All in God's Word
The impossible had become possible. The Israelites escaped the tyranny of Egypt, crossed the Red Sea on dry land, feasted on manna and quail, were refreshed by water from a rock, and received the Ten Commandments along with instructions on how to live in God’s favor. And all this in thirteen months. They were at the brink of the Promised Land, ready to roll.
Every spring a battle rages between grass and weeds. As a child I watched my dad care for our yard. The grass was still brown and dormant from the winter, but speckled with bright green patches of weeds.
Our dog, Duke, is aging, and with age comes health problems. He recently had surgery to remove a tumor from his eyelid. Afterward, he had to wear “the cone of shame” around his neck to protect his eye.
I do not know about you, but when I finally joined Facebook, I experienced so much heartwarming fun. I heard from people I never dreamed I would touch base with again. Everyone seemed cheerful and glad to connect with each other.
It had been raining and gloomy for days. The girls and I played with every doll, conquered many board games and watched Doc McStuffins episodes too many times. We needed a break!
Remember when your parents said, just do what I say? Did you ever tell yourself, I’ll never say to my kids, because I said so? Did you keep that vow? I said it as well, and I broke that vow as well. I think God says the same thing to us!
It had been one of those weeks where several things in our home were breaking down all at the same time. The dryer quit working, our sink drain was overflowing due to blockage and our garage ceiling was showing signs of a leak in our attic. It was a week of problems and stresses on top of a full schedule.
I sat behind a man whose hat displayed the phrase “dig down deep.” I thought, What would it look like for me to dig down deep into God’s Word?
Proverbs 2 enlightens us on how and where to start digging.
As I came into the room, I noticed my granddaughter sitting at the kitchen table. It was early in the morning, and I knew Elysen was going through her daily routine of getting ready for school. Her breakfast and her open Bible and journal were on the table before her. At age thirteen, reading the Bible and journaling has become her practice and her joy.
Perhaps you’ve sung the song Holy Ground at some point. If so, did you feel like you were on holy ground? Sometimes I feel it more when I’m singing to the Lord, looking at the expansive ocean waters or a mountain range, or spending time with Jesus on my deck.
Have you ever wondered what it was like to only have God’s Word shared orally? No written scripture to study and memorize? What if no one had ever taken God’s words and written them down so that we have a physical Bible?
As we stood at the sink washing Thanksgiving dishes, the family secret was revealed. My mom casually mentioned how sad she was when they “put Dudley down.” My hands stopped scrubbing as I turned to her in unbelief. More than 30 years ago, I had believed my parents’ story about our dear German Shepherd they would take to live “on a farm with lots of kids and dogs.”
Sleep is the most precious commodity to a new mother. She will do just about anything to ensure her baby rests for as long as possible. Note on the door? Check. White noise machine? Purchased. Whisper and tiptoe. Obviously.
My friend has an interesting testimony of how she became a believer in Jesus. No one in her family was a Christian. A man began coming to their home once a week and reading his Bible to the family. He did nothing more than read, but the power of God’s Word transformed every person in that family. One by one they came to believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
My friend came to me asking for help. Her son’s illness and resulting difficulty had continued for years. She prayed repeatedly for his healing, but his condition remained the same. She was looking for answers to her questions and words of encouragement.
God calls people in every generation to proclaim His truth. Noah preached righteousness. Moses proclaimed God’s laws. Paul carried the gospel to the Gentiles. Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, and Billy Graham have boldly proclaimed the truth of Jesus to recent generations.
God’s Word to us is to be read, studied, applied, obeyed, and prayed.
Isn’t it wonderful when life is chugging along without a crisis? These seasons are pleasant, but what happens for a believer when life falls apart, or someone tears us down, or seeks to harm us? Have you ever seen God do the most amazing things in the middle of a crisis? Did your faith grow?
I know looking at your small child going through those great big doors of school can be scary! Having them walk away from you as they face the journey ahead and not even look back can be challenging.
Can you hear the confidence in Micah’s voice? I hope…I wait…my God will hear me! I sometimes long to have more confidence in the Lord. It is easy to get caught up in the pity party of life and forget that we serve a God who never lets His people down. His truth reminds us, “that all things work for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
