Trusting God Can Cleanse You

Zechariah had a vision from the Lord. It was set up similar to a court setting and standing on trial was Joshua, the high priest. Zechariah saw the angel of the Lord and Satan standing next to Joshua ready to accuse him for his wrong doings.

The Sounds of Silence…revealed by His Spirit

Ladies, put yourselves in the shoes of Jesus’ closest followers in the forty days between resurrection Sunday and His ascension. Think how absolutely amazed on one hand and bewildered on the other you would have felt. He was alive! He was the Messiah as the prophets of old said! There would indeed be a kingdom of God on earth! But He would be leaving—it would be up to you to testify to the world about this kingdom. Oh yes, and I have promised you a gift from the Father; only you must wait for that gift (Acts 1:1-10).

The Sounds of Silence…When God Tells Who God Is

The endless cacophony between Job and his four friends is over and God essentially tells Job to be still: who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?” Indeed! And with that the LORD beckons His servant Job (42:7,8)—servant having the connotation of the one I trust, who worships me (Strong’s)—to come in close: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). You see, Job had to step away from his circumstances to know the One who was in control.

The Sounds of Silence…Be Still and Know

With the 2021 record Texas snow over, the big meltdown had begun and I had cabin fever. Caution! Caution! my brain said—those brittle bones should not slip and slide. So I stepped out on the back porch to take it all in. The crusty layer on the garden wall, sparkling like jewels in the brilliant sun, creaked and groaned, reluctant to shed its coat of white. The drip-drip-drip off the roof chimed in, running down delicate icicles, down-down-down to oblivion. Birds added their bit of harmony in their clamor for the remaining holly berries bared of snow. All quiet; yet all so alive.

Oh Wait, I’m Not Finished

My grandson loves to say the prayer before a meal. He finds it humorous to say amen, but then say, “Oh wait, I’m not finished.” Then he starts “praying” again. Of course, while doing so he looks around to see if we are looking and laughing at him. His parents finally have to tell him he can only say one more thing because he likes to go on and on.

Whatever

My principal asked me an opinion question. I really disagreed with the answer I knew she waited for so I said, “Whatever!” Of course, I immediately realized how rude I sounded and apologized profusely.

Nighttime Meditations

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.

Pour it On Out! Transparent Prayers

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.

Vulnerability: When You Feel Like A Tottering Old Fence

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.

Resting on a Rock

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.

Rest is more than a Nap! Rest in God Alone

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.