All in Encouragement
Spring cleaning has taken on a new meaning these days. Closets, drawers and attics have been reorganized. Our yards and gardens may be looking better than years before. Surely there is some comfort gained while our to-do lists dwindle. But some people are entering into a restless phase while this virus continues to take center stage in our lives. I have begun to sigh when I hear the morose acronym...COVID-19.
I was bogged down in my daily Bible reading. After I trudged through Exodus, past the victory of the plagues, the miracle of the manna and quail and the water from a rock, I sat mired in the details of the Tent of Meeting….the place where God planned to meet and fellowship with His people.
I listened intently as my distant relatives communicated stories about my parents when they were young. The previous day, my mother had shared some of the same stories. Hearing the stories from different viewpoints added details and richness.
Red, round, juicy home-grown tomatoes are my obsession every summer! They are far superior to their tasteless counterparts that are picked green and ripened by gassing, occupying the shelves in most grocery stores.
In the little one stop-light town where we vacation during the summer there is a herd of deer that roam the yards, streets, even Main Street, and the parks much to the delight of everyone except some avid gardeners. As my little nephews excitedly exclaim, “Look there are mommy deer, daddy deer, and baby deer!” What a pleasure to watch them quietly move gracefully by you.
Last month, while jeeping on an alpine trail at 12,500 feet altitude, I was astounded at the bounty of glorious flowers. There were natural-formed bouquets of golden sunflowers, delicate lavender blooms scattered among them, and an array of pink and white blossoms peeking around the rocks.
Waiting is hard. The Bible is full of people who waited for God to fulfill a promise. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for God’s promised son to be born. Jacob waited for Rachel for 14 years. Moses and Joshua waited 40 years in the wilderness before God allowed the Israelites to enter the promised land. David waited 15 years to become king after his anointing.
Doesn’t everyone have it all together? My house is clean. I’ve accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish at work. My attitude with my husband has been perfect. I have excelled in parenting and disciplining my children.
I’m not sure what made me say it, but as I started to speak, I knew it was right.
“We are about to pray over our meal. How can we pray for you?”
King David ran from his enemies more than once. Perhaps he wrote the words of Psalm 63 while running from an angry King Saul. Maybe, he wrote these thoughts while fleeing from his own son, Absalom. Both scenarios seem awful! I’ve driven through the Judean wilderness in an air-conditioned bus. I’ve also viewed it from the ruins of Masada, King Herod’s winter palace. Both times the wilderness appeared formidable. Thoughts of hiding there terrify me.
David pours out his heart before God in many of his psalms. Psalm 62 is unique, however, in that he is telling others to pour out their hearts to God because He is our refuge in times of trouble. Psalm 62 is a psalm of faith that doesn’t mention fear or despair. It doesn’t even make a specific request of God.
When the kids were young, they often helped me prop up our aging wooden fence after a storm. We’d use the fallen limbs to steady it—until the next storm. More recently, my father’s old wooden corral needed propping up. My daughter wanted to clear it of undergrowth and overgrowth because it held such wonderful childhood memories. As she did, however, some of the boards dropped to the ground as we cut the vines. Others broke into pieces when we moved them. A few had already decayed into the soil leaving their rusty nails behind.
Where did this come from? Maybe it’s a meteorite!
We’d donned boots, gloves and pruning nippers to explore a deer path through the woods. My brother had just purchased the land we were curious to explore. We discovered the surprise just beyond a small clump of trees—the meteorite, or, more likely, an ordinary iron ore boulder. This one, though, was gigantic and resting awkwardly on top of the ground.
I often find the direction and comfort I need in the Psalms. King David penned the words of Psalm 62. The introduction mentions Jeduthan, a person or possibly a school or style of composition often used by David’s musicians. Imagining the possible rhythms and poetic Jeduthan style draws my heart deeper into its richness.
This week, we’ve looked at the verses that In-N-Out Burger uses on five pieces of packaging. If you don’t have an In-N-Out Burger in your area, you might be interested to know that these verse references are very discreet – usually at the bottom or underside of the packaging.
Today’s verse makes me want to dance.
This verse appears on the bottom of the fry container at In-N-Out. By the way, you may want to dance just to burn some of the calories if you eat the fries Animal Style (yes, another secret menu item).
Today’s verse comes from In-N-Out’s milkshake cup. My California friends, who introduced me to In-N-Out, love the Neapolitan shake. You won’t see it listed on the menu. It’s considered part of the “secret” menu and made with all three regular shake flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.
Today’s verse comes from In-N-Out Burger’s hamburger wrapper. I think it’s fitting because Rev. 3:20 sounds like Jesus wants to eat with us.
Singer Danny Gokey recorded a song entitled “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again.” This beautiful song gives me encouragement to keep going when I am tired or depressed. https://youtu.be/eUHRDCYnFfg
If one were to attach a descriptor to 2020, it could easily be: spinning out of control! I am reminded of the title to the 1961 musical made famous by Anthony Newley: Stop the World, I want to Get Off. 2020—exactly! Ever wonder who was in control through the months of uncertainty? The experts wavered—how was the virus transmitted? are surfaces contaminated? how close is close? do we need to wear masks? how long to quarantine? And we still don’t really have answers.
