Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Needy People

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                The thought recently came to me that we are all needy people. Some of us are not aware of the needs we have.

                Our primary need is that of salvation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV) Each of us needs the LORD to save us from our sins. Without the LORD in our hearts, we all deserve to go to Hades. Yes, we sometimes make decisions that are not wise. However, God loves us even then, all we have to do is admit our sin and ask His forgiveness.

                Another need we, as humans have, is discipline. “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3:19, ESV) God wants us to spend time with Him in prayer and in studying His Word. We have to set a time for these activities.  Because I write, my Bible study time blends in with my writing time. I find the best time for me to pray, read and study my Bible is in the mornings before a lot of household activity begins.

                Due to our humanity, we need rest- physical and spiritual. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29, ESV) I am learning how to gauge my evening entertainment watching television and playing games on my tablet. I find I get more sleep and better rest when I read a book for 30 minutes before I finally turn in. If I sleep in, I find myself out of sorts. I used to feel I had to rush through things to keep up with my mental “to-do” list. I have decided that all these activities and schedules are in God’s hands.

                We also need good interaction with others. We call that fellowship. “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17, ESV) Because I pursue the craft of writing, I treasure my solitude. However, I also realize the need for interaction with others. When I go to the pharmacy, I take the time to ask this one worker about how her husband’s small business is going. The others, once I get to know them especially if it’s near a holiday, I ask if they have to work on that day. If it’s a store that I seldom frequent, I might tell the cashier handling my transaction, “Thank you.” At the grocery store, I try to tell them to “be blessed.” As needy as we are, these workers need to feel appreciated.

                God will guide us, His children, through our needs. His Word promises us that.

                                

Monday, July 31, 2017

Be Still and Know

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“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46:10 ESV

“Be still:” I love to begin my day fairly early. I enjoy hearing the quiet of our house. In the spring and the fall I enjoy hearing the birdsong in those hours before the street begins to have traffic.  Since we have arranged a sitting area on our enclosed porch, I go out there during the afternoon when the weather permits. When we were able to use our yard swing, I could sit out there in the evenings and talk to God.

“know that I am God” I appreciate the quiet because I get to converse with God. I talk to Him through prayer and He talks to me through His Word.

“I will be exalted:” God chooses to be lifted up when we take the time to listen. Conversation by definition is an exchange of words between at least two people. 

“among the nations, in the earth:” God sent His Son to earth for you and me and all the people on this earth. Sometimes we forget that there are others, beside us, whom God loves and on whom He bestows His blessings.

“The Lord of Hosts is with me;” The sons of Korath each said this. Each of God’s children can say this even today. I find this statement to be one of strength and of faith.

“the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Here again a statement of faith. God is beside us when we go through the valleys. I like the quote from Billy Graham, “Mountaintops are for views and inspiration but fruit is grown in the valley.”


What are some of those valleys we go through in life?
            *Financial hardships,
            *Loss of friendship,
            *Serious illness (self or a loved one)
            *Loss of a loved one through death,
            *Family issues
            *Interpersonal issues


We have to remember that God is with us especially during these times.-

God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...