On the Way!

An online merchant sends me a notification that my order has been shipped. In most cases, I also receive a link I can use to track the package. On the day the order is to arrive, I receive another notification that the item is out for delivery.

I like having access to that information. Once I know the item is on its way, my anticipation builds. And when I receive an “out for delivery” notification, I listen for the noise of the delivery truck. I go to the door and thank the delivery person. If I’ve been away from home on delivery day, upon my return, I check the front and side entrances to the house (or the mailbox) to see if the package was delivered.

This morning, I received an “out for delivery” notification. [See photo.] I clicked the link to the tracking information. As I looked at it, I realized afresh that while I’d worked at my tasks and while I’d slept, people had been working day and night to get the item to me. Other people had been involved in the manufacturing and marketing processes before it could be shipped and sent to me. A virtual army of people had been used to provide the item I wanted.

Realizing that so much goes on behind the scenes reminds me to wait patiently for God to act. He knows, even though I don’t, what’s going on and when and how and through whom His answers to prayers will come. And, oh, the joy when His gift arrives.

Troublesome Times

The coronavirus pandemic. Isolation. Shifting of roles. Loss of routines. Suffering of all sorts. Dying—in its various forms. Rioting. Earthquakes and other disasters. Wars. Heartbreak. Desperation....

As I reflected on such things, I recalled these words contained in an old song: “Troublesome times are here, causing men’s hearts to fear.” R. E. Winsett was right when he wrote them in the 1940s. They remain true today.

Troublesome times ARE here—and have been for centuries. Oh, how sin has marred everything. If my heart is grieved, and it surely is, then God’s heart is grieved even more as He sees what is happening to the people and to the world He created.

Even though people have fallen so far from what God wants them to be, He still loves them. He is still forgiving and gracious toward even the most evil one among us. He still yearns for each of us to repent—to turn from our sins and turn to Him, as did the prodigal son who came to his senses and chose to return to the father who loved him. (See Luke 15.)

Troublesome times can and should lead us to turn to our God, to confess our sins and our shortcomings, to ask Him to forgive us and to restore what sin has stolen from us. Once we’re in right relationship with our God, then let’s ask Him to show us what we—each of us—can do to help ourselves and others recover from the troublesome times.

Even Though...

Lessons from the 5K: #3--Realize Someone Is Watching Over You

Note: This is the third in a series of posts. Click here to read the previous one.

A law enforcement officer had been assigned to stay behind the last runner to be ready to provide any assistance any of the runners might need. Early on, when it was obvious that another lady and I were not able to keep up with the rest, the officer drove his vehicle alongside me and said, "If y'all need a ride, let me know."

I said, "I should be fine. I'm just slow and a bit wobbly because I'm still dealing with balance problems left over from a long bout of vertigo."

For the rest of the race, he followed a few feet behind me, never getting close enough to make me feel he was trying to make me go faster than I felt was a safe pace for me.

As I walked, I realized God was watching over me and that He had arranged for the officer to also watch over me and to help me if I stumbled and fell. That comforted me.

I thought about several passages of Scripture including these words written by David:

Lesson #3: We are never out of God's sight or out of His care. He even reminds us of that by letting us see the people He has placed nearby to assure and assist us! 

The Source of Light and Hope

Daddy was born 117 years ago (1902) today (January 29) and died on March 6, 1982, at the age of 80. I’ve lived almost that long but, thankfully, have never had to deal with the kind of hardships he did: the death of his first wife, the death of two children (one a child, one an adult), a houseful of children (seven!) to raise by himself, two sons going off to war, a blended family (after he and Mama married and had two children), diabetes, etc. Even with all those problems and few of life’s comforts, Daddy was a happy man, well-known for his big smile and sparkling sky-blue eyes. He loved the Lord—and people—and always had lots of friends (rich ones and poor ones).

The day before he died, he was transferred by ambulance from a small hospital in North George to a larger one in Atlanta. My husband (James) and I rushed there to be with him and Mama. The doctor came to Daddy’s bedside to examine him and to ask lots of questions. When he said, “Pops, what do you for fun?” James answered before Daddy could. “He goes to church!”

James was so right! That was what Daddy loved to do. And he didn’t just go and sit on a pew. No! He led the singing, with or without piano accompaniment. He often preached. He got on his knees during prayer time, as was the custom in Baptist churches in that part of rural North Georgia.

His religion carried over into his daily life, too. Whenever he had a minute to sit down, he’d reach for his well-used King James Version Bible and read from it. Although Daddy had only a third-grade education, he was able to read the Bible; and the Holy Spirit helped him understand what he read. He drew strength and comfort from the Scriptures and from hymns, many of which he'd memorized.

One of his favorite songs was Heavenly Sunlight, written by Henry J. Zelley, published in 1899. I think the words in that song explain why Daddy was joy-filled despite having to face so many hard things. His Source of help and hope is available to everyone who will believe in Jesus and in what He said.

Listen here and/or read the words below. May they comfort and strengthen you as you make your journey through life.

Walking in sunlight all of my journey;

Over the mountains, through the deep vale;

Jesus has said, “I’ll never forsake thee,”

Promise divine that never can fail.

REFRAIN:

Heavenly sunlight, heavenly sunlight,

Flooding my soul with glory divine:

Hallelujah, I am rejoicing,

Singing His praises, Jesus is mine.

Shadows around me, shadows above me,

Never conceal my Savior and Guide;

He is the Light, in Him is no darkness;

Ever I’m walking close to His side.

In the bright sunlight, ever rejoicing,

Pressing my way to mansions above;

Singing His praises gladly I’m walking,

Walking in sunlight, sunlight of love.

It's Not All Up to Me!

Anytime I'm struggling to do something that's a challenge for me (which is quite often!), the Holy Spirit brings to my mind these comforting words spoken by God centuries ago:

After being reminded that the outcome does not depend on me alone, I relax a little. I keep doing my best, of course, but I don't feel as desperate to make things work out. I realize that God's in charge of everything, including me, and that He will "perfect that concerns me," as David says in Psalm 138:8, NKJV.

Note: Other versions translate that truth in various ways. The New Living Translation says, "The LORD will work out his plans for my life." The English Standard Version says, "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me." The New American Standard Bible says, "The LORD will accomplish what concerns me."

The bottom line, however, is: The Lord is in charge of me. He will take care of me. Therefore, I can fully trust Him--and I do! You, Dear Reader, can do the same.

Good News!

Ever feel that you're a mess? That your life is a mess? That everyone around you is a mess? That the mess is impossible to clean up, especially by yourself? 

Well, there's good news! There's hope. As Matt Chandler said, "God is at work in the mess. That's the message of the Bible" (Our Daily Bread, Nov. 20, 2018).

When we cry out to Him, He will help us, as He did David, who said:

"In my distress I called upon the LORD,

And cried to my God for help;

He heard my voice out of His temple,

And my cry for help before Him came into His ears."

(Psalm 18:6, NASB)

Praying and Singing!

Sometimes when I’m driving alone in my car, I pray for those who live in the houses I’m passing by. Since I rarely know anything about what’s going on with them, I sing the old spiritual song, Kum Ba Ya, which means Come By Here. I make up verses as I go along and offer them as a prayer to God on behalf of the people.

For example, I sing:

Someone needs You, Lord!

Kum ba ya!

Someone needs You, Lord!

Kum ba ya!

Someone needs You, Lord!

O Lord, come by here!

I change the wording in each verse in order to describe various situations in which those persons may find themselves. Sometimes I express my cries for help with the original words (Kum ba ya!); sometimes I say, “Come by here!” 

Either way, the prayers ascend heavenward and are answered. The Lord does come by the homes and hearts of those who are suffering, of those who are grieving, of those who are seeking, of those who are crying, of those who are praying, and so forth. And He knows exactly what’s going on and what He needs to do in order to help them. 

My job, then, is to implore Him to come by, not to tell Him what to do. 

And I pray that when He comes by, the people will open the door and let Him come in.

Sing along here and make “Come by here, Lord,” the cry of your heart—for yourself, as well as for others.

I Am With You!

I'm sure I've posted this verse before, but I need to be reminded, as perhaps you do, of the precious promises it contains. So...let's read Isaiah 41:10 again and again and reflect on it so that we will not fear--no matter what happens.

The Answer

When I learned a friend was scheduled to undergo a serious medical procedure, I began to wonder what I might say or do that would help her feel less anxious as she waited for the appointed time. Although I didn’t know exactly what she was feeling, I could definitely empathize with her since I’d felt anxious many times when facing surgery and other scary situations.

With a prayerful, seeking heart, I went about my chores, believing that the words to share with her would be given to me. Sure enough, I suddenly remembered and began humming a verse of a song (“I Know Who Holds Tomorrow”) that has often comforted me as I’ve experienced the truth of its message. Like its composer (Alison Krauss)—and everyone else—I have no idea what tomorrow will hold—or even what’s in store in the next minute! But daily I choose to cling to Jesus’ promise: “I will be with you always” (Matthew 28:20).  

And since He keeps every promise and since He knows what lies ahead, I willingly put my hand in His, trusting Him to take care of everything that concerns me.

Does that mean my life will be easy all the time? No. But it does mean I will always have peace in the midst of whatever “storm” assails me, for I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He loves me and is with me at all times and that I can trust Him to cause all things to work together for His glory and my good. (See Romans 8:28.)

 *******

The eternal God is your refuge, 

and His everlasting arms are under you, 

to hold you close, 

to comfort you, 

to lift you above your circumstances. 

(Based on Deuteronomy 33:27.)

*******

All who keep close to God, 

shall be kept safe by Him.

~Matthew Henry