All in the Family

I haven’t been in Memphis in years. 

Way too long. 

I planned a visit several times but something always came up. Something that seemed more important at the time. 

Now, as I sit and look around at Aunt Jo Anne, Uncle John and a room full of cousins, I realize that those things weren't so important after all. 

Praise God for the love and joy I feel in this room. For the shared stories and the laughter. For the pictures from long ago. 

I pray that my priorities never get quite so messed up again!

What do you cherish about your time with family?

The 7 Wonders of Psalm 23: Part Eight

Who said a series of 7 can't have 8 - or even 9 - parts?
If you don't believe me, ask Douglas Adams.
Look him up - if you haven't read his books, they're hysterical!

Most believe that this psalm was written during the years David fled for his life from Saul’s jealous rage. He hid in forests and in dark caves. 

Even in this difficult situation, David expressed total faith in his Lord.

Surely goodness and love (mercy) will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6

Do you hear the change in David’s tone?

He doesn't describe how the Lord ministered to him in the darkness.

There were no choices to make.

Instead, he proclaimed the certainty of his Lord’s promises, now and forever

Surely…

We don’t use this word a lot today and when we do, it’s usually to express disbelief or dismay.

“Surely he won’t do that.”
“Surely she won’t say that.”

There’s no disbelief in David’s voice when he said, “Surely…”

He was filled with

• Total confidence
• Complete faith
• Absolute trust.

Can you imagine? He’s in a cave, hiding from a man who wants to kill him.

If I were in that cave, I wouldn’t be talking about God’s goodness and mercy! I’d be shouting,
“Don’t You love me? Do You care??"

David didn’t freak out - He was confident in his Shepherd’s love and care

Goodness and love...

He believed God’s promise that he would be king of Israel and, in that assurance, he looked beyond the cave to the blessings that lie before him.

• Goodness – kindness, abundant blessings, benevolence
• Love – faithfulness, patience, forgiveness

We’ve all been trapped in dark caves – caves of sorrow, of pain, of hopelessness. We look around and fell overwhelmed with fear and desperation.

But, somewhere deep inside of us, our hearts echo God’s promises of goodness and love for us – at that moment and for the rest of our lives.

Promises built on His unchangeable character.

I will dwell...forever

David was running for his life but he didn’t panic – he placed his faith in God’s sovereignty and stood on the assurance of an eternal life spent with Him.

Now, I don’t think David said,

“Nah-na-na-nah-na-na! You can’t kill me because God told me I’d be king someday!”

He knew death was inevitable, but he found joy in the surety of eternal life.

He knew that he knew that he would dwell in the house of the Lord – that he would live with God as part of His family

For believers, there is no fear in death. We’re not expected to be excited about it but we know that, when we leave this temporary life, we enter into an eternal life as part of God’s family.

• Goodness
• Love
• Eternal life

Surely God showers us with His blessings – now and forevermore!



How does surety in God’s promises enrich your life?

If you do not have this assurance, God’s reaching out to you. Find someone who can show you God’s love for you.
Photo credit: cave SimpleFoto

Ever Regifted? Don't Lie to Me!

Shame on you – I can hear you shaking your head.

“I’ve never done that!” you say.

And look! You didn't even bother to rewrap it - you just stuck a couple bows on it!

Get real - We've all done it.

 

Someone gives us a perfectly wonderful gift –

 

EXCEPT

• We already have two of them.
• We have no use for one.
• And the secret reason: it’s ugly!

I can honestly say I’ve never regifted – to a person.

I pack mine up and take it to Goodwill.

Regifting to the greater good, so to speak.

 

We've been given gifts so great it’s impossible to fathom:

• Jesus gave His life to give us the gift of forgiveness.
• Jesus’ resurrection gives us freedom from Satan’s power.
• Jesus is alive and He offers us eternal life, to live with Him forever.

We never get enough of this.

We certainly have use for them.

These are things we should regift with joy and love.

 

And how can they hear if nobody tells them? Romans 10:14 (MSG)

Don't worry, you don't have to run around spouting the plan of salvation to everyone you meet.

Just refer to God when it naturally fits into the conversation.

"No, I didn't see the game, I was in church."
"I'll pray for you."

Even more gifts - God gives us Himself:

• He is Love.
• He is Peace.
• He is Faithful.
• He is Strength.
• He is Comfort.

But, how can we regift God?

Can we offer His gifts to others?

We can:

• Be loving to those around us – even if they don’t deserve it.
• Be a peacemaker when there is unrest.
• Be faithful to someone who needs you.
• Be strength to someone who is weak.
• Be comforting to someone struggling.
  

The BEST part about regifting God is that we still have it!

We don't give it away.

We don't lose it.

Every time we "regift" God, He fills us with even more!
 

When have you regifted God?
When has someone given Him to you?

Flip-Flops

I’ve got lots of flip-flops.



Simple ones. Fancy ones. Lots of colors.

Comfy, cool – perfect for running around in the heat of west Texas.


In recent years, the idea of flip-flop took on a whole new meaning. We hear it particularly during an election season.

“Senator so-and-so changed his mind on XYZ issue! You can’t trust anything he says because you never know when he’ll flip-flop. That’s why you should vote for me!”

“The mayor changes his mind whenever the wind blows. He goes with what’s easy, what’s expedient. We don’t need a flip-flopper in office. So vote for me!”



Flip-floppers

We hate to admit it but we’ve all done our share of flip-flopping.



We sit in church and nod our heads at the preacher’s words and then we go home.

Flip-flop.

We hold to our standards until we face a decision with family or friends. Then we go the easy route.

Flip-flop


How wonderful it is to know that God loves flip-floppers!

He doesn’t give up.

He points it out to us when our lives don’t match what we claim to believe.

He gives us the strength to hold to our standards without a holier-than-thou attitude.

He offers forgiveness, over and over again. When we fall, He sets us back on solid ground.

He chooses

• He chooses to indwell us flip-floppers.
• He chooses to love us, no matter how many times we fall.
• He chooses to walk beside us, lighting our paths.

 

The closer He draws us to himself, the more we experience His incomprehensible love and grace.

Just remember, it’s not a license to flip-flop.

It’s an invitation to deepen your faith.


When have you been amazed by God's patience?