do is ask.

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Humor, Just do it, Nature

Neighborhood

For me serendipity is just like snatching rubies out of thin air. Serendipity: “the faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident.”

I was out walking and overheard two little girls playing in a yard.

“Where are you, Susie?”

“I’m over here at my favorite tree,” she replied, standing at the base of a pink magnolia in bloom. “I am sad. This is my favorite tree. I come here when I am sad.” There was a pause with no response from the other child. Then in a lilting voice Susie answered, “Do you want to see me climb my favorite tree?”

Can we become childlike during this pandemic? Recognize our sad feelings, but then go on to delight in the life we own at this moment? It has long been said that the waiting is the hardest part. Give me something definitive and I will find a way to cope. Leave me without a decision and I flounder and flop around. Perspective of that child? I am sad, but there is a tree right in front of me waiting to be climbed.

“Do you want to see me climb my favorite tree?”

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Matthew 18:1-5 NRSV

Come, Lord, help me climb this tree! Help me to humble myself and change. Help me become like a child.

Help me to be less fearful of the measure of time, and more fully alive in the time that simply is. Help me to live time, not just to simply use it; to breathe it in, and return it in acts of love and presence.

Avis Crowe

We were advised that in this worldwide crisis we would experience the famous stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. Allow yourself to feel those emotions as they arise, then release them and let them go. They may overlap. You will go in and out of those various feelings.

Always look for your favorite tree. Climb it and be restored.

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Humor, Nature

Suspense over Bunny

Here is where he chose to hide from the rain. I did not dare peek yesterday to see if Momma Bunny had returned for him. This afternoon I decided to look as we are forecast to heavy rains tonight. If she had not returned from him I was fully ready to call an Elder at our church, Lowell, who has pet rabbits at his house. I could house him in a shoe box and take him for a ride to safety away from cats and other critters.

 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.

James 5:14 NRSV

Okay, that is a stretch! But Lowell might have bunny bottles and be willing to have his kids care for a Bunny?

So, I carefully pulled back the nesting material and had my phone ready ….

NO BUNNY! Yes! Momma came back to get him and neatly covered his hiding place.

Whew! What an adventure, in deed!! And I do thank the Lord that I did not harm them when I disturbed them. If she returns next year I will try harder to curb my enthusiasm!