Daperly Dozing Rapidly Rosen

  As the pre-dawn gray crept upon Parris Island, the young marines slept, snugly tucked beneath the covers after a long day.  Suddenly, in a flurry of noisy activity, the lights inside the barracks came ablaze.   Walking through the rows of bunks, the Drill Instructor shouted, "All right you maggots, up out of them racks!"  All, jumping out of bed, stood at attention, except for one recruit who continued to peacefully sleep.  Much to the dismay of the others, the D.I. in one swift move overturned the bunk, displacing its occupant, while shouting, "That will teach you lard buckets that no one ignores my orders."

 David writes "hide me in the shadow of your wings" in Psalm 17:8 (NIV).  Often, we view the Lord as one who covers us with His care, tucking us warmly in with the blankets of blessings.  Acting as children writing to Santa, we pray, asking that He continue to show His mercy and shower us with blessings.  Our Lord is wonderful in that He does provide for every need of those who put their trust and hope in Him.  Yet,  He wants us to stretch beyond the safety of the shadow of His wings to serve Him, bent to do his will, giving all of ourselves wholeheartedly. 

 Like the young marine,  we often need to be shaken out of a blissful spiritual sleep.  Most often, God awakens us by allowing difficulties to come our way. Psalm 66:10(NIV) says, "For you, O God, tested us;  you refined us like silver."  Silver is refined in a furnace of clay and purified seven times.  In the same way, our spirits, which reside inside of these fragile vessels of clay, are being refined by the fires of a God who longs for us to know Him.

Perhaps you have suffered a setback in your life and are struggling with why this would happen to one who trusts the Lord.  Maybe you are undergoing a difficult set of circumstances now.  Seek out the Lord, not asking Him to remove the circumstances or the pain of past events so that life would be all comfy-cozy again.  Rather, ask Him to help you to endure whatever He has allowed to come your way, that you may become more like Him, eagerly ready to do His will.

 Zech. 13:9 (NIV)

This third I will bring into the fire;

I will refine them like silver

and test them like gold.

They will call on my name

and I will answer them;

I will say, 'They are my people,'

and they will say, 'The Lord is our God.'

Cut Off

Blessed be the Lord,
For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city!
22 For I said in my haste,
“I am cut off from before Your eyes”;
Nevertheless, You heard the voice of my supplications
When I cried out to You.

Psalm 31:21-22 (NKJV)

Thought for Today: Arthur had a happy childhood. Yet, when he reached adulthood, he began to believe that his parents had cut him off, wanting nothing to do with him.  He moved to a distant city after college and did not keep close contact with his parents. He met Sue, someone his parents did not accept for many reasons. Against their wishes, he married her.  The relationship with his parents was strained.  Sue became pregnant but had some difficulties, requiring her to take total bed rest. Arthur did not know where to turn, feeling so alone.  He did not think that he could call his parents for help.

Have you ever felt alone, abandoned, or cut off?  Sometimes, we can feel this way in our human relationships.  But do you feel that way right now in your relationship with God? You may be facing some struggles that could use a hand from our loving Father. Yet, you have done things you think would not please Him? Are you afraid to reach out and build a bridge to help you through this time?

In his time of need, Arthur picked up the phone and reached out to his parents, asking for forgiveness and understanding. Of course, being parents, they drove to his house and immediately pitched in. Having an extra couple of hands around made things easier for Arthur and Sue.

Are you hurting right now as you read this?  Is there pain in your heart that you just can't get over that is threatening to eat you alive?  We have a wonderful Lord who can help.  He is the master of the universe; nothing is too great for Him to solve.  Yet, you have to reach out and build the bridge to Him. How you ask?  It is simple: ask Him to forgive you and ask for help.  David wrote in Psalm 31 that our Lord still heard his supplications even when he felt cut off.  It is simple: just pray.  Will you do this today?

Heavenly Father, we often feel we are cut off from You.  Yet, You love us so much that You never leave our sides.  Help us ask for forgiveness and help as we travel this difficult road called life.  In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.