Rindy's Devotional Tidbits
|
|
The Spiritual Cafe is pleased to share her daily facebook thoughts. It is our hope that her reflections will be a service to you on your spiritual growth journey.
Week 8 Archives
Year 5; Day 50 Even in the Valley
"Even in the valley, God is good..." That is what I woke up to...several times, actually. The line of that chorus was my first conscious thought and it kept repeating itself. It is easy to sing words like that..."Even in the valley God is good. Even in the valley He is faithful and true." Easy to sing and believe because I am not in a valley right now. And if I am not on top of Mt. Everest, I am at least on top of a very high hill. But a valley will come at some point. They always do. And a valley could be any number of things; a big disappointment, a series of small ones, bad news, sickness, death, loss, depression...the list is endless. But is God still good? Is He faithful and true? Even when we don't think so or it doesn't seem so? Is the chorus speaking sentiment or truth? What does His Word say? "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100:5) And there are many other verses that attest to His goodness. I think part of the problem comes when you are in your own personal valley, trial, or storm. It doesn't feel good. It feels awful, horrible, unfair, sad. Is God still good when bad things happen? To me? To you? His Word says so. His Word says that justice will prevail in the end. God will make all things right. It is the timing that doesn't always suit. We like our timing. But it is God's timing that is perfect. Even in the valley we have to let our "knowings" speak louder than our "feelings". "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) Even in the valley our God who is good is working things out for our good. But we won't know that to be true until we have experienced it for ourselves. He is trustworthy and God wants us to "know" that..even in the valley. We can count on His goodness because, "I the Lord do not change..." (Malachi 3:6) God's character is unchanging. That is truth in the valley or on the mountaintop. Today is Sunday. "Taste and see that the Lord is good..." (Psalm 34:8)
"Even in the valley, God is good..." That is what I woke up to...several times, actually. The line of that chorus was my first conscious thought and it kept repeating itself. It is easy to sing words like that..."Even in the valley God is good. Even in the valley He is faithful and true." Easy to sing and believe because I am not in a valley right now. And if I am not on top of Mt. Everest, I am at least on top of a very high hill. But a valley will come at some point. They always do. And a valley could be any number of things; a big disappointment, a series of small ones, bad news, sickness, death, loss, depression...the list is endless. But is God still good? Is He faithful and true? Even when we don't think so or it doesn't seem so? Is the chorus speaking sentiment or truth? What does His Word say? "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100:5) And there are many other verses that attest to His goodness. I think part of the problem comes when you are in your own personal valley, trial, or storm. It doesn't feel good. It feels awful, horrible, unfair, sad. Is God still good when bad things happen? To me? To you? His Word says so. His Word says that justice will prevail in the end. God will make all things right. It is the timing that doesn't always suit. We like our timing. But it is God's timing that is perfect. Even in the valley we have to let our "knowings" speak louder than our "feelings". "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) Even in the valley our God who is good is working things out for our good. But we won't know that to be true until we have experienced it for ourselves. He is trustworthy and God wants us to "know" that..even in the valley. We can count on His goodness because, "I the Lord do not change..." (Malachi 3:6) God's character is unchanging. That is truth in the valley or on the mountaintop. Today is Sunday. "Taste and see that the Lord is good..." (Psalm 34:8)
Year 5; Day 51 Godliness with Contentment
Chuck Swindoll has been doing a series of radio messages on "Hilarious Generousity". We don't often put those two words together but it comes from 2 Corinthians 9:7 which says that, "...God loves a cheerful giver." In the Greek the word cheerful ties in with the word hilarious. He has talked about various aspects of giving and not giving, and yesterday Chuck talked about contentment. I have some things in my life that have caused me considerable discontent. Sometimes I am okay and other times the discontent just wells up. Why aren't things different? Why doesn't God do something? I Timothy 6:6 says, "But godliness with contentment is great gain." Great gain. Really important to have. A treasure. Scripture doesn't say money is great to have. Nor does it mention power or prestige or possessions. It says godliness with contentment is something great to have. Godliness means devotion and reverence. It is a person's inner (heart-felt) response to the things of God which shows itself in godly respect. Combine that with contentment and God's word says we really have something marvelous. Contentment had a number of definitions but one stood out: having all you need within through the indwelling of Christ. Another definition is "a mind contented with its lot". Paul then goes on in his instructions to Timothy to explain more about contentment. He puts possessions into perspective in verse 7; "For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." In other words, hold loosely to "things" because they are not eternal nor are they going with us. "But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." (verse 8) Be content with the basics. Appreciate being warm and dry and fed and clothed. Sometimes (often??) wanting more chokes out gratitude for what we do have. Discontentment is so much easier than contentment. It takes no effort to be discontent, dissatisfied, envious. Just look around. Somebody handy always has something more or better or different. But it is contentment coupled with godliness that God says is "great gain". I can easily look around and see what I don't have. Or I can just as easily look within and know that I have a Saviour who can meet all my needs with and without "things". Today is Monday. I already feel more content with the reminder that I belong to Him. No money can replace that reality!
Chuck Swindoll has been doing a series of radio messages on "Hilarious Generousity". We don't often put those two words together but it comes from 2 Corinthians 9:7 which says that, "...God loves a cheerful giver." In the Greek the word cheerful ties in with the word hilarious. He has talked about various aspects of giving and not giving, and yesterday Chuck talked about contentment. I have some things in my life that have caused me considerable discontent. Sometimes I am okay and other times the discontent just wells up. Why aren't things different? Why doesn't God do something? I Timothy 6:6 says, "But godliness with contentment is great gain." Great gain. Really important to have. A treasure. Scripture doesn't say money is great to have. Nor does it mention power or prestige or possessions. It says godliness with contentment is something great to have. Godliness means devotion and reverence. It is a person's inner (heart-felt) response to the things of God which shows itself in godly respect. Combine that with contentment and God's word says we really have something marvelous. Contentment had a number of definitions but one stood out: having all you need within through the indwelling of Christ. Another definition is "a mind contented with its lot". Paul then goes on in his instructions to Timothy to explain more about contentment. He puts possessions into perspective in verse 7; "For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." In other words, hold loosely to "things" because they are not eternal nor are they going with us. "But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." (verse 8) Be content with the basics. Appreciate being warm and dry and fed and clothed. Sometimes (often??) wanting more chokes out gratitude for what we do have. Discontentment is so much easier than contentment. It takes no effort to be discontent, dissatisfied, envious. Just look around. Somebody handy always has something more or better or different. But it is contentment coupled with godliness that God says is "great gain". I can easily look around and see what I don't have. Or I can just as easily look within and know that I have a Saviour who can meet all my needs with and without "things". Today is Monday. I already feel more content with the reminder that I belong to Him. No money can replace that reality!
Year 5; Day 52 God's Unlimited Resources
My father had a stack of sermon messages that he would get once a month from a particular organization. He gave me some a number of years ago and they sat in a drawer. And then a couple days ago I came across them because God knew I needed and would need the encouragement they contained. When the Israelites left Egypt, they witnessed God's miraculous power tomeet their needs. He opened the Red Sea so they could cross on dry land. He provided a pillar of fire at night for guidance and light. They needed food so He gave them manna and quail. Their shoes never wore out, they had water, and they never got lost. Nothing stumped God. There was no situation, no need the Israelites had, that God couldn't deal with wholly and completely. But they never gave God their total, across the board trust. As soon as one miracle was had, they were grumbling and complaining and questioning God about the next situation. "God did this but what about that?" They never came to trust God's unlimited resources. They never came to truly believe that there was no situation, no circumstances, no need that God couldn't thoroughly handle. When I read about the Israelites, I shake my head that they were so foolish and stubborn...so hard-hearted...so unbelieving. And then I look at myself. God has clearly answered some prayers for me. And then I was confronted with another need, a time sensitive need, last night. And I can't think of a solution. And I can't meet the need. And I can feel a bit of worry knocking at the door. And. And. And how many times does God have to prove Himself faithful to me before I just turn this need and any other that comes, over to Him with utter trust and confidence? God is not limited to my being able to think up an answer. His resources are limitless...not limited. I am the one who is limited...limited in resources, limited in ideas, limited in power, limited in seeing the whole picture. But God is not and He will act on my behalf. That is what His word says. "Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him." (Isaiah 64:4) Once again we are called to "wait". I am called to "wait". Wait with expectation. Wait with faith. Wait with trust. Wait with confidence. Today is Tuesday. Who better than God to work on my behalf...or yours?
Year 5; Day 52 God's Unlimited Resources
My father had a stack of sermon messages that he would get once a month from a particular organization. He gave me some a number of years ago and they sat in a drawer. And then a couple days ago I came across them because God knew I needed and would need the encouragement they contained. When the Israelites left Egypt, they witnessed God's miraculous power tomeet their needs. He opened the Red Sea so they could cross on dry land. He provided a pillar of fire at night for guidance and light. They needed food so He gave them manna and quail. Their shoes never wore out, they had water, and they never got lost. Nothing stumped God. There was no situation, no need the Israelites had, that God couldn't deal with wholly and completely. But they never gave God their total, across the board trust. As soon as one miracle was had, they were grumbling and complaining and questioning God about the next situation. "God did this but what about that?" They never came to trust God's unlimited resources. They never came to truly believe that there was no situation, no circumstances, no need that God couldn't thoroughly handle. When I read about the Israelites, I shake my head that they were so foolish and stubborn...so hard-hearted...so unbelieving. And then I look at myself. God has clearly answered some prayers for me. And then I was confronted with another need, a time sensitive need, last night. And I can't think of a solution. And I can't meet the need. And I can feel a bit of worry knocking at the door. And. And. And how many times does God have to prove Himself faithful to me before I just turn this need and any other that comes, over to Him with utter trust and confidence? God is not limited to my being able to think up an answer. His resources are limitless...not limited. I am the one who is limited...limited in resources, limited in ideas, limited in power, limited in seeing the whole picture. But God is not and He will act on my behalf. That is what His word says. "Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him." (Isaiah 64:4) Once again we are called to "wait". I am called to "wait". Wait with expectation. Wait with faith. Wait with trust. Wait with confidence. Today is Tuesday. Who better than God to work on my behalf...or yours?
Year 5; Day 53 More Than Enough
Yesterday in our DVD Bible study, Beth Moore used the examples of how God provided for the Israelites through the crossing of the Red Sea, manna, quail, and water from the rock. Then a woman in our group said how God worked on our behalf. These were the examples I used in yesterday's post and also the Bible verse (written hours before I knew what would be in the Bible study). I felt again confirmation of God's unlimited resources to meet all our needs. The Old Testament prophet Elisha had a company of prophets that he helped guide. One of the men had died and his widow came to Elisha with a desperate need. Her two boys were going to be taken away as slaves if she didn't pay off her deceased husband's creditors. Elisha asked her what she had in her house and she answered, "...Your servant has nothing there at all...except a little oil." (2 Kings 4:2) She said she had nothing and then added an "except". She had almost nothing but not nothing. She still had a small jar of oil in her house. To her it was as good as nothing. But in God's hands it was more than enough. Elisha told the widow to go to her neighbors and ask for all their empty jars. Behind closed doors she poured from her little jar of oil into an empty jar. She filled it up. Jar after jar was filled from her jar of "I have nothing except..." When her son told her there were no jars left, "...Then the oil stopped flowing." (verse 6) If she had had more jars, it would have kept flowing. Elisha then told the widow to sell the jars of oil, pay off the debts, and use what was leftover for living expenses. He can and will do the same for us. God can take our limited "I have nothing except" and combine it with His limitless "I have more than you can ever imagine" and meet our every need. If we are willing. Willing to ask. Willing to give whatever we have. Willing to obey. The widow didn't question Elisha's instructions. She just obeyed. And she could have had more had she had more jars. She ran out of supplies. God didn't. We all have an "except". It may be a talent, a skill, or an idea. It may be willing hands, a generous heart, or a positive attitude. When we come to God with our "nothing except", He can turn it into "more than enough". Today is Wednesday. Our God is "...able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..." (Ephesians 3:20)
Year 5; Day 54 Where Are You Going?
God promised Abraham that he would become the father of a great nation. The years rolled by and Abraham and his wife Sarah got older and remained childless. So Sarah offered her maidservant Hagar to Abraham and thought to build a family through her. When Hagar became pregnant, she looked down on Sarah and Sarah didn't like it at all. She was jealous of Hagar and mistreated her so badly that Hagar ran away. An angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar by a spring in the desert. The angel asked Hagar two questions: "...where have you come from, and where are you going?" (Genesis 16:8) Hagar said, "I'm running away from my mistress...." (verse 8). Notice she only answered one question. She knew where she was coming from but she had no idea where she was going. She never answered the second question. Life is like that a lot, isn't it? We know where we have been but don't always know where we are going. When I graduated from university, I did not know where I was going. I interviewed for jobs in several states and wound up in another country. I did not see that coming. I have lived my whole adult life in Newfoundland and I assume I will be here until I die or the Lord comes. I assume but I won't know for sure until it happens. Often we don't know where we are going until we are already there. Sarah thought having a baby via another woman was where she wanted to go...until she got there. Then she found herself consumed with jealousy. Hagar thought running away was where she wanted to go until she wound up alone in the desert. So what do we do when we know where we have been but don't really know where we are going? Look to the Word of God. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5,6 KJV). The Lord not only knows where we have been but He has a path planned for us to follow to where we need to go. He will direct us if we trust in Him. Today is Thursday. I may not always know where I am going but I always know who does.
God promised Abraham that he would become the father of a great nation. The years rolled by and Abraham and his wife Sarah got older and remained childless. So Sarah offered her maidservant Hagar to Abraham and thought to build a family through her. When Hagar became pregnant, she looked down on Sarah and Sarah didn't like it at all. She was jealous of Hagar and mistreated her so badly that Hagar ran away. An angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar by a spring in the desert. The angel asked Hagar two questions: "...where have you come from, and where are you going?" (Genesis 16:8) Hagar said, "I'm running away from my mistress...." (verse 8). Notice she only answered one question. She knew where she was coming from but she had no idea where she was going. She never answered the second question. Life is like that a lot, isn't it? We know where we have been but don't always know where we are going. When I graduated from university, I did not know where I was going. I interviewed for jobs in several states and wound up in another country. I did not see that coming. I have lived my whole adult life in Newfoundland and I assume I will be here until I die or the Lord comes. I assume but I won't know for sure until it happens. Often we don't know where we are going until we are already there. Sarah thought having a baby via another woman was where she wanted to go...until she got there. Then she found herself consumed with jealousy. Hagar thought running away was where she wanted to go until she wound up alone in the desert. So what do we do when we know where we have been but don't really know where we are going? Look to the Word of God. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5,6 KJV). The Lord not only knows where we have been but He has a path planned for us to follow to where we need to go. He will direct us if we trust in Him. Today is Thursday. I may not always know where I am going but I always know who does.
Year 5; Day 55 Sent Forth
There is a marvelous prophecy concerning Christ given by the prophet Isaiah. "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,..." (Isaiah 61:1) I was struck by the fact that while the first purpose of the not yet arrived Messiah was to share the good news of God's love, right behind it was "to bind up the brokenhearted". The first priority was to get the heart in right relationship with God and the second was to mend the broken pieces. I guess because even if you can brag that you've never been sick a day in your life, few can say they have never had their heart broken at least once. In our Beth Moore Bible study "Breaking Free", this week's lessons are on binding the brokenhearted. So many things can lead to a broken heart. It could be a loss, a betrayal, something totally unexpected, abuse, or consequences. Often there is a sense of no more hope or a finality to a situation. A heart can break when there is nothing more you can do. There may be nothing more we can do but there is something more that Christ can do. The word "sent" in the Hebrew means: to shoot forth. God didn't send His Son to meander over...He "shoots" Him over. Christ is right there in our heartbreak...immediately. Heartbreak will and does happen. It is part of life in this world. But we have a great Physician. "Bind up" means: to wrap around, bandage, cover, envelope, enclose, to compress, to stop. What descriptive meanings to cover brokenness. The Hebrew for "broken" is: to burst, break into pieces, crush, smash, to rend, tear to pieces (like a wild beast). We are not talking about a hairline fracture or a few cracks in the heart. We are talking about pain and sorrow and grief and maybe rage and anger that have smashed to pieces a beating heart that loved. What can Christ do? What will He do? He can stop the hemorrhaging by applying pressure from His loving hand. He can envelope and enclose the shattered heart with His healing love. He can pick up the pieces, put them in the right places, and then wrap them in the bandages of His healing power and strength. God knew one of the main consequences of sin was and is not only a broken relationship with Him but also a broken heart from each other. And so the Father anointed His Son to bring good news and sent (shot) Him to bind and bandage and enclose our broken, smashed, and bleeding hearts. It will take time. But part of His mission is to bring healing to our brokenness. Today is Friday. He is right here.
There is a marvelous prophecy concerning Christ given by the prophet Isaiah. "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,..." (Isaiah 61:1) I was struck by the fact that while the first purpose of the not yet arrived Messiah was to share the good news of God's love, right behind it was "to bind up the brokenhearted". The first priority was to get the heart in right relationship with God and the second was to mend the broken pieces. I guess because even if you can brag that you've never been sick a day in your life, few can say they have never had their heart broken at least once. In our Beth Moore Bible study "Breaking Free", this week's lessons are on binding the brokenhearted. So many things can lead to a broken heart. It could be a loss, a betrayal, something totally unexpected, abuse, or consequences. Often there is a sense of no more hope or a finality to a situation. A heart can break when there is nothing more you can do. There may be nothing more we can do but there is something more that Christ can do. The word "sent" in the Hebrew means: to shoot forth. God didn't send His Son to meander over...He "shoots" Him over. Christ is right there in our heartbreak...immediately. Heartbreak will and does happen. It is part of life in this world. But we have a great Physician. "Bind up" means: to wrap around, bandage, cover, envelope, enclose, to compress, to stop. What descriptive meanings to cover brokenness. The Hebrew for "broken" is: to burst, break into pieces, crush, smash, to rend, tear to pieces (like a wild beast). We are not talking about a hairline fracture or a few cracks in the heart. We are talking about pain and sorrow and grief and maybe rage and anger that have smashed to pieces a beating heart that loved. What can Christ do? What will He do? He can stop the hemorrhaging by applying pressure from His loving hand. He can envelope and enclose the shattered heart with His healing love. He can pick up the pieces, put them in the right places, and then wrap them in the bandages of His healing power and strength. God knew one of the main consequences of sin was and is not only a broken relationship with Him but also a broken heart from each other. And so the Father anointed His Son to bring good news and sent (shot) Him to bind and bandage and enclose our broken, smashed, and bleeding hearts. It will take time. But part of His mission is to bring healing to our brokenness. Today is Friday. He is right here.
Year 5; Day 56 Not a Problem
I live in an area of small communities strung together along the coast. While I certainly don't know everyone, I know a fair number from teaching. Yesterday I had a friend who was coming over after she tended to some business. She had a stop to make and so I called the place and asked them to give her a package they had for me as it was already paid for. The owner knew who I was and knew who my friend was and answered with a, "Sure. Not a problem." As I hung up, I felt a rush of warmth. Not a problem. What a wonderful few words. My request was not a problem. My need would be met. Had the business owner not known me for years it might have been a problem. Had he not known my friend for years it might have been a problem. But it wasn't and so I received my package without going out the door. Almost immediately I was reminded of God. Has there ever been a request brought to Him that He couldn't handle? A need He couldn't meet? Anything that was a problem because He lacked resources or time or permission? Going through a storm? Not a problem. He can calm it. And if that's not what's best, He can get in the boat and you'll ride it out together. Need direction, advice, wisdom? Not a problem. We are indwelled with the Holy Spirit and we have God's written Word. Got a personal need? Not a problem. He knows your comings and goings, the hairs on your head, and your words before you speak. You won't surprise Him. Feeling overwhelmed with pain, loss, betrayal, grief, anger? Not a problem. He can bind up a broken heart. Whatever comes our way, God can more than handle. "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10) Today is Saturday. We have a heavenly Father who can truly say to whatever we bring to Him, "Not a problem. Just leave it with me."
I live in an area of small communities strung together along the coast. While I certainly don't know everyone, I know a fair number from teaching. Yesterday I had a friend who was coming over after she tended to some business. She had a stop to make and so I called the place and asked them to give her a package they had for me as it was already paid for. The owner knew who I was and knew who my friend was and answered with a, "Sure. Not a problem." As I hung up, I felt a rush of warmth. Not a problem. What a wonderful few words. My request was not a problem. My need would be met. Had the business owner not known me for years it might have been a problem. Had he not known my friend for years it might have been a problem. But it wasn't and so I received my package without going out the door. Almost immediately I was reminded of God. Has there ever been a request brought to Him that He couldn't handle? A need He couldn't meet? Anything that was a problem because He lacked resources or time or permission? Going through a storm? Not a problem. He can calm it. And if that's not what's best, He can get in the boat and you'll ride it out together. Need direction, advice, wisdom? Not a problem. We are indwelled with the Holy Spirit and we have God's written Word. Got a personal need? Not a problem. He knows your comings and goings, the hairs on your head, and your words before you speak. You won't surprise Him. Feeling overwhelmed with pain, loss, betrayal, grief, anger? Not a problem. He can bind up a broken heart. Whatever comes our way, God can more than handle. "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10) Today is Saturday. We have a heavenly Father who can truly say to whatever we bring to Him, "Not a problem. Just leave it with me."