PERSISTING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

I read a phrase the other day and I’ve been ruminating ever since – profound trust.  Not the kind of trust where my lips say I do but my mind says I don’t.  Something more, something deeper, something well, uh…profound. 

I began digging into those words.  Starting with profound.  The dictionary defines profound as “penetrating or entering deeply into subjects of thought or understanding.”  I’m definitely an overthinker, but I’m not sure that’s the same thing.  It goes on to say “having deep insight or understanding.”  Ok.  I can say I occasionally have the rogue deep thought.  How about this one, “being or going far beneath what is superficial, external or obvious”?  Hmmm.  Or, maybe this one, “Of deep meaning; of great and broadly inclusive significance.”  Or, even “pervasive or intense, extending, situated, or originating far down, or far beneath the surface.”

Profound trust.  A kind of trust that doesn’t just skim the surface. That deep to the bone kind of trust.  That no matter what may come my way trust.  That David and Goliath or Isaac on the altar kind of trust.  We all struggle with trusting what we cannot see and in some ways, we cannot see God.  We can see His creation, we can see His work in our lives, we can see some of the things that He does, but we cannot see Him.  But then I think, well you can’t see air but you still profoundly trust it to fill your lungs.  You can’t see sound but you still profoundly trust it to fill your ears.  We can’t see Wi-Fi but I still trust (not profoundly) that it will work!

Then I went to the word trust.  Defined as “reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety of a person or thing.”  This one might be clearer, “to rely upon or place confidence in someone or something; to have confidence, hope.”  I can get behind that one.  And here’s the last, interestingly enough, it is a verb!  That means action!  “To rely on, to have trust or confidence, to commit, to permit with trust and confidence.”

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5

Profound trust defined means relying on God with all your heart, not just a little bit, or on occasion, or with the easy stuff, or just the stuff you can’t handle.  It means to the very depths of our soul reliance on Him. Trust Him in everything.  It’s not a shallow or waxing and waning trust.  God wants us to profoundly trust Him at all times. 

My hand’s up, it’s easier said than done.  But Profound trust is not impossible.  Unfortunately, for us to have profound trust, we must practice and to practice means to be tested.  It’s super easy to trust when the world is all roses, ice cream and unicorns, right?  But what about when your world is a dark, empty, lonely, uncertain place?  What about those times when the path gets windy, we hit a deep pothole and we’re up on two-wheels around a curve? 

When we’re in those places in our lives is when we must practice profound trust.  Yes, it is practice.  How do we do that?  First, we get into the Word of God.  We check out who He is, we check out the promises that He made, we cling to Him for dear life around that dangerous curve.  We memorize scripture to throw back at the evil one, and we call upon God because He is worthy and because He is able.

If you haven’t had a need for profound trust in your life yet, you definitely will.  Our world is not changing for the better and we’re told in scripture that it won’t.  So, there’s no time like the present to prepare and practice and profoundly trust.

Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.  Isaiah 26:4

Sure I wave the American flag.  Do you know a better flag to wave?

Sure I love my country with all her faults.

I’m not ashamed of that, never have been, never will be.

John Wayne

The American Flag.  Just the mention of it gets us all riled up, doesn’t it?  It stirs us to love, hate, fear, gratitude, commitment, reverence, pride, disappointment, anger, allegiance, something.

It stirs me to love.  Many different loves.  I think of those who loved me enough to die for me, even though they didn’t know me.  To die for me so that I might have freedom.  Freedom, while on this earth to write this blog, to go to work, to live in my home, to worship my God, all unencumbered, for now.  This kind of love is devastatingly costly.  I honor those who have paid the ultimate price so that I and others around the world may have freedom.  We use the American Flag as a symbol of that freedom.  We revere it, wave it boldly and defend it.

The American Flag has 13 white and red stripes representing the original colonies.  The colonies were founded for different reasons.  Some for business reasons, some for religious reasons.  All with independence from the crown in mind.  This is similar to the Cross of Christ isn’t it?  Don’t both have stripes?

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:

the chastisement of our peace was upon him;

and with his stripes we are healed…he was whipped and we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

John Wayne spoke so boldly of the American Flag.  Can I, will I, speak so boldly of the Cross of Christ?  You see the Cross of Christ is another symbol of freedom – the ultimate freedom – the eternal freedom.

Shouldn’t we also seek independence?  Freedom from the dependence on sin?  Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice for our sin.  The price was devastatingly costly.  He was wounded, striped for our transgressions, so that we might have peace.  He died so that we would have freedom, freedom to choose life.  Freedom from hurt and brokenness.  His wounds heal our wounds!

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.

He counts the stars and calls them all by name.

How great is our Lord!  His power is absolute!

His understanding is beyond comprehension!

Psalm 147:3-5

Isn’t this land, and our kinsmen in it, in desperate need of having its wounds bandaged, it’s brokenness repaired?  You know healing for the wounded and brokenhearted has already been accomplished. 

The stars on the flag are named, named for each State that makes up the union.  It’s the same for the Cross  – our names are stitched on hands that were nailed to the cross, the name of each person that makes up His Eternal Kingdom.  Count them.

Freedom and independence are not to be taken lightly.  In order to be freed and independent, you have to leave captivity and dependence.  We have to leave the known, no matter how bad it is, for the unknown, no matter how good it is.  We have to turn from sin – He has freed us from bondage. 

The American Flag represents our earthly freedom.  The Cross of Christ represents our eternal freedom.  Only by waving the Cross of Christ can we also wave the American Flag and thus experience true freedom and independence.

 Sure I wave the Cross of Christ.  Do you know a better Cross to wave?

Sure I love my Jesus, the perfect Son of God.

I’m not ashamed of that, never have been, never will be.

By his stripes we are healed.  By his wounds we are healed.  By the Cross of Christ we are made whole.  Do you know a better Cross to wave?

Persisting in living in God’s Presence is about seeing Him all around.  Next when you see an American Flag, may it remind you of the Cross of Christ by which you are healed.

I happened to catch this shot last week. The sky was just amazing that morning. Do you see how the clouds look like they’re bubbling up from the sun, even before it burst forth? I’m in awe of His wonderful creation!

Then God said, “Let there be space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens and the waters of the earth.” And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens. God called this space “sky.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day. Genesis 1:6-8

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. A.W. Tozer

What we think dictates our entire life. Our thoughts govern how we act, what we say, where we go, what we do. In other words, “what we know, what we believe and what we think about God determines everything about us.” (Wolgomuth) Oh my!

That’s kind of heavy, isn’t it? In fact, I’m still thinking that through. The more I read it, the more the meaning is starting to take shape in my mind. It begs the questions – What do I know about God? What do I believe about God? What do I think about God? How I answer those questions determines everything about me — What I think. What I do. Who I am. It’s worth a ponder.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2

What you do matters to God, because it matters to God. (Dr. Emerson Eggerichs)

Profound. Something else to think on. Initially, it makes such sense, but the more I read it, the more I believe there’s something more to it. Make sense?

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17

When we do “whatever” in the name of the Lord Jesus, we are touching the heart of God. When we do “whatever” in the name of the Lord Jesus, we will find favor with God. He delights in our obedience.

…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Only to sit and think of God        

Oh what a joy it is!

To think the thought, to breathe the

Name;

Earth has no higher bliss.

Father of Jesus, love’s reward!

What rapture it will be,

Prostrate before They throne to lie,

And gaze and gaze on Thee!

Frederick Faber

Have you ever done that?  Just sat and thought only of God?  Closed your mind’s eyes and your heart’s eyes to everything around you except God – even for a few moments?  What was it like?  Joy?   Bliss?  Reward?  Rapture?

As I read Mr. Faber’s heart-thoughts those questions came to my mind.  I thought about whether I truly see thinking on God as the blessing and privilege that it is.  Did you also know it is an instruction from Jesus?  Yes, it is.

In our daily lives we do little sitting and thinking, we don’t have to.  We don’t have to be smart, we have phones that are smart for us.  We don’t have to keep calendars, we have computers that tell us when and where to be.  We have electronics that think for us.  We have television that tells us what we should think and how we should think.  We are so programmed. Our lives are filled to the brim with work, games, meetings, commitments, Church.  Who has time to sit and think?  We have lost the gift of sitting and thinking — simply coming before the King – kneeling at the Cross.

Jesus tells us in Luke 10:42 “But one thing is needful…”   This is Jesus’s word —  needful.  The word needful means necessary or required.  Read Luke 10:38-42.  You know this story.   It is the story of Jesus’s visit with Martha and Mary.  We’ve read it a thousand times and what do we take away from it?  We take from it that some folks are Marthas, always busy, always preparing, always serving and that some folks are Marys, they know how to sit and think of Jesus.  Somedays we are both Martha and Mary.  Somedays neither.  Jesus tells us that what Mary was doing, sitting at his feet, was “needful.”    Here’s the thing – we need to sit at Jesus’s feet and think on Him too.  If we are honest, we know that.   If we’re honest, we probably don’t do it often enough.

 Luke tells the story of the man possessed by demons  in Luke 8:35.  Verse 35 says:  “And they saw the man who had been possessed by demons sitting quietly at Jesus’ feet.”  He needed Jesus.

In Mark 3:34 Jesus again tells how folks sat:  “And he looked round about on them which sat about him.”  They needed Jesus.

Charles Spurgeon puts it this way:

Some things in this world are necessary, after a measure, but this is necessary without measure; infinitely needful is it that you sit at Jesus’ feet, needful now, needful in life; needful in life for peace, in death for rest, and eternity for bliss.  This is always needful.

Over and over again in God’s perfect Word we are given examples of the “needful thing” — “sitting.”  So how does it work?  Practically speaking, how do we sit at Jesus’s feet?  How do we carve out time just to sit and think on Him?  What does that look like in our lives?  How do we push away the busyness and anxiousness in our lives to make room for the only thing we really need in our lives?

We’re talking sitting at his feet, in complete submission and total reliance and meditating only on Him.  Commit to sitting at the feet of Jesus daily.  What would it take for you to make that commitment?  What would need to change?  What do you need to get rid of in order to come prostrate before him and think on Him, to submit, to obey, to glorify, to learn, to know Him more, to love Him more.

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; Oh, bless me now, my Savior!  I come to Thee.  We are so desperately needful of you Lord.  Please quiet our spirits so that we may sit at your feet.  Amen.

How many times do I have to tell you? Heard that?  Yep.  Me too.  It’s a chorus sung a lot in raising children and training animals.  You teach a lesson, you train.  Over and over you sing the song and somehow the children and the pets still seem to forget the assignment.  We’re not so different from them — are we?  We hear the lesson, we train – over and over –and still we forget.  God knows of our short memories, our lack of diligence in our studies. 

The priests of the Old Testament recognized forgetfulness too.  They actually experienced that forgetfulness.  Mistake after mistake after mistake.  Wandering after wandering after wandering.  Repentance after repentance after repentance.  Restoration after restoration after restoration.  I wonder if the priests asked the question too.  How many times do I have to tell you?  I wonder if God ever thinks that about me?  Beth, how many times do I have to tell you?  How many times do I have to tell you to be obedient?  How many times do I have to tell you the path to take?  How many times do I have to tell you I love you?  How many times?

O my people, listen to my teaching.

Open your ears to what I am saying,

For I will speak to you in a parable.

I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—

Stories we have heard and know,

Stories our ancestors handed down to us.

We will not hide these truths from our children

But will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord.

We will tell of his power and the mighty miracles he did.

Psalm 78:1-4

Psalm 78 was written by a guy named Asaph.  Asaph was appointed by King David to lead one of the Levitical choirs.  Asaph was a choir director in his Church.  This Psalm, like so many others, recants the history of the Jewish nation from the time of their slavery in Egypt to the reign of King David.  Why?  To remind them — us. 

The people of Israel made a habit of forgetting about God.  We look at their history, their story, and we say how could you forget?  How could you forget the Passover, the parting, the provision?  You were there.  You saw it.  You lived it.  Isn’t it emblazoned on your mind?  How can you forget?

Again, I’m not so different.  I forget about the One who stilled the water when the waves of life are crashing over me.  I forget about the One who restores when I need restoration.  I forget about the One who loves when I most need loved.  I forget about the One who saves when I most need saved.  I forget about the One who died so that I might live.  I forget the One…  I forget the One… I forget the One… He knew we would forget.  He knew we would need reminders.  He gave us His reminder.  The active, living, breathing Word of God.  One of his most precious gifts to us filled with reminders of forgiveness, love, mercy, grace, redemption, rehabilitation.  I don’t know about you but I need reminded every second of every day.  Not to live in the past, but to learn from the past. To focus in on the One who wrote the past, who wrote the present, and who wrote our future.

Just this week we started noticing the first lightening bugs of the season. I immediately thought of my walks with my Former-Worst-Best, Shenandoah. When I looked up this blog from 2018 today, it was as if I was reading it for the first time. I love how our God speaks and gives us fresh eyes and fresh insight. His teachings are true and applicable to all time. His Word never fails!

Fireflies Originally Published September 21, 2018

Look at that.  See it?  Look real close.  That’s right!   It’s a lightening bug.  It is the strangest thing.  Shenandoah and I take a walk early in the mornings, usually around 5:45.  It’s pitch black.  We walk back and forth up and down the paved road that leads to our house.  It’s probably about a quarter of a mile long.  Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.  If you have a lab, you get it.  Anyway.  For the past week or so I’ve noticed something really intriguing.  Lightening bugs.

These lightening bugs line either side of the paved road.  I mean, a bunch of them.  This is weird to me.  I don’t ever remember noticing lightening bugs in the morning, only at night.  Remember as a kid, on hot summer evenings, catching them in a glass jar, making a lantern of sorts?  I do.  But, I don’t remember ever seeing lightening bugs in the morning.  It’s really very cool to see.  They sit there in the grass flashing their lights on and off.  Since they’re on both sides of the road, it’s almost like they’re watching a parade.  You know how folks line the streets for a parade?  This is the Shenandoah Parade.

As we walk back and forth, and back and forth, I begin to think about their lights.  Although these lights aren’t as bright as the solar sidewalk lights, it is such a cool thing to see.  I know I’m walking on the road because the surface is paved, but I also know I’m walking on the road because the lightening bugs are lining the path.  I know I’m on the road because of the firefly light.  Remind you of anything?  How do you know you’re on the path?  How do you see your path?

“I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12

The fireflies light our way in the darkness, until light dawns.  In the same way, the Word of God speaks to us and lights our way in the darkness until our light, Jesus, comes.  That’s way cool!

Have you ever noticed how bright a small light shines in the darkness?    Think about the stars, take a peek at them.  A tiny, bright light, shining against a black backdrop.  How far away is that light?  The second closest star (because the sun is considered a star), is 4.24 light years away.  What the heck does that mean?  In a nutshell, to travel to the Proxima Centauri would take you about 20 years – yep years!  That tiny, tiny star that shines so brilliantly in the dark, is about 20 years away and it outshines the darkness.  You don’t see the darkness because of the light.  Think on that.

Your word is a lamp for my feet and light for my path.  Psalm 119:105

The Word of God.  Do we need it?  Do we use it?  Does it light our path?  How will we find our way through the darkness of the world without the Light of the World?  If a tiny star can shine so brightly, just think how much more vivid the Word of God will shine in our dark world.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.  It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.  It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.  2 Timothy 3:16-17

All scripture is theopneustos.  Theos means God.  Pneo means to breathe.  The scriptures are inspired by God, breathed by God!  Paul doesn’t tell Timothy that “some” of the scripture, or the parts he “agrees with” are theopneustos.  He tells Timothy “all” scripture is theopneustos.  All scripture is God breathed.  His Word that is the lamp unto our feet and the light unto our path.

We have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets.  Pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a light shining in a dark place – until the day Christ appears and his brilliant light shines in your hearts.  Above all, you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves or because they wanted to prophesy.  It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God.  2 Peter 1:19-20

The Word of God shines in the darkness.  Just like the fireflies lit my path, God’s Word will light our path in this world.  We must have God’s Word to teach us and rebuke us, to tell us of His character.  We’re all on a journey.  We’re all going somewhere.  The Good News is that we get to choose how we make our way through the darkness of the world.   In Him, there is no darkness.  Choose Jesus.

Read your Bible.  Don’t worry about having a study to work from.   Don’t worry about not understanding the words, go to Him, the breather of The Word, and inhale.  Read the words and take Him in.  He will gladly reveal himself to you.

Family Bible Church is a Bible teaching Church. If you are looking for a Church home in which to learn about The Word of God, come visit us on Sundays, at 10:00 am, at 1400 Echo Street, Martinsburg.

As I sit here this morning looking out my open window, in complete silence, half-moon shining light into the darkness (literally and figuratively), I’m reminded of the very first post six years ago this month. Unending Chorus.

Just like in real life, the silence, the quiet, the rest doesn’t last long. At 4:37 am, one bird called, by 4:39 am, it was a delightful unending chorus. I note the transition from the stillness to the bird songs of joy. We need both.

Although my location and routine has changed over the years — now I sit at my desk, throw open the sash (year round) in order to hear, smell, and feel the morning and I search the window for the Lights from Heaven.

Unending Chorus – May 10, 2018

My morning practice after my husband leaves for work is to wrap up in my porch blanket and sit on my deck with my prayer cat.

This morning I noticed a bird beginning to rustle around and awaken in the darkness of the sky.  His song was so sweet.  In the darkness he sang.  Then another awakened, then another, then another.   Their individual songs became this lovely, sweet chorus.

As the sky lightened and the sun was peaking, I noticed that the song did not end.  Their chorus was unending.  I stopped to think.  Is my song unending?  Is my chorus unending?

You know I don’t notice the chorus so much during the day.  Why is that?  It’s not because the song is not being sung, it’s because I don’t hear it.  It isn’t because the birds stop singing, the chorus hasn’t stopped – it’s because I don’t listen to it.  Even as I sit, the motion of my day has begun.  I’m slowly moving on to what’s next in my day – work, home, family, obligations.  Their song is growing faint.

Day noise – mind chatter — that drowns out the unending chorus.  Living daily in God’s presence is cultivated.  We  don’t just wake up one morning and say today’s the day – I’m going to live in God’s presence today – I’m going to see Him in everything today.  Unreasonable.  Training our hearts and minds to reset on God every minute of the day takes training.  The more we look, the more we see.  The more we listen, the more we hear.  Zephaniah 3:17 says:

For the Lord your God is living among you.  He is a mighty savior.  He will take delight in you with gladness.  With his love, he will calm all your fears.  He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

You see, He is living among us.  Amen!  He is a mighty warrior.  Amen!  He delights in me.  Amen!  He will calm my fears.  Amen!  He will rejoice over me with loud singing.  Amen!

If I can’t see Him it’s not because He’s not present.  If I can’t hear Him it’s not because He’s not speaking.  Maybe there’s too much mind chatter…  God’s song is being sung all day to everyone of us.   He is rejoicing over us today.  We need only train ourselves to hear  His song.  How do we do that?  Simple steps…the next time you hear the birds unending chorus, think about how God is rejoicing over you with loud singing.  Amazing.  Rejoicing over me.  Rejoicing over you.

As the deer panteth for the water so my soul will long after you today, Jesus, listening for your song.  Persist in the presence of God – strain your ears to hear His love song over you today – long for the song.

I was recently reading in John about how Jesus transforms the darkness into Light. How we don’t have to live in the darkness of the world, that He will transform my life by illuminating His Light. That I don’t have to conform to the ways of the world, that He is ready, willing and able to reach down into my soul and transform me. Transformation is hard work, it’s much easier to conform. But transformation is life giving, life changing, life saving. When I read about transformation, I couldn’t help thinking of this post from 2018. I can either conform to the world, or be transformed by the Light of the World!

Conform, conform, I really must conform,

To think that I should be myself would cause me alarm!

These are partial lyrics from a song I learned during my middle school years – yes, I can remember that far back!  One of the local pastor’s wives got together youth from area Churches and prepared a musical.  I was one of the 20 or so youth that volunteered.  It was a come one come all group that practiced for several months before going public.  We sang probably 10ish songs, without music, and there were readings in between songs.  I remember where I stood, stage left, second in, first row in a Church that wasn’t my own, and that I had bad middle schooler hair.  You know exactly what I’m talking about.   Isn’t it crazy the things we remember.  Unfortunately, I’m better at forgetting than remembering.  I don’t remember too much about it.   I can’t remember the theme of the musical.  I don’t remember any song or speaking part.  In fact, the only thing I do remember are the partial lyrics above.  But these words and the tune have stuck in my mind for about 45 years now.  I have recalled these words hundreds of times throughout the years.  They speak volumes.  I don’t know why these particular words have stuck with me, or maybe I do.  Anyway, I can’t think of these lyrics without thinking of Romans 12:2:

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.

Conform is a funny word.  What does it mean anyway?  In the original Greek, conform is the word summorphizo, “to make of like form with another person or thing.”  In Latin, “con” means together and “form” means make – to make something like something else.  In English conform is a verb (action) means “to be similar or identical; to be in agreement or harmony; to be compliant; to act in accordance with prevailing standards or customs.”   To be alike.  To think alike.  To be in agreement.  To be in harmony.  To be compliant.  To be the same.  To be popular.  To go along with the crowd. To meld with the world.  Who doesn’t want to be like everybody else?  Who doesn’t want to be like Mike?   I do.  I think if we’re honest we all do.

Here’s the problem, Brother Paul’s message from God says “don’t”.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  (NLT)

So, what’s Paul saying here?  Simple.  Don’t be conformed, be transformed.  Okay.   Don’t be like everybody else.  Don’t go along with the crowd.  Don’t follow the prevailing standards or customs of this world.  Could you ask me to do something just a little bit harder (she said sarcastically)?  Obedience, Beth.  So, we are not to be like everybody else.  Fine.  How do we do that, or not do that?  How do we get from conformer to transformed?  God says through Paul that we are to let him transform us into new people.

How are we transformed?  What does that even mean?  Here we go again.  Translated from the Greek word metamorphoo, to change into another form, to become different.  In English transform is also a verb (get busy) meaning “to undergo a change in form, appearance, or character; become transformed.”  So, it means to change one thing into something else.  To convert one thing to another.  To reconstruct something into something else.  To make over — redo.  To turn around – change.  To change something that wasn’t into something that is.

Got it, I just convert, reconstruct, makeover, turn around, change.  That’s exactly it!  Sounds easy, right?  Just make a change.  Get a makeover.  Go the other way.  Be independent.  Dare to be different.  You go girl!

Wrong!!

Paul says “let God transform you into a new person”.  First, we have to recognize that only God can transform or change us.  If we think we can do anything without His power, we think more highly of ourselves than we ought.  Ouch, sorry.  We must recognize that we are powerless without the Most Powerful.  Second, check out the word “let”.  I don’t know about you, but this is the hardest part for me.  It’s easy for me to say God is powerful enough to change me.  It’s harder to humble myself enough, to throw all that I am at His feet, to let Him change me.  You see, the call to conform, to be like everyone else, to think like everyone else, to go along with prevailing standards and customs (the world) is an incredibly strong force.  I am not powerful enough, in my own strength, to fight the urge to conform. 

But this isn’t what you were taught when you learned about Christ.  Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lies and deception.  Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes.  You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness – righteous, holy, and true.

Ephesians 4:20-24

Brother Paul tells us again what God wants us to do.  Change our thoughts and attitudes – yikes!  Out with the old, in with the new!  Conforming is the easier route.  It requires nothing of me – no newness involved, I’m already there.  There’s no resistance in conforming, no call to be different.  Transforming is a heart wrenching, life-long journey but this life-long journey does just that – leads to life.  This journey is a one-way journey, God’s way.  We are not to be changed by the world – from the outside in — we are to let God change us — from the inside out.  Are we willing to let God change us into the people He wants us to be?  Are we willing to throw off the old self?  Are we willing to allow Him to change our thoughts and attitudes?  I hope.  You see, God’s message from Paul doesn’t say:  “Beth,  it’s okay to conform and just be transformed when you feel like it.”  God’s not making a suggestion or a request.  He’s giving a command.

Cities well fortified have broad walls, and so had Jerusalem in her glory.  The New Jerusalem must, in like manner, be surrounded and preserved by a broad wall of nonconformity to the world, and separation from its customs and spirit…Beloved reader, be it your aim in heart, in word, in dress, in action to maintain the broad wall, remembering that the friendship of this world is enmity against God.   C.H. Spurgeon.

If you do not have a church home, give us a try. Family Bible Church meets Sundays at 10:00 am, at 1400 Echo Street, Martinsburg.  Coffee’s ready at 9:15 am.  All are welcome!

This is a repost from 2021, but I was immediately reminded of it when I heard this statement the other day:

If we get shot in the war because we didn’t put on the armor provided to us, it is not God’s fault. Dr. David Jeremiah

I love that. It is a poignant reminder of God’s provision. He knew we would need weapons to fight the battles on this earth (which technically are being fought in the heavenly places). I love also that it squarely shifts the responsibility of putting on the armor to us. What soldier would ever go to battle without some type of strategy, without some type of weapon? If we are not putting on the full armor of God, that’s what we have chosen to do.

The white horse moved along, choosing its own trail, heading down and northward on a slant.  With another appraising glance at the cloud, much nearer now, Hopalong Cassidy drew his six-shooters one after the other and carefully wiped them free of dust.  They were worn silver-plated Colt .45’s, their bone handles networked with tiny cracks, their balance perfect.  It had been weeks since he had drawn a gun for any reason, but he knew the price of safety was unresting vigilance.   The Trail to Seven Pines, by Louis L’Amour

Duh, duh, duh, duhhhhhh!!! Louis L’Amour is one of my favorite authors, mainly for his subject matter, the west.  I love the dirt, the grit, the cows, the mountains, the horses, the history.  You know, how the west was won and all that jazz.  I read westerns to relax.  To me they are mindless reading.  I don’t have to concentrate and overthink (which I tend to do) things.  A really good western author like L’Amour has a way of telling a story so that you can see it in your mind’s eye.  You can picture the views, the sounds, the people, the smells.  But when I came across this little paragraph the other night about Hopalong Cassidy, I went from mindlessness to consciousness.  It was my snap to. 

…but he knew the price of safety was unresting vigilance.

Dag…I kept reading that partial sentence over and over.  This crazy profound thought in a book made for entertainment and pleasure.  God speaks in the oddest of places.  So, in order to get context, I backed up.

It had been weeks since he had drawn a gun for any reason…

Hopalong drew his gun for protection against robbers, bandits, rustlers, outlaws, wild animals, you know, the evils of his world.  How long has it been since we have drawn our “gun” to protect us from the evils of our world?  Are there not storm clouds gathering on a day-by-day, hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute basis in our lives and the world around us?  How long has it been since we have drawn on our protection?

Hopalong’s protection was a set of perfectly balanced Colt .45’s.  What’s our weapon of choice against this world?  As followers of Christ, we have been given the most perfectly balanced weapon in the universe.  The Word of God.

Now, I know that some of you more genteel readers of this will gasp at the comparison – gun and Bible, but there is nevertheless a connection.  They are both weapons. If we believers are doing what we’re supposed to be doing, we would be drawing on our perfectly balanced protection not just for the moments when robbers and bandits and rustlers and outlaws and wild animals are near –but we would be dusting off our weapon like Hopalong, regularly, long before danger approaches.  You see, sometimes in those moments of danger, it just may be too late.  We must be vigilant, our eternal safety rests on it.

Put on all God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil.  For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rue this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.  Ephesians 6:11-12

Gunslingers of the west were rarely careless with their weapons but they also understood that not using their weapons to aid them in their battle, for protection, would most certainly mean their death.  Have we ever thought about our weapons in that way? You know, the perfectly balanced weapons of God’s Word and words with God.  The Bible and prayer.  The lack of use of the most precious weapons God has given us will most certainly mean our eternal death?

When was the last time you drew your perfectly balanced weapon for any reason?  Have we been vigilant in preparing for a showdown with the rulers and authorities of the unseen world?  We do not fight this battle alone, but in order to withstand the barrage of bullets hurled in our direction by the evil one, we have got to be ready.  We have got to know where our strength comes from and be able to completely rely upon that Source.

Who, knowing danger is all around, would not take steps to protect themselves?  Who would not call across the desert for others to do the same?

We, at Family Bible Church, take steps each week to protect ourselves and to protect others through the inspired Word of God — that’s the Bible in our name.  If you’re interested in studying the Word of God, in a family atmosphere, join us on Sundays at 10:00 am, at 1400 Echo Street, Martinsburg.  Coffee’s ready at 9:15. All are welcome.

We all want deliverance from something, don’t we?  We’re always seeking to get out from under something, aren’t we?  Needing deliverance started way back in Genesis.  Remember Adam and Eve and their date night in the Garden?  They pulled up to the table and ordered the knowledge of good and evil platter.  From that day forward, we’ve needed deliverance.  Deliverance from our own sin or from the collateral damage of the sin of those around us. 

The Israelites are a prime example of both.   We know their story well.  We live their story well.  Disobedience, consequences, redemption, deliverance.  Disobedience, consequences, redemption, deliverance.  Over and over.  We’ve talked about this before.  But, what do we do after deliverance?  Do we just bebop along like nothing ever happened?  Do we expect deliverance, assume deliverance, appreciate deliverance, praise deliverance?  Praise the Deliverer?

Exodus 13-14 tells us of a particular deliverance.  Specifically, Exodus 14:29:

The people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry land, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides.  This was how the Lord rescued Israel from the Egyptians that day…When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had displayed against the Egyptians, they feared the Lord and put their faith in him and his servant Moses.

After this deliverance, what did they do?  They sang!  They struck up the band and sang praises to the God of deliverance. 

            I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;

Moses’ Psalm (song), in Exodus 15:1-21, is the very first song recorded in the Bible.  It obviously hit number one on the scroll weekly countdown as it was probably the only song of the day.  Isn’t it interesting that the number one song of that day was a love song?  A love song to God.  We hear all kinds of love songs on the radio today.  Mostly of the heartache and brokenness that is experienced in a relationship.  Moses’ song is a very different love song.  This is not a love song of heartbreak or loss. This was a love song of hope! 

Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him half enough? Psalm 106:2

Do we sing to Him?  We see God’s mighty power and we are delivered daily from our Enemy – God daily parts the waters for us to walk through at home, at church, at work, at life — isn’t that a reason to sing?  Sing for job offers.  Sing for shelter.  Sing for paychecks.  Sing for health.   Sing for healing.  Sing for life.  Sing for death.  Sing for rebirth.  Sing for friendship.  Sing for family.  Sing for protection.  Sing for hope.  Sing for deliverance.  Sing for the cross.  Sing for victory.  Sing for mercy.  Sing for joy.  Sing for love.  Sing for deliverance.  Sing for God!

Who else among the gods is like you, O Lord?

Who is glorious in holiness like you –

So awesome in splendor,

Performing such wonders?

Exodus 15:11

Revelation 4 says that the elders fell down, laid their crowns before the throne, and worshiped the one who lives forever and ever because He is worthy.  They sing!

You are worthy, O Lord our God,

To receive glory and honor and power,

For you created everything,

and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.

Revelation 4:11

Just as the Israelites sang for God’s deliverance and mighty power and just as we read the elders in Revelation sing simply because He is worthy, we should do the same.

Sing to God.  Just sing, sing a psalm, sing out loud, sing out strong, don’t worry that it’s not good enough for anyone else to hear, just sing, sing a psalm. He is worthy of all our praise!