Right Attitude

Sanibel Island (Florida) Sunset

Create in me a clean heart, O God; 

and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10, King James Version

Word of the Day

The agenda for each meeting of the local chapter of Toastmasters International includes time for the Word of the Day (WOD). At the appointed time, a member (who has volunteered a couple of weeks or so in advance) displays the WOD he/she has written in large letters on a sheet of letter-size paper, pronounces the word, defines it, uses it in a sentence, and reminds those who speak during the remainder of the meeting to try to include the WOD in their verbal responses and presentations.

I thought about this one recent morning as I read several chapters in the Bible. As always, I came across many verses that stood out from among the others, but I wondered, Which of these will I choose for the Word of the Day? Which one will I try to memorize and then include in my communications with others?

That day, I chose Psalm 89:1, King James Version:

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever:

with my mouth will I make known

thy faithfulness to all generations.

Since for many years I’ve known a song that includes those words, it was easy for me to say/sing these words many times that day. And…as I spoke with people throughout the day, the Lord gave me opportunities to easily mention the mercies of God and to express heartfelt thanks for His faithfulness—without sounding sermonic.

I’m eager to see what tomorrow’s Word of the Day will be and how God will allow me to see it, say it, and share it!

Better Than Gold

Several years ago, my husband and I visited the site of what had once been an amethyst mining operation. The price of admission included the privilege of searching for left-behind pieces of amethysts that still littered a rocky half-acre or more of land adjacent to the visitor’s center where we purchased tickets.

With great excitement, we set right to work. At first, we walked around looking for pieces lying on the ground. Then we resorted to digging in places that seemed promising. By the time we grew too weary to continue the back-breaking “mining,” we’d placed several various-sized pieces of purple stones in our buckets.

We were thrilled with our semi-precious stones, as we’d been pleased with the flecks of gold we’d panned for while on a trip to Alaska in 1996. (I opted to let an employee there place my gold in a pair of small, oval-shaped earrings.) 

But the “mining” we’d done wasn’t the real kind done by true miners! Their work is infinitely harder because they have to go far deeper (and more often!) into the earth to find the sought-after riches.

As I thought about these two “mining” experiences, I realized that studying the Bible is much like mining. Even a casual reading of God’s Word yields precious gems of truth. But if we’ll dig deeper and deeper (and dig often!) into His Word, the treasures (such as wisdom, knowledge, understanding, vision, perspective, faith, trust, and …) will increase exponentially.

Cry out for insight and understanding. 

Search for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, 

and you will gain knowledge of God. 

For the LORD grants wisdom! 

From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 

He grants a treasure of good sense to the godly.

Proverbs 2:3-7a, New Living Translation

Happy is the person who finds wisdom and gains understanding. For the profit of wisdom is better than silver, 

and her wages are better than gold. 

Wisdom is more precious than rubies; 

nothing you desire can compare with her. 

She offers you life in her right hand, 

and riches and honor in her left. 

She will guide you down delightful paths; 

all her ways are satisfying.

Proverbs 3:13-17, New Living Translation

A Prayer for the Nations

O Father, all the nations of the world are in great, great need of You! Thus, I offer this prayer, based on Your Holy Word:

May Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, give thanks to You forever; from generation to generation may Your people in every nation recount Your praise, may we tell of all Your goodness to and Your great love for Your people. (Psalm 79:13)

May Your people who are called by Your name humble ourselves, and pray and seek Your face and turn away from our wicked ways so that You will hear from heaven and will forgive our sins and heal our land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

O Father, as Your Holy Word says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any nation.” (Proverbs 14:34). May people from every nation acknowledge, with great shame, that their nation is filled with sin because individual citizens are filled with sin. Therefore, You cannot—and will not—exalt any such nation, even our own nation. O Father, help us to cry out to You for cleansing and restoration, as David did in Psalm 51:1-2. May his prayer be our prayer:

Have mercy on me; have mercy on us, O God, according to Your steadfast love; 

according to Your abundant mercy 

blot out my transgressions; 

blot out our transgressions. 

Wash me, wash us, thoroughly 

from our individual and collective iniquity, 

and cleanse each and all of us from sin!

Long May It Wave!

In the late afternoon on the eve of July 4th, I stopped by one of the local churches to photograph a display of American flags. Fortunately, there was a brisk wind that furled and unfurled the beautiful flags--and kept me cool on that hot, humid day.

Later that evening, as I edited the photos, I thought about the song Francis Scott Key wrote in 1814.The first verse in The Star-Spangled Banner is very familiar to most of us, since it's our national anthem; but the remaining verses may not be. (You'll find all of them listed here: http://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/the-lyrics.aspx

I particularly liked the last three lines of the fourth verse; so, as I often do, I paraphrased the words and used them as a prayer:

O may this always be our motto 
(and way of life!)--
"In God is our trust,"

So that the star-spangled banner 

in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free 

and the home of the brave.

Blessed is the nation 

whose God is the LORD, 

the people whom He has chosen 

for His own inheritance.

Psalm 33:12, New American Standard Bible

Timeless Truths

I enjoy browsing in hymnals. Often, I’ll stop and sing the songs I know and love. But if I come to one I don’t know, I don’t let my inability to read music (and, thus, figure out the tune) keep me from enjoying the hymn’s message. I simply read the hymn as if it were a poem.  

One recent morning, I came across a hymn I’d never heard before: God Is Love, His Mercy Brightens, which was written by John Bowring, 1825.  After I’d read all the words, I summarized (using my own words) the timeless truths Mr. Bowring had expressed so poetically centuries ago.

• God is love and, therefore, loving--always!!!
• God's mercy brightens every path.
• God kindles happiness within us.
• God lightens our loads of care.
• Changes are ever-present: man decays; ages move. Yet God’s mercy never diminishes.
• Even the times that seem the darkest verify God’s changeless goodness.
• Through the gloom, God’s brightness streams.
• God interlaces hope and comfort into our earthly cares.
• God’s glory shines everywhere! (Oh, may we have the vision to see it.)

What an awesome God we have!

The LORD’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is [His] faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22, 23, NASB

Take Joy!

 “Hurry! You’ll want to see this,” my husband said.

I followed him to our bedroom window and stood beside him as we watched twin fawns running with joyful abandon around and around in our backyard. Their mother made no attempt to slow them down, though she kept a watchful eye on them as she grazed on tender blades of grass. So, around and around they went, their skinny legs fully extended. If deer could smile, I feel sure those fawns would have had huge grins on their spotted faces!

Naturally, I longed to take a picture of them, and I did try. However, by the time I’d grabbed my camera and sneaked as silently as possible to the edge of the deck closest to them, they’d stopped running. One was standing near its mother as she grazed underneath a cedar tree. I snapped a photo, though it wasn’t the one I wanted. Neither was it technically correct, due to distance, low light, etc.

We’ve seen the fawns another time or two since then, but they’ve never been running as wild and free as they were that morning. Was that their first time to try their legs in a wide open space? Whatever their motivation, their exuberance was obvious and such a delight to watch.

Come to think of it, it’s also a delight to watch people enjoy their lives, whether it’s a child splashing happily in a pool or an adult savoring a good meal or a runner crossing the finish line with arms high in the air…Since we humans love to see others relishing their experiences, surely our heavenly Father takes pleasure in seeing His children (and His animals) enjoying the life He has given them.

I came that they may have and enjoy life,

and have it in abundance—to the full, till it overflows.

~Jesus in John 10:10, Amplified Bible

No matter how difficult life is, 

I will rejoice in the LORD. 

I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

Paraphrase of Habakkuk 3:17-18

With God's Help

Sometimes I feel so inadequate, especially when I look at the long list of things I need to do or whenever a task seems too difficult. And when I think about how well others appear to be doing with their tasks, I feel even more inadequate—and less inclined to do whatever is before me.

That's what’s been happening to me in recent days. Since I’ve felt inadequate to write anything that others will find meaningful, I’ve kinda given up on writing anything, despite the fact that I know with absolute certainty God has called me to write messages about His love (and comfort and encouragement and…) and share them with fellow pilgrims along life’s journey. Instead of writing, I’ve been reading the writings of authors, who, in my opinion, are far more effective than I am. Thus, I’ve let my feelings of inadequacy paralyze me.  

But today, as I listened to an on-line Bible study led by Bob Dowie, he seemed to be speaking directly to me when he said, “Whatever gift God gives you, He will give you the grace to use it.”

So, after confessing my sin of disobedience to the call of God upon my life and asking Him to help me be faithful and effective in His service, I sat down and began writing these words in the hope that they will encourage you, Dear Reader, to do whatever God has called you to do and/or to face whatever difficulty He’s set before you, knowing that God will give you (and me!) whatever we need to accomplish His purposes.

I can do all things 

through him 

who strengthens me.

~The Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:13, ESV

His Life Is Love Expressed

One year as Father’s Day was approaching, I began to observe the fathers around me. I saw them coaching Little League teams. I saw them heading off to work in order to provide for their families. I saw them helping their children and/or grandchildren with all sorts of projects. I saw them caring for their parents. I saw them having dinner with their wives. I observed them bowing their heads and giving thanks for the food they and their families were preparing to eat.

            

Observing fathers as they served their families and fellow citizens in various ways brought to mind the words on this plaque one of my daughters gave her dad on Father’s Day many years ago, words descriptive of him then and now.

           

I have no idea who wrote those words, but they certainly apply to many dads. I, for one, am very grateful for those men whose lives are “love expressed.” I pray that their children will notice their dad’s quiet sacrifice and realize how blessed they are to have (or to have had) such a wonderful dad.

I’m also aware that not all dads are as described above. But the children of dads who mistreated them and/or abandoned them can also take comfort in this great truth expressed again and again in the Bible: We have a Heavenly Father who loves us far more than even the best of earthly fathers ever could.

            

David certainly found that to be true in his life. Again and again, like a wonderful father, God came to his rescue. God forgave him. God gave him extraordinary opportunities and blessings. Throughout David’s life, God talked with him and listened as David talked to Him. All that (and much more) prompted David to describe God as a “Father to the fatherless, defender of widows…” (Psalm 68:5).

            

Jesus also often reminded His followers that God was not only His Father but theirs, as well. For example, when Jesus was teaching His followers how to pray, He taught them to address God as “Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9).

            

And in Luke 12, Jesus assured His followers their Father would most surely provide for them. “Don’t worry about money and possessions! Your heavenly Father already knows your needs and will give you all you need from day to day—if you make the Kingdom of God your primary focus!”

           

Not only will our Heavenly Father supply all that we need for day-to-day living, but it gives Him great happiness to do so! (See Luke 12.).

How blessed we are to have such a Father!!! And if we’ve also been gifted with an earthly father whose life is “love expressed,” well that’s, as a dear friend and neighbor of ours often said, “Doubly good. Doubly good.”

© 2012 by Johnnie Ann Burgess Gaskill. Scriptures quoted are from the New Living Translation.