by George | Feb 22, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
The Dog Who Doesn’t Like Me
“For my eyes are toward You, O GOD, the Lord; In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless. Keep me from the jaws of the trap which they have set for me, And from the snares of those who do iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I pass by safely.”
Psalms 141:8-10
There is a small dog in my neighborhood who doesn’t like me. He makes his dislike very clear when I pass by his home as I go walking in the morning. His bark tells me that I better not come any closer to his master’s property!
This morning, today’s scripture verse was playing in my headphones as I walked by the dog. He greeted me with several loud barks. Then, I looked down to discover that he was turning away from following me! The dog was right behind me and I didn’t know it.
King David knew what it was like to face dangers. He had many enemies.
Instead of being afraid, he turns to the Lord.
“For my eyes are toward You, O GOD…”
David’s focus is on God, not the enemies or the danger.
Secondly, David turns to God for safety and security.
“In You I take refuge…”
Then, David prays SPECIFICALLY.
“Keep me from the jaws of the trap which they have set for me, And from the snares of those who do iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I pass by safely.”
God answered David’s prayer. He escaped from all his enemies, and lived to a ripe old age.
I hope you don’t have enemies, but if you live long enough, you will come across someone who is not enamored with you.
Remember to look to God, take refuge in Him, and pour your heart out to Him.
Then, watch the dog turn away from you.
by George | Feb 17, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
“A new Pastor was attending a men’s breakfast in a rural area.
He asked one of the impressive older farmers in attendance to say grace that morning.
After all, were seated, the older farmer began:
“Lord, I hate buttermilk.”
The Pastor opened one eye and wondered where this was going.
Then the farmer loudly proclaimed, “Lord, I hate lard.”
Now the Pastor was worried.
However without missing a beat, the farmer prayed on,
“And Lord, you know I don’t care much for raw white flour.”
Just as the Pastor was ready to stand and stop everything, the farmer continued,
“But Lord, when You mix ‘em all together and bake ‘em up, I do love fresh biscuits.
So Lord, when things come up we don’t like, when life gets hard, when we just don’t understand what You are sayin’ to us, we just need to relax and wait ‘till you’re done mixin’, and probably Lord, it will be somethin’ even better than biscuits.
Amen.”
This humorous story reminds me of Romans 8:28:
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
There are many times that we don’t understand why things happen. Life has a lot of “lard” and “flour.” Imagine trying to eat them separately… That would not taste good at all!
But when you mix the lard, flour and
buttermilk and bake it for ten minutes… You have delicious biscuits.
So, when we don’t understand, let us continue to trust God. He is making “somethin'”even better than biscuits.”
by George | Feb 1, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Search Me
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalms 139:23-24
What an amazing time we live in. Medical science has made great strides in diagnosing and treating illness. They have developed many ways to “look inside you” with x-rays, CT scans, and ultrasound and the like.
If you’ve lived any length of time, you’ve probably had to undergo one of those tests.
While we’ve made great strides in that area, we know that those tests aren’t infallible. Sometimes, there is something inside of a person that is not detected. It may be “hidden.”
The psalmist asks God to look inside of him, to do a scan of you will.
He is not asking God to do a medical scan, but rather a spiritual one.
God knows all and sees all, so you know that His examination will see all things.
He asks God to “search me and know my heart…”
God knows exactly how we feel.
“For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 4:15
God knows how you feel…
The psalmist asks God to “know my anxieties…”
We all get worried and anxious sometimes, but have we asked God to help us? The first step is asking God to make us aware of our anxieties. Then, He can administrator the medicine for it, His perfect peace.
“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”
Isaiah 26:3
The psalmist also asks God to “… see if there is any wicked way in me…”
This scan uncovers sin, particularly hidden sins that get in the way of fellowship with God.
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.”
Psalms 32:1
There is joy in God’s forgiveness.
Finally, he asks God to
“… lead me in the way everlasting.”
Once he has gone through the “scan” which has uncovered his anxieties and sin, he asks for God’s guidance.
Let’s do like the psalmist today and ask God to examine us, bringing to light our anxieties and sin.
Confess them to God.
Go forth in His peace, and joy of forgiveness, being sensitive to His guidance of your life.
