Year: 2020

Most mornings as I sit contemplating God over His word and my cup of coffee, I’m reminded of who I am in comparison to Him and I feel so very small. I see myself in all of my inadequacies, nothing about me is prideful in that moment. I clearly see His ask of me, knowing how I should walk throughout the day.

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8

It’s the difference that occurs in me between those quiet morning moments and the events of the day that alter my course. It’s how I respond to that person to whom I should show mercy, it’s how I respond to the child that needs my full attention, it’s how I respond to the unpleasant news I receive, it’s how I respond to temptation that comes before me, it’s how I respond to moments that should be for God’s glory.

It’s the difference that occurs in me, that’s where the problem arises. He has commanded me to walk humbly, not just to come before Him humbly in the morning. I am to continue that attitude of humbleness throughout the day, within my thoughts and actions. Humbleness occurs within my mind, my thoughts, and is evidenced in my actions toward others.

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;” Colossians 3:12

When I walk humbly, I am able to continue my walk throughout my day knowing God hears me, knowing He is there to give me strength when my mind struggles from the demands of the day.

“Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:” Psalm 10:17

When I walk humbly before Him, He has promised to hear me. He has promised to listen to me as I call unto Him, guiding me throughout my day. In Him, not within myself, there exists the power to walk humbly; so it is that in Him alone will I boast for He is Lord of all.

“My soul shall make her boast in the Lord : the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Psalm 34:2-3

“Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?” Psalm 78:19

I always chuckle when reading this verse, as I think of the sequence of miracles that God had performed to get them to this point and then they question His ability to feed them. He who brought about the plagues across the land of Egypt that resulted in Pharaoh releasing them from bondage, He who parted the Red Sea where they walked upon dry land and watched as their enemies were engulfed by the very waters He parted for them; could He now prepare a table for them?

The lack of perspective of the true extent of what had just happened in their lives seems to be lost; it was as if they were saying yeah that’s all great and good, but can you provide for our needs today? Can you feed us today?

Sounds so familiar, and my chuckle soon fades as I think back to times in which I have seen God do a miraculous work in my own life; yet find it oh too soon followed by my question of, but what about today? Can you solve this problem for me today? Can you prepare a table in the wilderness for me today?

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” Psalm 23:5

There will be time spent in the wilderness. There will be times when we face the enemy. There will be times when there seems to be more questions than answers, but we always know He will prepare a table for us in the wilderness. Our vision is so limited, we exist within such limitations; our focus is on the moment, the now. If only we had eyes to truly see the magnificent power of what God can do, possessing the ability to hold on to that memory without wavering.

“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” Isaiah 64:4

We can not comprehend what our God is truly capable of doing, but we can hold on to the fact that even in the wilderness He will prepare a table, He will make a way.

“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.” Isaiah 43:19-20

Each day I find a darkening across our land, hatred and strife. No regard for what is good and right, continual pursuit for that which pleases the sinful soul. Generations of children that shall come may grow up in a land that no longer recognizes God, a land void of Biblical truth, but I am reminded that His testimonies will forever remain true.

“And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord our God hath commanded you?” Deuteronomy 6:20

What will we answer? Will we give up in defeat? Will we forget to teach them the testimonies of God? Will we become discouraged by the forces at work around us? Will we lose sight of the magnificent power of our Lord?

No !!! We will rise up, we will remember!! We will keep His testimonies and never forget the works that He has done !! We will continue the fight!! Our children will know of His testimonies!!!

“And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:” 1 Kings 2:3

We will remember, we will remain focused on Him, knowing that He has already won the war !! His testimonies are forever, they will not falter nor change.

“Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.” Psalm 119:152

“The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.” Psalm 119:144

By the understanding that He gives, we will continue in His testimonies. We will live steadfast by the power of His might, seeking Him in all that we do!! We will not live in defeat!!

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.” 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17

As I awoke this morning with feelings of foreboding about what might be, God whispered, “It’s Okay, I’m in Control, No matter what comes today your Hope is in me..”

My hope is not found upon this Earth, it rests in God. “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.” Psalm 16:9

In my daily verse He reminded me that this world is not my home, my inheritance is not found upon this earth. Regardless of what comes in the weeks, months or years ahead, nothing can destroy what I have in Him.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,” 1 Peter 1:3-4

As we all await the election results that will be determined sometime this week, I can not help but contemplate the America we are today in contrast to the America we once called our own. I reflect on the heritage of our past knowing that many will come that will never know or understand what has been lost.

Our country once held to the heritage given to us by God, given to us because of the principles upon which America was established. Our country once recognized God as the ultimate power, seeking to follow the commandments of His word. Men and women of generations past fought with their lives to secure a Godly heritage that could be passed down to the many generations that would come after them, yet there came a time when as a nation we allowed the principles of that heritage to slip away.

“And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.” Jeremiah 2:7 What America once stood for is no longer a reality; our Godly heritage is quickly disappearing.

As I see the many faults of this great land I stand with a thankful heart to have been born during a time when I had the opportunity to learn of the heritage upon which we were established. No matter what happens with the election, I know in my heart that I have a Godly heritage that can not be taken away. My heritage exists in my Heavenly Father. “But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.” Jeremiah 3:19

Knowing Him as Lord of my life, following His word, my heritage is secure in Him. “Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.” Psalm 119:111

Because of my relationship with my Lord and Savior as I follow Him; He has promised to protect me no matter what lies ahead. He has promised to keep me until the time I go to be home with Him. This is the promise of my heritage.

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17

If tomorrow I awake and the America I once knew no longer exists, I stand secure in “my heritage” knowing my Lord is still in control.

“And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.” Psalm 119:45

Liberty was a founding principle upon which our country was established, but lately I struggle to feel liberty is being honored any more. Liberty: the state of being free. I no longer feel free to say, do or even believe in what I feel to be right. All that was once viewed as “right” within our country is now being proclaimed as wrong. Everything around us has been reversed from what it was once established upon. Our sense of security has been taken away.

Yet, I still possess the ability to walk at liberty in the power given to me by my Lord and Savior. I still am free from the bondage of this world because I have placed my faith in the one that came to heal the broken hearted and set free those that were in-prisoned.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;” Isaiah 61:1

God wants us to walk at liberty. He created us to live victorious over the evil of this world, establishing a means of deliverance.

“Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” Romans 8:21

Wherever God is present there is the power of liberty, the possibility of walking at liberty. The liberty that we experience in our Heavenly Father can never be taken by the powers of this world; for where the Spirit of the Lord exists there is liberty.

“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3:17

Knowing that I have this liberty, I no longer need to allow myself to become encumbered with the yoke of bondage with which the devil tries to entangle me. I am to stand fast in the liberty that I have in Christ.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1

I can sit around bemoaning the struggles going on around me or I can stand knowing that I walk at liberty in Christ. My focus should be on Him and the work He is doing in and through my life for therein I possess the ability to walk at liberty.

“And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.” Psalm 119:45

“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.” Psalm 86:5-7

When my heart is bowed low before Him, He sees and hears me. He answers when I call, extending mercy and compassion.

“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalm 86:15

My hope lies in knowing that He is faithful; His mercy never runs out, it is renewed every morning.

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-23

So many books have been written on questions such as, “Why am I here?” or “What is my purpose?”. Much of our growing up experiences involve wondering what we will become when we are an adult. Some even look toward the future with agonizing frustration as they seem unable to determine the correct path to take to lead them to where they need to go. Yet, all we need to do is look to God’s Word. He has given us a charge, the charge to love Him and follow His statutes, judgments and commandments.

“Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.“ Deuteronomy 11:1

This charge was given to the children of Israel, but is still holds true for us today. So what is a charge? Webster defines it in this context as someone imposing a task or responsibility on another. God gave them a task, a responsibility as His people to love Him, follow Him, and keep His commandments.

Often we contemplate what it is that God is directing us toward; asking the question, “What does God want me to do?” As with the children of Israel, God has given us a charge, just as David gave this same charge to his son Solomon in I Kings 2:3.

“And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:” 1 Kings 2:3

God has given us a charge; a responsibility that we are asked to fulfill, a task that we are to perform. The “how” associated with completing this task becomes possible as we start each day seeking God; spending time with Him, loving Him for who He is in all things. Through time in His Word, we find direction and clarity for our lives. Each day we see Him working, guiding us toward the path He is establishing before us.

“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.” Psalm 63:1-4

As we see God for who He is we understand that it is through His power that we are able to complete the charge He has given us. Keeping the charge becomes possible as we surrender to Him, coming before Him with a heart of praise, loving Him with all of our heart, and seeking to follow His commandments. As we learn to love Him and follow Him, He makes a way before us guiding us toward the way ahead. All we have to do is follow, He provides all that we need to complete the work He has given us to do. “Keeping His charge” no longer seems burdensome.

Looking back in Deuteronomy 11, we are reminded of the blessing and the curse given to the children of Israel in regard to the charge that God laid before them. There are blessings in keeping the charge, but there is a curse upon the lives of those that fail to complete the task they have been given. God will bless our work, but He will judge our failure to keep the charge He has given us to do.

” Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.” Deuteronomy 11:26-28

I hunger for the blessings that come from “Keeping His Charge“. ” Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21

I look around me and I reflect. I scan the walls lined with photographs of family and friends, my children and grand-children. I look about at all of the “stuff” I have accumulated over the years of my life; and I ask myself the question, “Where is my treasure?” Where have I placed my heart, for that is where I will find my treasure.

“And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

So I pondered my treasure.

“For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.” Proverbs 8:11

“How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!” Proverbs 16:16

This world places value on that which is of little true value. They look outward rather than inward. They look upon the Earth for fulfillment rather than to Heaven for the true source of inner joy and peace.

The Wise Men knew where great treasure could be found when they followed the star that appeared in the east. They knew the true value of the one that they sought.

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:10-11

All of this worlds wealth pales in comparison to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Unto Him we bring all that we are not and He turns it into treasure in heaven.

“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.” Proverbs 8:17-21

My treasure, my true treasure is found in Him, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ !!!

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

My husband and I are currently working to renovate and furnish a bed and breakfast in the area where we live. As I think about each of the rooms and various living spaces, I am spending much thought about ensuring that each room is furnished in a way that every need of our guest is provided for to the best of our ability. When we open Whispering Pines Bed and Breakfast, our goal is to have spaces that are throughly furnished.

(Authors Note: Throughly: completely; thoroughly: in a complete manner.)

Looking back at 2 Timothy 3:16-17, we are told that all scripture is given so that everything we need, to do the good work that God has called us to is throughly furnished. Everything we need is completely furnished for us, there is not one thing missing.

“For the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.” Deuteronomy 2:7

No matter what we face, no matter where life takes us, God has given us everything we need to face the wilderness. We lack for nothing. His Word guides us and directs us in the way we should go, providing us everything we need for the journey.

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

Everything has been throughly furnished . . .