Do not hide Your face from me;
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not leave me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation.
When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the Lord will take care of me.
Psalm 27: 9-10
Thought for Today: Lewis Smedes writes in “A Chorus of Witnesses”: "Yes, somewhere people still make and keep promises. They choose not to quit when the going gets rough because they promised once to see it through. They stick to lost causes. They hold on to a love grown cold. They stay with people who have become pains in the neck. They still dare to make promises and care enough to keep the promises they make. I want to say to you that if you have a ship you will not desert, if you have people you will not forsake, if you have causes you will not abandon, then you are like God. What a marvelous thing a promise is! When a person makes a promise, she reaches out into an unpredictable future and makes one thing predictable: she will be there even when being there costs her more than she wants to pay. When a person makes a promise, he stretches himself out into circumstances that no one can control and controls at least one thing: he will be there no matter what the circumstances turn out to be. With one simple word of promise, a person creates an island of certainty in a sea of uncertainty. "
Are you feeling forsaken today? Perhaps you feel the sting of rejection or the pain of a lost relationship. We have a great promise from our God: "I will never leave you or forsake you." (Joshua 1:5) People make promises and often do not follow through. We can be assured that all of God's promises to us are true, we can bank on that. Can you rest in the assurance that, if you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are His precious child, never to be left on your own or abandoned? We don't serve a God who abandons, but one who desires our complete abandon.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Saturday, November 1, 2014
November 1 - The Engineer
For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
Psalm 27: 5
Thought for Today: “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away your ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.” Corrie ten Boom, a great servant of the Lord, made this statement when asked about trusting the Lord in all circumstances.
What tunnel are you going through in your life? Perhaps it is a tunnel of fear, doubt, addiction, physical or emotional suffering. Whatever it is, the Lord will indeed hide you, shelter you and help you through this time. Will you trust the engineer of your life journey to lead you always?
Friday, October 31, 2014
October 31 - Dwelling with the Lord
One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.
Psalm 27:4
An unlikely pair, Jimmy from the more affluent side of town and Johnny from the poorer neighborhood, yet they became best friends in first grade. Pals to the end, they liked to spend lots of time together during recess. Jimmy did go to Johnny’s house to play once. Rundown, in need of some maintenance and very tight on space, it was different from Jimmy’s well-kept, sprawling house. Jimmy’s house was a fun place with a loving mom and dad. Johnny only had his mom and she often seemed so overwhelmed by taking care of Johnny and his siblings that there was not a lot of joy.
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.
Psalm 27:4
An unlikely pair, Jimmy from the more affluent side of town and Johnny from the poorer neighborhood, yet they became best friends in first grade. Pals to the end, they liked to spend lots of time together during recess. Jimmy did go to Johnny’s house to play once. Rundown, in need of some maintenance and very tight on space, it was different from Jimmy’s well-kept, sprawling house. Jimmy’s house was a fun place with a loving mom and dad. Johnny only had his mom and she often seemed so overwhelmed by taking care of Johnny and his siblings that there was not a lot of joy.
On one of his visits to Jimmy’s house, Johnny told Jimmy’s
mom that he wanted to live with them.
She asked him if it was because of the nice house, the large yard, the
pool and the seemingly endless supply of toys. Johnny shook his head, saying, “no,
I just like to be with your family and enjoy watching you all be together.”
When you think about dwelling in the house of the Lord, do
you consider only your comfort, what can be gained from being in His house all
the days of your life? We get caught up in thinking only of what God can do for us, of the comfort that can be gained by living daily in His presence. Yet, all
He desires is for us to enjoy His presence, take in His beauty and seek His
face. Is your motivation for seeking the
Lord tied to your desire for comfort or are you willing to give up all that you
know to dwell with the Lord in order to enjoy His presence? My prayer is that it is the latter, that you may enjoy the beauty of the One who created you as you daily seek Him.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
October 30 - Confidence
When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.
Psalm 27: 2-3
Thought for Today: There is a story about a business executive who was about to lose his business due to debt. One day, he met an old man who asked him what was troubling him. He told the old man his woes and the old man offered to help by writing him a check, telling him to meet him back there in one year to repay him. After the old man left, the executive looked at the check for $500,000 signed by John D. Rockefeller. Rather than use the money to pay his bills, the executive placed the uncashed check in a safe. Over the course of the year, he was able to make many business deals knowing that he had the check sitting in the safe to back him up. Consequently, he turned his business around. The day came to meet the old man. As he was about to tell him about how he had turned his business around, a nurse came up to the old man saying, "oh, there you are. I'm glad I found you." Turning to the executive, she said, "he likes to go around telling people that he is John D. Rockefeller." The executive was stunned. A worthless, uncashed check from a madman had changed his entire life.
We have an uncashed check sitting in a safe, not worthless and not from a madman but from our God Himself. By accepting our Lord's free gift of salvation, we have no need to fear, no need to doubt. We can rest peacefully in His truth and His promises to us. As David wrote in the snippet of Psalm 27 above, we can be confident in the truth that the Lord is our light and salvation. As you go about your day today, will you be confident in yourself, your friends and family, your wealth? Or, will your confidence be in the unseen God who will sustain and provide, regardless of the circumstances?
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.
Psalm 27: 2-3
Thought for Today: There is a story about a business executive who was about to lose his business due to debt. One day, he met an old man who asked him what was troubling him. He told the old man his woes and the old man offered to help by writing him a check, telling him to meet him back there in one year to repay him. After the old man left, the executive looked at the check for $500,000 signed by John D. Rockefeller. Rather than use the money to pay his bills, the executive placed the uncashed check in a safe. Over the course of the year, he was able to make many business deals knowing that he had the check sitting in the safe to back him up. Consequently, he turned his business around. The day came to meet the old man. As he was about to tell him about how he had turned his business around, a nurse came up to the old man saying, "oh, there you are. I'm glad I found you." Turning to the executive, she said, "he likes to go around telling people that he is John D. Rockefeller." The executive was stunned. A worthless, uncashed check from a madman had changed his entire life.
We have an uncashed check sitting in a safe, not worthless and not from a madman but from our God Himself. By accepting our Lord's free gift of salvation, we have no need to fear, no need to doubt. We can rest peacefully in His truth and His promises to us. As David wrote in the snippet of Psalm 27 above, we can be confident in the truth that the Lord is our light and salvation. As you go about your day today, will you be confident in yourself, your friends and family, your wealth? Or, will your confidence be in the unseen God who will sustain and provide, regardless of the circumstances?
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
October 28 - Fear
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1 (NKJV)
Thought for Today: For 28 years, Shohoiya Yokowai lived in a prison, not one of bars, locks and guards. His was a prison of fear, for he was a Japanese soldier on the island of Guam during World War II, afraid of being captured by the American forces who had invaded the island. When he had learned of the invasion, he fled to the jungle, living in a cave and only coming out at night to forage for food. He finally was convinced that the war was over by some natives and came out of hiding.
How sad, to waste 28 years of a life hiding in fear from an enemy who had long departed. Yet, so many of us live in fear, whether it be fear of failure, fear of rejection or a multitude of other fears. Many of these fears are caused by things that happened so long ago and have departed from us. My question to you today is what frightens you? Can you take the Lord at face value today, trusting that what He says in His word is true? If so, then will you trust Him today to be the strength of your life and cast all of your fears upon Him? Trust Him today, for He is the only strength that you ever need.
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1 (NKJV)
Thought for Today: For 28 years, Shohoiya Yokowai lived in a prison, not one of bars, locks and guards. His was a prison of fear, for he was a Japanese soldier on the island of Guam during World War II, afraid of being captured by the American forces who had invaded the island. When he had learned of the invasion, he fled to the jungle, living in a cave and only coming out at night to forage for food. He finally was convinced that the war was over by some natives and came out of hiding.
How sad, to waste 28 years of a life hiding in fear from an enemy who had long departed. Yet, so many of us live in fear, whether it be fear of failure, fear of rejection or a multitude of other fears. Many of these fears are caused by things that happened so long ago and have departed from us. My question to you today is what frightens you? Can you take the Lord at face value today, trusting that what He says in His word is true? If so, then will you trust Him today to be the strength of your life and cast all of your fears upon Him? Trust Him today, for He is the only strength that you ever need.
Monday, October 27, 2014
October 27 - Doing the Right Thing
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for You.
Psalm 25: 21 (NKJV)
Thought for Today: A chief executive was soon to retire. He wanted to pick a successor, so he gave each of his junior executives a seed, telling them to plant it and bring back the plant in one year. He would then pick his successor. Everyone talked over the ensuing weeks about the plants that they were growing; all but one man, who watered his plant dutifully but did not see anything grow. The day arrived when the new chief executive would be picked. Everyone brought in beautiful plants, except for this one man. The chief executive looked around the room and marveled at the plants. Then, his eyes fell upon the pot of soil with no plant and the nervous man next to it. The chief executive announced to everyone that he would be the next CEO. He then told the group that he had given all of them boiled seeds that could not possibly grow into a plant. All, seeing that nothing was growing, had substituted another seed for the original one, except for the one who persevered in spite of not seeing results.
So often we are tempted to not do the right thing, to take shortcuts, to cheat. We think that no one will notice, it really does not matter, everyone else does it. Our seemingly innocuous indiscretions do impact us, even if we don't get caught and face earthly consequences. Think of all the young executives in the story above who staked everything in something that was a lie. Conversely, think of the one young executive who did the right thing. His integrity won out.
When I meet Jesus face to face someday, I want Him to know me by my integrity, that He would have preserved me, that I would have held on to His truth and been upright in a deceitful age. What about you? Are you living a life in hopeful wait for our Savior, with integrity as your hallmark? Or, are you placing all of your hope on the things of this world, regardless of what it takes to attain them? I pray that it is the former, that you may know the joy of choosing to be His servant.
For I wait for You.
Psalm 25: 21 (NKJV)
Thought for Today: A chief executive was soon to retire. He wanted to pick a successor, so he gave each of his junior executives a seed, telling them to plant it and bring back the plant in one year. He would then pick his successor. Everyone talked over the ensuing weeks about the plants that they were growing; all but one man, who watered his plant dutifully but did not see anything grow. The day arrived when the new chief executive would be picked. Everyone brought in beautiful plants, except for this one man. The chief executive looked around the room and marveled at the plants. Then, his eyes fell upon the pot of soil with no plant and the nervous man next to it. The chief executive announced to everyone that he would be the next CEO. He then told the group that he had given all of them boiled seeds that could not possibly grow into a plant. All, seeing that nothing was growing, had substituted another seed for the original one, except for the one who persevered in spite of not seeing results.
So often we are tempted to not do the right thing, to take shortcuts, to cheat. We think that no one will notice, it really does not matter, everyone else does it. Our seemingly innocuous indiscretions do impact us, even if we don't get caught and face earthly consequences. Think of all the young executives in the story above who staked everything in something that was a lie. Conversely, think of the one young executive who did the right thing. His integrity won out.
When I meet Jesus face to face someday, I want Him to know me by my integrity, that He would have preserved me, that I would have held on to His truth and been upright in a deceitful age. What about you? Are you living a life in hopeful wait for our Savior, with integrity as your hallmark? Or, are you placing all of your hope on the things of this world, regardless of what it takes to attain them? I pray that it is the former, that you may know the joy of choosing to be His servant.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
October 26 - Unashamed
Keep my soul, and deliver me;
Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
Psalm 25:20 (NKJV)
Thought for Today: Nathaniel Hawthorne weaves a tale in The Scarlet Letter of Hester Prynne and all that unfolds as the result of her adulterous relationship. At one point in the story, Hester is forced to wear a scarlet 'A' and is marched through town, to be shamed in front of the entire community.
We all wear a scarlet letter of some kind, whether we care to admit it or not. All of us have sinned and fall short of God's glory. Yet, by trusting wholly in Jesus, we can be delivered, unashamedly living free. What things in your life cause you shame? He who is willing to deliver you will keep your soul if you are willing to just trust Him. Will you give your guilt and shame over to the Lord today in complete surrender?
Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
Psalm 25:20 (NKJV)
Thought for Today: Nathaniel Hawthorne weaves a tale in The Scarlet Letter of Hester Prynne and all that unfolds as the result of her adulterous relationship. At one point in the story, Hester is forced to wear a scarlet 'A' and is marched through town, to be shamed in front of the entire community.
We all wear a scarlet letter of some kind, whether we care to admit it or not. All of us have sinned and fall short of God's glory. Yet, by trusting wholly in Jesus, we can be delivered, unashamedly living free. What things in your life cause you shame? He who is willing to deliver you will keep your soul if you are willing to just trust Him. Will you give your guilt and shame over to the Lord today in complete surrender?
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