Purpose in Season

 

Warner Sallman

To everything there is a season. A time for every purpose on earth.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)

God creates our live and gives us many epochs in each life He creates. As a person goes through life, he or she might go through certain stages.

As young adults, we study, we work, date, maybe marry.

As young marrieds, we work, provide for our families and care for our homes.

As parents, we care for, provide for and rear children.

As Empty Nesters, we rediscover favorite pastimes. and even learn new skills.

As Caregivers, we spend time caring for or helping older family members.

As Senior Citizens, we may volunteer for church or civic positions.

Each of these seasons have a purpose. God gives His children duties and tasks to perform. Each ‘season’ has a beginning and an end.

Since two weeks before the COVID lock down, I have had several health issues. It seems like one after another. I sincerely need to pray about finding God’s purpose about how He wants me to spend my days in this season I find myself.

Sometimes, all we can do is seek the LORD’s guidance and follow His leading.

Are any of you going through times like this?

A Gentle and Quiet Spirit

 

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Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging your hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 1 Peter 3:3-4 (NKJV)

Words of the Apostle Peter to those who were dispersed into five regions of Asia Minor.

His words speak of the inner beauty of the believers of Christ. Per his thought, the inner person is what God sees and deems as our true selves.

I am concerned that our world has worshiped youthfulness, forgetting that people age. Madison Avenue (the advertising industry) has caused us to forget the fact that we are aging. Several of my lady friends have aged gracefully. I have a picture of one of them and her husband in our living room.

Now, please do not misunderstand, there are things we might need to do to our skin. However, there are things we need to do to keep our inner self presentable before God.

#Reading God’s Word

# Applying what it says to our heart

# Living out His Word to others

# Seeking His guidance through prayer

Father God, Please help each one of us to be gentle and humble as we go through our days. In Christ’s Name, I pray. Amen

Let Your Gentleness Be Known

 

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Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Philippians 4:5 (NKJV)

As believers, we must not haggle over unimportant details.  One afternoon recently, I had two incidents with a clerk at our CVS store. I had to ask where something was that I could not find. His response was, “Aisle Seven.”

Instead of responing to my query, I felt that he should have accompanied me to the area. That to me is good customer service.

When I checked out, I had two coupons, one of which did not get applied to my bill. I was not in the best frame of mind when I left the store. I did not know that the second coupon was not applied until I had returned home and checked my receipt.

I decided how to handle my response on this. This is not the first time I have had issues with his service.

Then, I read this scripture. I do have some work to do on this gentleness issue. When I was asked to evaluate the service I received (online), I gave the store middle valued response. When I had to evaluate the person who checked me out, I gave that person low markings.

My reasoning for the action I took was as follows:

# I am a senior citizen, in my late 70s. If a person working in a store treats a senior citizen badly, it reflects on the store. I have seen people in the business world help and guide an elderly person through the process he or she has to go through to complete their transactions or even to find what they are looking for.

# I walk with a cane, it is sometimes hard for me to get around. When I have to hunt for the location of a product, I get frustrated when I have looked and still can’t find it.

As I said above, I do have some work to do on this gentleness issue.

Show Humility to All Men

 

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Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. Titus 3:1-2 (NKJV)

Paul’s words to Titus whom he describes as a “true son in our common faith.”

Paul lays groundwork here for believers to follow.

* To submit to rulers and authorities.

* To not speak badly about anyone.

* To live peaceful lives.

* To show humility to all we know.

Paul makes some very strong points, getting to the core of human relationships. He writes these words to a pastor who is young. Titus faces a huge task, that of establishing churches.

As we go through our days, we must follow these words of guidance from Paul. We are tasked to helping enlarge the kingdom of God, however, we must learn to daily practice gentleness.

This is a very difficult thing to do. Recently, I received a phone call from a friend who lives in my neighborhood. She wanted my advise on something. She told me her feelings on an issue and I told her that if she felt uncomfortable doing what she was asked, then maybe she should not do it. She had some good reasons about why she felt the way she did. I could have been more gentle about certain related issues she spoke of. I intend to be more careful in the future.

Do we always find ways to show humility to those around us?

What God Requires

 

 

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to love justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God!  Micah 6:8 (NKJV)

 

God shows us His goodness to us each day. The sun shining through my living room window brings the words, “Thank You, Lord!” to my mind and heart. When I manage to get some good sleep through the night, I try to thank Him for that gift.

 

God shows us His goodness in many ways, ways we often take for granted. What does He expect from us?

 

God expects us to love justly. What does that mean? Could it mean that when we hear of someone doing wrong to another that we are to ask God to deal with this person according to His standard of right and wrong-according to what His justice?

 

The Lord also expects us to love mercy. Could this mean that we are to show mercy to those who have done wrong to us or to others? Showing mercy can be difficult but God expects His children to do it.   

 

He also desires that we “walk humbly” with Him. God wants His children to know that He is perfect and infallible, while we, His children are imperfect and make mistakes.

 

I was reminded of this song as I initially typed this blog entry. I hope you enjoy it.

June Reflections

 

Etsy 

 

   VBS 2022

   We had Vacation Bible School for three nights the middle of the month. It was a small school, but the children seemed to enjoy the different activities. The decorations were outstanding.

             However, there was one glitch. Our Children’s Ministries Director works a full-time job at a group home. On Thursday, the residents were all sick. Friday, our Children’s Director called my best friend and said she had COVID. That night, all the adults working with the VBS pitched in and did a little extra to help. 

            I have been dealing with congestion since then.  I have had two “good days” this week.

 Husband’s Health

Jim has been dealing with a knee problem. He is going to have a TOTAL knee replacement. This did not surprise me. We were to see the surgeon but had to reschedule because he had the onset of pneumonia. .

His surgery will be in early August. Please keep us in your prayers. 

 

 A New Ministry Effort

 

In our church, we have had several people lose an adult child to death. One elderly lady lost her son last December and a month later lost her husband.

 

Some of us felt the need to begin a Bereavement Visitation Ministry. My best friend and I ordered some very well-written pamphlets to share with those we visit. Due to my being ill and some other things. We have not been able to do any visitation.

 

 Writing Efforts

 

Sometime ago, I found a forum for Christian writers. I joined the group. For some time, I chose to access it for the fellowship. I was questioning myself after I did not do well getting my book into people’s hands.

 

I recently started posting a few things I have written and have gotten positive responses from the other members.

 

From time to time, I search for a (paying) outlet for my writing. I have not been able to find one that is of the Christian genre that I feel comfortable with.

 

A Possible Blog Break

 

I will take a blog break when Jim has his surgery and during his recuperation. I don’t know how long he will be unable to get around. I will let you know more as I learn of the procedures involved.

  

Peace with God

 

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Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Rom. 5:1-2 (NKJV)

 

The Apostle Paul tells the believers at Rome something very basic to Christian belief.

 

Simply put, we have access to peace with God through our relationship with Jesus Christ. There are others who state that there are other ways to establish our relationship with God. His Word tells us otherwise.

 It is through our relationship with Jesus that we come to know God. It is our faith in Jesus that allows us to learn of God. It is this relationship we have with the Son that allows us access to the Father.

 Jesus went to the cross, shed His blood, and rose and entered heaven so that we may someday go be with Him and His Father.

Access to God is a very special concept to those of us who try to live for Jesus. We use this access daily, sometimes more often as needed. Because we have this privilege, we can weather the storms that life puts us through. Those storms can enter our lives unannounced and very unexpectedly. But God is there with us as we travel through those times.

Paul’s Description of Love

 

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Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will cease, whether there are tongues, they will cease, whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 1 Cor 13: 4-8 (NKJV)

 

Paul describes the highest attributes of love.

 

 love suffers long

 The King James Version says, ‘long suffering’, this translates to the modern phrase ‘is patient’.

 

 and is kind

When we show kindness to others, we show love to them. Our action may be very small, but it may mean the world to that other person.

 

 love does not envy

When we love as Jesus loves and another person receives something that is good, a loving response is for us to be happy for them.

 

 love does not parade itself, is not puffed up

When we love as Jesus loves we are not to call attention to ourselves or what we have done, especially when that something makes us look good in the eyes of others.

 

 does not behave rudely

When we truly love as Jesus loved will not do anything that another person would consider rude.

 

does not seek its own,

When we show the love of Jesus, we do not do things with selfish motives.

 

 is not provoked,

When we love like Christ, we can’t let another person ‘push buttons’ and cause him or her to get angry.

 

thinks no evil,

When we truly love with the love of Christ, we will not say bad things or wish them on those around us.

 

does not rejoice in iniquity,

 When we love as Christ loves, we will not be happy when anyone around us sins.

 

but rejoices in the truth, when we truly love as Jesus does, we are grateful for the truth that sets us and those around us free from their struggles and their sins.

 

 bears all things

When we love as Jesus loves, we learn to be strong and wait for His outcome to a circumstance.

 

believes all thing

When we love as Jesus loves, we believe all the good things we know about others.

 endures all things.

 

Because of Jesus’ love for the people God had created, He went to the cross to make us acceptable (sinless) before His Father. When we love someone, we attempt to tolerate their unkind thoughts and their bad behavior.

 

Love never fails.

The Love of God is eternal. Even when we mess up, He is there waiting for us to seek forgiveness of our wrongdoing and then guidance to make things right with those we have hurt.

 

prophecies. . . will cease

As a teenager, I heard some ‘profound’ prophecies that never came to pass. We have heard some prophecies in the recent past that also have not happened. God is in control.

 

 tongues. . . will cease

When we all learn to love as Jesus did, we will be able to live our lives without hearing “wagging tongues”, we will be so busy praising God and doing new tasks He will assign us.

 

 knowledge. . . will vanish away We know procedures of certain activities we do to get through our jobs, through our daily chores, through raising our children. As technology has changed those procedures, those new ways may also be done away with when Christ comes again.

 

 

God Makes All Things New

 

quiet spirit writing ministry.

This is a repeat of a post from 2018. I have updated it to include thoughts I have recently had. 

 

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Revelation 21:4-5a

 

I dearly love this description of the New Jerusalem. God is taking an active part in the lives of His people. He will minister to those who are sad. He will comfort those who are hurting. Death will not enter the scene. Ergo, mourning will not be a phase of life. Can we begin to imagine life without pain? For a lot of people, this will be wonderful.

 

The absence of these five realities of our lives will be no more because God will make “all things new.” Do we understand what God means here? Can we fully understand what He means?  As I sit her in my little home, I cannot fully comprehend how this new However, I have these words to guide me until the day I see Him face-to face.

When we hear of sad events happening to those around us, we have someone who can guide us through the heartache and that sadness. Since COVID has been in our world, I have noted that there is a lot of heartache in our world other than that virus.

We must trust God for our concerns and lean on Him for His guidance through all the issues that plague us. He gives us strength to withstand all the sadness and heartache the world gives us.

September Reflections

 

Shining Mom

 

 Surprise, Surprise

September was a surprising month. The weather was more like July than September.

I had been patiently (?) waiting for two copies of a devotional book I ordered. They finally arrived on the 29^th. I made several calls to the publisher about them.

I received a new 5G cell phone that put me on a huge learning curve. It took a while, but I believe I have learned to navigate on it. It works somewhat differently.

 

 Medical Stuff

 

I noticed something that concerned me around one of my incision marks. I had a follow-up mammogram. I was due to have one this fall anyway, we just did it early. What I was seeing was NOT a sign of disease. For this I am thankful.

 

Writing, Journaling

 

I believe I have my word for 2022 chosen. I also have my monthly themes in mind.  I will share these in my December Reflections post.

 

I am enjoying journaling thoughts about some scriptures from “The Beauty of an Uncluttered Mind” by Carla Gasser. Here is the link to my previous post. beauty of an uncluttered mind. Each of these scriptures is related to one of the Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5.

 

 Prayer Requests

 

With all the upheaval in our world, we must pray for revival, for God’s hand of guidance on His children.

 

 There is a lot of heartache in this world beyond COVID. Hurricanes, Volcanoes erupting, Family Crises, Racial Tensions, Health Problems, Political Unrest, just to name a few.

 

Re-establishing Good Habits

 

I am struggling to return to some good habits in my life.  Also trying to establish some good habits. I must say that some of those bad habits are not because of COVID.

 

 My gift for my friend

 

My friend Anna now lives in an assisted living facility in southern Indiana. I made her a wreath for the door of her apartment. A gentleman from church and Anna’s cousin, also from church, went down to see her one Friday late last month. She called me late that afternoon and thanked me for it. She said it made her cry (Tears of happiness). At first she didn’t realize I had made it. She said it was the prettiest wreath on her floor.               

                                                 

 

Celebrate Our Freedom

 

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I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. Psalm 119:45 (NIV)

 

As we in the United States celebrate our freedom this month, I think of how we celebrate Christ.

 

I once heard that we celebrate Jesus Christ every time we gather to worship. It came to me that we celebrate God when we honor Him through our personal daily prayers and devotional times.

 

We honor God when we speak of Him or His Son to another.

 

When we extend love to those who are hurting, we share their sorrow or their grief. When we do not give up on someone who is going through tough times, we are representing and honoring God.

 

The Psalmist tells us he has sought out His precepts.

We honor God in another way when we give Him His tithes and our offerings. I was at a revival meeting the first time I heard a pastor say something about giving God His tithes, the statement caught me up short. I had not thought of the first 10% belonging to  Him. I learned something precious at that meeting.

 

Can you think of other ways we celebrate Jesus? Would you like to share them with me?

Serving God in Small Ways

 

               

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Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. Psalm 143:1 (NIV)

 

It happened on a Friday morning. My best friend called to share a prayer request with me. Her son-in-law had a difficult night. He is a cancer survivor.

 

Her daughter wanted us to pray. I prayed for them right then. My friend and I talked some more. I started to say something but found myself verbally praying again. The next day, I found out that the doctor gave them an answer for his pain and a prescription for that pain.

 

My prayer list is lengthy and grows throughout each month. We had taken a trip that week down to where my husband grew up and where our son lives. We saw Hubby’s best friend and his wife. In conversing with our friend, we learned of two other families who are going through difficult circumstances. After we got back home, we received a call from someone from down there whose wife is seriously ill and has been for a few years.

 

As I sit on my porch and type this essay. A car pulls into the driveway next door. A young man goes to the door and the new neighbor comes out. He assists her to the car, and she gets in. Her husband returns home. I heard her say she had a doctor's appointment. I met her almost a week earlier and she shared with me her physical condition. I have been praying for her when I can.

 

That week was a learning experience for me. The acts of service to the LORD can be as simple as saying a prayer, giving assistance to someone who needs it, or saying a kind word to someone who might need it. Smiling at someone who seems down.

 

All I can do for these people is pray. This might seem a small way for God to be served but He hears and answers the prayers of His people.       

The Gift of Faith

 

               

                 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 

                                                                                                                Hebrews 11:1-2 NIV

 

                The writer of Hebrews gives us an interesting concept of the meaning of faith.

He says that it is our being sure of what we hope for. Does this mean that when we are sure that something will happen as we want it to? Or does it mean that we must believe that the thing we want will transpire according to God’s desire and plan?

 

When our faith is in God, we can be sure that His Will is the most important and is what will transpire.

 

When we feel God’s presence around us, we can be certain that He is there, and He will guide us through the issues we face in this fallen world.

 

Several years ago, I heard a neat acrostic for the word faith:

                        Forsaking

                        All

                        In

                        Trusting

                        Him.

 

The writer of Hebrews says it best: “And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

 

For further reading:

Hebrews 3:6

2 Corinthians 4:18

Hebrews 11

Book Review: Flooded

 

By Nicki Korziarz

                            (The 5 Best Decisions to Make When Life is Hard and Doubt is Rising)

 

Ms. Nicki Korziarz has written a book dealing with the tough issues of life. She divides her book into what she calls five decisions, each of which has three chapters.

In each section, she shares with the reader some of the times she felt swamped and even inundated by the events that touched her life. She also relates these decisions to the life of Noah.

 

Each of us have had times of uncertainty as we try to deal with difficulties that life throws our way. We see that Noah displayed obedience and followed God’s directions.

 

I would recommend this book to anyone who seems to be ‘hemmed in’ by stresses that seem unbearable. I would also recommend this book to those who are Christian counselors or pastors.

 

I received this book from Bethany House, free of charge. All they asked of me was that I give an unbiased review.

 

Showing God’s Love, Part B

 

 

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Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18 (NIV)     

 

Doing a Tangible Deed

 

I first heard this scripture in the late 1960s. I am not sure of the translation, but the text was: “Put love into deeds and make it real.”

 

John brings to the forefront the idea of being real with our love. We Christian believers must live up to this command especially during the time of this pandemic.

 

How can we show God’s love in this time of COVID, you may ask?

 

We can either call, text, or electronically contact some of those we care about. We must check on those who have health issues.

 

When I was facing surgery, friends sent me cards. I appreciated them. I sat them on top of a bookcase in the living room where I could see them every day.

 

My best friend, with the assistance of another friend and me, created a fruit basket for another friend from church who lost her husband after a lengthy illness. (She loved it.)

 

We can support those who have lost spouses, children, parents, or siblings. I saw this first-hand several years ago when a man in our church had passed away. The parents-in-law of two of his children came to the celebration of life held for him. I knew both couples. Their action impressed me.

 

Everlasting Father

 

 

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He shall be called. . . Everlasting Father. . . Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

 

Jesus, the Son of God, is eternal. There is no end to His kingdom. And He is our heavenly Father. We can tell Him anything and He will understand what our thinking is. If we look at something incorrectly, He gently guides us through how we are supposed to think, and He forgives us. He does these things out of His love and grace for us.

 

He willingly forgives us because of His great, undying love for us. His is our Father forever.

October Reflections

 

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Personal Things

This month has brought us some sobering news. In mid-November, I will undergo major surgery. About five days before that, I will take a COVID-19 test. The surgery will be performed at a hospital about 30 minutes from home-in our state capital.

 

We received word that my former hairstylist lost her husband to the COVID-19 Pandemic. He had been in the hospital for just over a month. Kelly grew up across the street from us. She has a strong faith. 

 

Our son Roger came home when we told him about what we initially knew about my condition. We do not know about Thanksgiving or Christmas. I will be housebound for eight weeks after I am released from the hospital.

Christmas and Thanksgiving both could be late this winter. Maybe in February.

 

Writing

I have not heard a reply from that Christian magazine about my submission. I need to look at that article and try to make it better and search for another outlet.

 

I took some time a while back and set up my monthly themes for 2021. Each year, certain months always have the same theme.          

            Jan.-New                                            July-Celebrate

Feb.-Showing God’s Love/Lent    Aug.- Rest

            March- Lent                                      Sept, Prepare

            Apr. Lent/ Witness                         Oct. Word for 2021

            May. Gift                                           Nov. Blessings

            June Serve                                         Dec. Advent Theme

           

I intend to have some blog breaks figured into my schedule for 2021. I just have not figured out when they will be. I know it is important for me to take these breaks. When I do, I return to blogging with joy.

I will share my word for 2021 early in January.

 

 

 

 

Saints in My Life

 

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Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

This past Sunday was All Saints Day. It is a day set aside to remember and honor those believers who have gone on before us. My best friend lost her older sister in May of 2014. That November, she was invited to her sister’s church for a special service honoring those who had gone on to heaven in the previous twelve months.  She said the service gave her closure.

 

In 2019, our church received a new pastor who chose to observe All Saints Day. This was the first time for several of us to have a service like it. One of the blogs I subscribe to suggested we write about this observance and possibly write about those saints in our lives.

 

When I was a young adult, I met, Crystal, a wonderful Christian lady who loved the LORD. Her health was not always the best. Her children went their own way, her grandchildren eventually did the same. She loved them anyway. She stood by them when they messed up. She loved me when I had some issues. As I was told, she was in church one Sunday. When she and her husband left the church, she told him she had to go to the hospital. It was at the hospital that Jesus came and took her home.  Her son and his wife returned to the LORD. This daughter-in-law passed on. Her son’s second wife was active in the same church with him. I know Crystal watched from heaven as her children returned to Him.

 

As I grew in the LORD, I started attending a church about a half-mile from our home. There I met Evelyn, the organist, who lent me a book by William Murray, son of Madelyn Murray O’Hare. (My Life Without God). It made we wonder why someone who looked so saintly would own such a book. She told me about herself, how she had to raise her daughter alone. She had to end her marriage. Her daughter was quite young at the time. She had to be both mother and father to that daughter. She never told her in-laws about things that occurred. Each Saturday, she called him to see how he was doing. When she received word that her ex-husband had died, she and her daughter drove back to their original hometown, two states away, to attend his funeral.

 

When we started attending our present church (pre-merger), we met Barbara who was a caregiver for her middle-aged adult son, Greg. He was the victim of a terrible wreck when he was a teenager. While Greg was in the hospital, her younger son, age 12, was hit by a car and died. Greg went to college. Had a good job. He married; he and his wife had a son. They went through a divorce. After this, Barbara cared for him in her home. (I am uncertain how many years she cared for him.) A few years ago Greg had to go to a nursing home. In time, this lady went to the same facility.

 

I found out about a month ago that her husband had a difficult time with diabetes. He lost a leg and was hospitalized for a lengthy time. He later had indications that the diabetes was going to cause him to lose his other leg. She cared for him at home. The whole time I was in fellowship with her, she never complained about what she had to do.

I have learned a lot about these dear women. I learned they loved the LORD, and they did not complain about the paths they had to take during their earthly lives. Without realizing it, I have learned not to complain about wherever God leads me.

Praise the LORD (part two)

 

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“For God alone my soul waits in silence;

From him comes my salvation.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

My fortress: I shall not be greatly shaken.”

Psalm 62:1-2 (ESV)

 

These are the words of David.

 

“For God alone”

 

David had a special relationship with God. Yes, we know David was human. He sought forgiveness from the LORD.

 

Only God, through Jesus, forgives us of our sins, we should await His guidance for our lives. Like David, we should seek forgiveness from God and then from others.

 

“my soul waits in silence”

 

David sought out the LORD patiently, quietly, expectantly waiting for the guidance he needed.

 

We should learn to wait for God. He sometimes speaks in whispers; therefore, we should learn to be silent before Him.

 

“He alone is my rock and salvation”

 

Only God is David’s strength and He is the only one who saved David from his sins.

 

God gives us the strength to go on when we are ‘down’ physically, emotionally, and mentally.

 

“my fortress”

 

God was David’s stronghold against Saul and against his own sons.

 

God is the strong front when we face difficult, even traumatic times.

 

“I shall not be shaken”

 

David realized that God would uphold him as he faced those who opposed him.

 

When we rely on God and wait for His guidance and leading, we, like David, will be able to stand firm for what we believe.   

This spoke to me this afternoon. Next Tuesday afternoon, I have an appointment to see a specialist at a hospital in Indy. I can feel God's presence and the prayers of all those who are praying for me. Our son, Roger came home Saturday afternoon and stayed until Sunday afternoon. Please pray for us. God is in control.