"BE STILL, AND KNOW..."

Six years ago yesterday.  On August 29 2007, I was discharged from the Rehabilitation Hospital 52 days after I awoke to having a brain hemorrhage.  To be honest, I didn't realize the day had slipped up on me until I was eating lunch with a friend and he remarked how far I had come since he came to see me in Rehab.  

When I pause for recollection, I still  get a bit misty eyed.  To hear my friend tell, from an objective point of view, how far I have come is quite humbling.  I have shared before my doctors records entry from September 2007.  "However, he has had a remarkable recovery that could only be described as a miracle from GOD".  To hear my friend confirm that point of view is quite sobering. 

When my journey is revisited by someone else, it brings a different perspective into my view.  Yesterday my friend was commenting on how remarkable the difference was between then and now.  To say that "I am blessed" does not seem to do justice to what GOD has done in my life.   

Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."  GOD knew EXACTLY how long I would be ill, and how long my recovery has taken.  As I begin year number seven of my recovery, I pledge to "Be still, and KNOW" that HE is GOD and is still on HIS throne!  

"GOD IS LOVE!"

1 Corinthians 13:13    (KJV)

"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

To begin with, the word CHARITY is translated LOVE in most commentaries.  As a matter if fact, the whole 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians is know as the LOVE chapter.  And the Apostle Paul made no pretense about "loving your brother"!  

1 John 4:8 says "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for GOD IS LOVE."  I find it puzzling that some people will be well versed in the "laws" of GOD, or the prophecy of GOD, or scripture memorization, or anything else, and not have a genuine love for their fellow man.  Even their supposed Christian brothers are not free from critiques. 

One commentary offered this about LOVE:

"What makes love so amazing? For starters, it is what motivated the Father to send His only Son to die for us. Without love, there would have been no redemption for mankind. Not only would we be without love, but without the redemption that was precipitated by love, there would also be no faith, and no hope. You see, nothing else matters, without love. It is foundational for every other good thing in our lives."

I will do my best to make certain that everything I do is bathed in LOVE!  After all, if GOD IS LOVE, it can't be bad to be wrapped in HIM!  

 

"DRY GROUND!"

Exodus 14:14-16    (KJV)

"The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.  And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on DRY GROUND  through the midst of the sea."

The children of Israel were fleeing from the Egyptians.  The Egyptians had experienced a change of heart (v.8) and were coming after them.  The children of Israel (v.10) saw the Egyptians coming after them and they were "sore afraid"!  

But in verse 15, GOD told Moses to tell the Israelites to proceed forward.  In plain "red neck terms", HE said "Don't cry to ME!  Get to crossing the RED SEA!" (Big Ray Version!) HE was willing to do HIS part by dividing the Red Sea, but the children of Israel had to do their part by trusting in HIM!   

Sometimes I want the path made clear and perfect before I start on my journey.  Like the children of Israel, I want everything to be just perfect, all of the details worked out.  But, I believe GOD may be telling me,  "Don't cry to ME!  Get to crossing the RED SEA!"  

GOD even prepared the way for the Israelites!   Verse 16 says that "Israel shall go on DRY GROUND  through the midst of the sea."  One would have thought the bottom of the Red Sea would have sediment and mud, but GOD provided a "DRY GROUND" portion for safe passage!   GOD did (and does) things for HIS children that boggles the mind sometimes! 

GOD was big enough to save my soul.  GOD was big enough to bring me through a brain hemorrhage.  GOD is big enough to stop me if I am headed down the wrong trail, and set me feet in HIS path.  I TRUST HIM!  

"In WHOM I will trust"

Psalms 18:1-3      (KJV)

"I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.  The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies."

Even when I am feeling down and the pressures of daily life are mounting, my heart remembers that I am a child of GOD, and there is nothing that can change that.  King David had his enemies, Saul being one of them.  Saul was "power-drunk", even though he started out honoring GOD.  1 Samuel 10:9 says "GOD gave him another heart"!  But, he let leadership overpower him.  

GOD is in control.   No matter if you have a Saul in your life, or there are other difficulties haunting you.  When challenges come our way, AND THEY ARE SURE TO COME OUR WAY, trust that GOD has been there all along and HE has everything under control.  Verse two sums things up pretty well......"My GOD, my strength, in WHOM I will trust"!  

"Servant of YAHWEH!"

1 Kings 18:36-39    (KJV)

"And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, HE is the God; the LORD, HE is the God."

It seems most want to be used by GOD in some magnificent, majestic way.  Many people would dream of being Elijah calling fire down from Heaven to consume the offerings on the altar.  

But, in the glamour of seeing GOD do such a might work, we might overlook the obedience of Obadiah.  Obadiah is a Biblical theophorical name, meaning "servant of Yahweh" or "worshipper of Yahweh", according to Wikipedia.  Verse three of chapter 10 in 1 Kings  reveals that Obadiah "feared the LORD greatly"!   Yet, it took Elijah a great amount if convincing to convince him to go to Ahab and tell Ahab that Elijah wanted an audience.  Obadiah feared that Ahab would kill him.  

GOD does not "need" for us to be obedient for HIS will to be accomplished.   HE uses trials and difficulties to "grow us" into a more perfect vessel for HIS purpose.  HE knows the future and HE wants us to trust HIM with our past, present, and future.  

It is my desire to be used of GOD to fulfill HIS plan and purpose for my life.  Whether I be a messenger (as Obadiah) or a someone used to display a miracle.  Whatever HE has in store for me, I pray that like Obadiah in verse three,  it will be known that I LOVE THE LORD GREATLY!  

"LIFE 'LESS' ABUNDANTLY"!

John 10:10-11   (KJV)

"The thief (enemy) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I AM come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I AM the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his LIFE for the sheep."

There seems to be an effort to portray "EVIL" as something not so bad, while "GOOD" as something that is not so good!  Let's be clear, GOD IS GOOD (James 1:17), and anything not from GOD is from evil.  GOD can, and does, use the evil to being about good for HIS GLORY!  

The enemy is responsible for all the hurt and destruction in this world.  In Genesis 50:20, Joseph speaks and says "But as for you, ye thought EVIL against me; BUT GOD meant it unto GOOD, to bring to pass, as it is this day, TO SAVE much people alive."  

GOD is interested in doing good.  The enemy uses many disguises in an attempt to "deceive" people into not trusting GOD.  When you boil it all down, we either TRUST GOD, or we trust the enemy.   Hebrews 11:6 says "But without faith it is impossible to please him"!  

The choice is clear!   We can believe in a HOLY GOD, or place our trust in ourselves or any other false god in existence that has been hatched by the enemy.  I will not lend any credibility to any false religion by naming them.  In Romans 8:31, the Apostle Paul tells us "If God be for us, who can be against us?"  

GOD has not changed.   We have to decide if we want to conform to HIS image!  Or are we satisfied with "LIFE 'LESS' ABUNDANTLY"?

"HARD TO BE HUMBLE!"

Luke 14:7-11   (KJV)

"And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;  And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.  But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

Today, I attended a celebration of life of a man who had passed into his eternal reward on Wednesday.  The eulogy was based on the scripture above.  The talk, I am sure was superb, but the word that I continued to ruminate over, was  the term HUMBLE!

Being humble is not something that there is a "How To" manual to instruct you in.  You don't just wake up one morning and decide that you are going to start being humble in your actions.  Sometimes, GOD has to allow you to be put into certain circumstances to show you just how much you "need" help from others.......just to survive.  

When I experienced the brain hemorrhage six years ago, there became many "humbling" moments in my life.  First off, I couldn't form sentences, then I couldn't walk.  When I awoke from the COMA, I couldn't do many things.  But the most humiliating thing I remember happened in the Rehabilitation Hospital.  I was still "hemiplegic", meaning I had no movement on the right side of my body.  

One of the first few nights in Rehab,  I decided I needed to go to the restroom.   In my mind, all I had to do was walk to the restroom a few feet away and relieve myself. My mind wasn't sharp enough to remember I still could not walk!!!

Around midnight that evening, I partially fell out of the bed and caused more trouble than "who would have thunk it"!!   When nurses found me, my legs were still in bed, but the rest of my body was hanging off the bed and in the floor!  

I thought about that Rehab experience today during the eulogy.   In v.11 JESUS instructs us "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted"!   I had nurses from all over the hospital in my room trying to tend to me!   My wife was notified via a phone call.  That night, everyone was doing for me like I was a KING!   And I thought I was so lowly because I could not walk!   

I am the most BLESSED MAN alive today, as all of my physical abilities have been restored to me.  There are a lot of things during the 52 day hospital stay I do not remember.  I am told I should be glad!   But I am thankful GOD allowed me to remember how HE can remove all inhibitions, and HE doesn't need our approval!   Being "HUMBLE" is a gift that sometimes hard to accept, but the lesson is hard to forget!  

Way of "LIFE"!

Mark 8:34-38   (NET)

"Then JESUS called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow ME.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for MY sake and for the gospel will save it.  FOR WHAT BENEFIT IS IT FOR A PERSON TO GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, YET FORFEIT HIS LIFE ?  What can a person give in exchange for his life?  For if anyone is ashamed of ME and MY words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when HE comes in the glory of HIS Father with the holy angels."

The more I read scripture, the more I am convinced that some people "just don't get it"!   Although JESUS Himself walked among people here on earth, they could not "SEE" Truth when it was right in front of their eyes!   In John 14:6, JESUS says "I am the way, and the truth, and the ....."LIFE"...... No one comes to the Father except through me."  

Yet, we have become so engulfed with making money (and paying bills) that we ignore the fact that ALL of this is temporal.  In an attempt to gain wealth and security, we have ALLOWED ourselves to become desensitized and blinded to GOD and HIS word and principles.  In speaking to those who could listen, JESUS said in v.36 "For what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his LIFE?"  

Our "way of life" is to build the biggest house we can afford, drive the best car we can afford, wear the nicest clothes we can afford, eat at the best restaurants we can afford,........ anything we can do to move up the social ladder is what our goal is.   

Why do we not FOCUS on the "LIFE" part, instead of the "WAY" part?  

"Enough said!"

Ecclesiastes 8:6-7 (New English Translation) says "For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, for the oppression of the king is severe upon his victim.  Surely no one knows the future, and no one can tell another person what will happen."

I will not add to what scripture is saying here.  Those who have ears, let them hear! 

"FRUIT OF CANAAN!"

Joshua 5:10-12   (KJV)

"And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.  And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.  And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year."

The Israelites (some estimates say there were around 2 Million of them) were encamped "Gilgal", which is said to have been just to the east of Jericho.  They had been wandering in the wilderness for 40 years and they were headed to the PROMISED LAND!  Excitement had to be rampant!!

Yet, Joshua would not let them stray from The LAW.   The Israelites had to observe Passover in the plains of Jericho, because that is where they were on the anniversary of GOD delivering them from captivity.  In Joshua 1:7, it is recorded, "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: TURN NOT from it to the RIGHT hand or to the LEFT, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest."  Joshua knew they key to Israel's success was honoring GOD!

It is said that Jericho is only 34 miles from Jerusalem.  The "anticipation" had to have been causing some to want to go ahead of GOD.  But Joshua "followed" GOD's direction and Jericho and the other cities were delivered into HIS hands.   

Sometimes, we think we know where GOD is leading, and we want to conquer without waiting on HIM.  Our anticipation gets the best of us. I saw a quote recently from an unknown author; "God has perfect timing; never early, never late. It takes a little patience and it takes a lot of faith. but it’s worth the wait."

"IF" we wait on HIM, as Joshua did, the walls of our Jericho may crumble at our feet and we can start eating of the fruit of Canaan!     

"AN EMPTY HANDED GOD???"

Exodus 14:29-31   (NASB)

"But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses."

The entire 14th Chapter of Exodus amazes me.   The children of Israel were delivered from the hands of the Egyptians, even when their unbelief was prevalent.  In verse 11 they questioned Moses saying "Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?"  

They had their focus on their problems.   Rather than focusing on the GOD who had just delivered them from captivity, they were consumed with the problems that GOD already had worked out. 

In verse 29 scripture records the "waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. ".  Yet, GOD provided "dry land" for HIS children to cross the Red Sea.   GOD has to let me get to the waters so deep sometimes that HE is my only way out!  The enemy will pursue me, but GOD has victory when the water is deep enough for HIM to be glorified!   HE WILL PREVAIL! 

In Exodus 14:14, it is written "The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent."   GOD doesn't need our help.  HE doesn't need us to swim half was across the Red Sea, and then HE will save us.  HE is our salvation and sustainer.   GOD not only provides the way, in John 14:6 that HE is the Way!  

GOD is sovereign.  Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, is in HIS control.  HE can allow trials and circumstances in my life to mold and shape me into the vessel HE desires me to be.  Whether I am moving up and down the banks of my own Red Sea, or walking through my Red Sea on "dry ground" HE has provided, My focus should be on HIM, not my surroundings.   The question is.....AM I GOING TO TRUST HIM?  

"SHEPHERDING the flock!"

1 Peter 5:1-3   (NASB)

"Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock."

Yesterday afternoon our fellowship "ordained" our Associate Pastor/Music Minister to preach the Gospel.  Our Pastor delivered the "Charge" message from the scripture above.  What was spoken to me in verses two and three has impacted my thoughts greatly.  

A shepherd is NOT a someone who herds cattle on the back of a horse with a lasso in one hand.  A shepherd is a loving, caring guide who SAFELY directs his sheep to food and water.  Too many Pastors today think they are GOD's appointed "Sergeant At Arms" to regulate the behavior of the saints.  

Scripture cannot be more plain.   Verse three says to be "examples" to the flock.   I remember being shown by my grandfather how to "hoe" the grass put of the rows of plants in the garden.  He could not just explain to me how to do it.  He had to "show" me how to gently strike the weeds, and not touch the plants.  He was an "example" to me how to do what I needed to do.   

I thank GOD for my Pastor (and former Associate Pastor) who are an "example" on how to live a life that glorifies GOD!  Perfect, they are not.  They are not "LORDS" over their flock, rather servants to us.  

"Big buildings vs. Big hearts!"

Proverbs 21:13   (KJV)

"Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard."

Yesterday, my wife and I spent with my youngest son.  He is almost 23 years old, married, has bought their own house, and will soon graduate for college!  While driving down the streets of the city he lives in, I commented that there sure were "A LOT" of church buildings on the street. 

We finished our visit and began our journey home.  About 15 minutes into our journey my son "TWEETED" the following, "There's gotta be 20 million dollars worth of church facilities on Dave Ward. There shouldn't be a homeless person in Conway." @BigRay1978".  My son's fellowship focuses on helping the "under privileged" FIGHT their way out of poverty.  

My thoughts went quickly to how much money churches spend to build lavish facilities to congregate and fellowship in.  Then, my mind went to how much is spent on the "NEEDS" of our community.  When JESUS walked among us HE said in Luke 14:13 "But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind".  

Isn't it a shame that we, myself included, tend to shy away from ones who are struggling financially, instead of taking advantage of their opportunity to minister?  I wonder if CHRIST is pleased with our ornate structures, while so many have unmet needs?  

"CHRISTmas Gift!"

Romans 8:9-11   (KJV)

"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of GOD  dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of HIS.  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of HIM that raised up Jesus from the dead (GOD) dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead (GOD) shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."

The NASB version of v.11 says "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, HE (GOD) who raised Christ Jesus from the dead WILL ALSO GIVE LIFE to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."   GOD offers life (through HIS Spirit) to all.  

Whether we "ACCEPT", or believe,  the fact that our Spirit cannot experience "LIFE" outside of HIM is the question all must deal with.  If a Christmas gift is offered to you, no matter if it is a valuable gift or not, you are probably going to accept the "GIFT"!  GOD gave us all the most precious gift HE had to offer!   It is your choice to accept this "GIFT" or reject it.  

"CROSS, CROWN, GLORY!"

Genesis 37:28   (KJV)

"Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt."

Genesis 39:4     (KJV)

"And Joseph found grace in his (Potiphars) sight, and he served him (Potiphar): and he (Potiphar) made him overseer over his (Potiphars) house, and all that he (Potiphar) had he (Potiphar) put into his hand."

Have you ever felt like "your world" was taking a severe blow?   Maybe the death of a loved one, or a financial catastrophe, or maybe a serious illness you have to deal with?  

Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers.  Joseph eventually wound up being the number two person in Egypt!  When a famine struck, Joseph was put in charge by Potiphar.  Joseph was able to spare his family because he was enslaved in Egypt!  

Recently on my Twitter feed, there was a post from Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892).  "The cross must be carried before the crown can be worn.  We must follow our LORD in HIS humiliation. or we shall never rest with HIM in glory."  

Your "cross" may be born for a short time or long, but rest assured HIS GLORY is following!   

"Helping GOD out?"

Matthew 6:25-34   (ESV)

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  

No one ever wants to admit they are a "worrier".   You get caught up in making sure your family is provided for and the next thing you know, you are doing the "what if's"!  And then, all sorts of scenarios come into your mind about what "COULD" happen. 

Either you "TRUST" God or you are not reeeaaaallll sure that HE will supply your needs!   In Philippians 4:19, Apostle Paul says "But my God SHALL supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."  It doesn't say HE might , or if HE has time, it says GOD SHALL supply our needs!  All of the "making sure" I do in my mind will not help HIM do a better job.  

If I were selling an insurance policy, would I rather offer a policy based off of what "I ALONE" could do, or a policy based off of what "THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE" could do???

"COMPLETE"

Colossians 2:8-10    (KJV)

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.  For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority."

Sometimes I have to be reminded.  The world tries to hold me "captive" by imposing their deceit and beliefs, based on their limited knowledge.   

Dictionary.com defines "LIBERTY" as follows: "1. freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control."  According to scripture, nobody has the ability to limit our thoughts and thinking "according to the elemental spirits of the world"!  To do so would be taking away GOD's sovereignty over our lives in an effort to make life supposedly "better" for all.  

Colossians 2:10 (KJV) tells us that "And ye are complete IN HIM"!   JESUS CHRIST "completes" our every need!  HE is the head of all PRINCIPALITY (sovereignty) and POWER!   You can't add to "COMPLETE".  

As believers, we have the Son of GOD living in us and "you have been filled in him"!   There is nothing we can add to "COMPLETE"!  We need to understand that our WANTS and OUR NEEDS are not always congruent.  Philippians 4:19 says "But my God shall supply all your NEED according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."   

LORD, cause me to remember that YOU are my provider and that I trust in YOU to provide my needs!

"TRUST!"

Psalms 4:8   (ESV)

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. "

I came into our home recently, and a television show discussing natural  sleep aids was being broadcast.  The doctor was discussing using Magnolia Bark Extract (MBE) as something to help you get back to sleep once you wake up for the bathroom break.  I am considering its use.  

There is nothing "sweeter" than a good nights rest!   I used to get a limited amount of sleep.  "Sleep was something you do when you can't do anything else" was my approach!  But, since the brain hemorrhage, I usually sleep 8-10 hours a night. 

This verse truly speaks to me.  When you go to bed "stressed" and "worried", your sleep is affected.  When your sleep is affected, all kinds of health concerns follow.  

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep" does not lend itself to a lifestyle of trying to "figure things out" on your own. "TRUST" in The Lord means that you are relying on HIM for everything.  If we only trust HIM for the tough things, the smaller things will eventually be the things that engulf us.  The Bible instructs us to TRUST HIM in the Old and New Testaments.   

If we are "TRUSTING" in HIM, then the making "me dwell in safety" is a piece of cake!   Proverbs 3:5-6 says "TRUST in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."   THE KEY IS "TRUST"!  

"DAILY MANNA!"

Romans 12:2     (KJV)

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Yesterday morning, the sermon I heard from my pastor was about seeking the will of GOD.  This morning, as I awoke and was beginning my day, the enemy was filling my mind with all kinds of doubt and fear about the future.  My mind immediately went to Romans 12:2.  

EVERYDAY we have to re-commit ourselves to The LORD and HIS leadership in our lives.  We can't just let yesterday's commitment carry us through for the rest of our lives. In Exodus 16:15-21, the children of Israel were instructed to get themselves enough "manna" for THAT day.  When the sun got hot, it melted all the extra "manna".  They knew they had to go back every morning for their sustenance.  

Everyday we must return to our source for "manna"!  The surest way to find the will of GOD is to stay IN the will of GOD.  The enemy is seeking who he may devour every moment of every day.  We must continually seek to "renew our minds" to avoid the pitfalls he would love to snare us with.  When we are not "IN HIM" we are susceptible to conforming "to this world".  

There is nothing, and I mean nothing,  as sweet as knowing you are in "that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of GOD"!  The joy and peace that comes from knowing you have an open line to the Creator of the Universe is unmatched.  

LORD, please don't allow me to be "conformed" to this world and its culture.  Remind me that I am just a pilgrim here and my home awaits me! 

"FIFTY THOUSAND PIECES OF SILVER!"

Acts 19:13-20    (KJV)

"Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.  And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.  And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.  Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.  So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed."

Seven of the boys of Sceva thought they would cast out an evil spirit from a man.  They found out rather quickly, that the spirit world in which we live, is much more powerful than our earthly beings!  

Today, many people are so blinded they don't see the REAL problem in our society!  There is talk about the "lazy" people who have drained our nation dry by not working, the "gay and lesbian" getting equal rights, the pornographers given more rights, the abortion proponents being allowed to murder more unborn children, and the list goes on and on!  

When the first century residents saw what the "EVIL SPIRIT" did to the sons of Sceva, "many believed, and confessed"!   They got rid (burned them) of ALL the books and remnants of "evil", and the current pricing was FIFTY THOUSAND PIECES OF SILVER!!  

ALL of the issues in the world today is related to sin!  When are we going to WAKE UP and realize that the problem is "SPIRITUAL"?  We Christians don't grasp the power we have in our lives, or we are too afraid (weak) to take a stand.  I am committing myself to "LIVING FOR HIM" for my remaining days!  I long to hear in my time "So mightily grew the word of God and preva

"HARVEST TIME!"

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14   (NASB)

"The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: FEAR God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil."

The message that certain "WORDS" deliver may not be the meaning in which they were spoken.  The word "FEAR" is one of those words.   FEAR is most associated with concern over danger.  

But, I remember my upbringing, I was fearful of discipline in a different way.  I knew that while the person who was disciplining me loved me, the PAIN that was imminent was scary to me!  I knew I had "messed up" and had to be punished, but I didn't want to reap the fruit of the seeds I had planted!  It has been said that "Most of us sow our wild oats, and then pray for crop failure!"  Galatians 6:7 says it better, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."  GOD allows us to plant the seeds we desire, yet the harvesting of those seeds is sometimes painful!  

When the writer of Ecclesiastes wrote to "FEAR" GOD, I am not sure he meant for us to check under our beds to see if the boogy man was there!  Rather, don't do something that an ALL-LOVING GOD will have to discipline you for later.  The love of GOD is immeasurable and knows no bounds.   And the reason HE disciplines us is because of that LOVE!  HE knows the harvest time will come!