Garment of Praise

Seeking Ourselves

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:43:00 +0000

Focus verses: Genesis 1:26-30.

Can you identify yourself? Who, exactly, are you? Not your name. Nor your job. Nor your relationship to any another person or persons. What is the essence of who you are?

These verses tell you. You are a being created in the image of God. You are not God. You will never be a god. But you are created to be like Him. And He commissioned you!

He delegated His life-creating powers to the union of male and female. And He commanded that you be fruitful and fill the earth.

And subdue it. Take authority over the earth, an authority that was delegated by God, the Creator of the universe. If you know anything about military or corporate structure, you know that your authority is limited by the person to whom you report. Your authority never exceeds that of the superior officer.

So, too, we need to be aware that while we have been given authority and dominion by God, we are still subordinate to Him. While we rule over the earth and all it's fauna, we are not, ultimately, the One in charge.

You will note, also, that God gave us a vegetarian diet. And this vegetarian diet was not limited to man, but to the animals as well. Animals were not originally intended for food. That came later.

Hmmm... So who am I? I am a child of God, created in the image of my heavenly Father. I was designed to be creative and fruitful. I was given authority over the earth and the living creatures. And I was designed to eat seeds and fruit -- not meat.

Father, God,

As I have questions about myself, my goals, and my endeavors, help me to seek the answers by seeking to know You better.
In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

A Place of Rest

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 07:00:00 +0000

I keep remembering the words of the old hymn:

There is a place of quiet rest
Near to the heart of God.
A place where sin cannot molest
Near to the heart of God.

In a world where sin seems rampant and sovereign, I like to reflect on the fact that God keeps a small corner of stillness for our retreat. Some days that retreat is the only place of serenity in the entire universe.

People disappoint us either by accident or by malice. Circumstances frustrate us whether it is technology glitching or traffic jamming.

And we let ourselves down by being less that we could or should be. Most exasperating to me are the times when I come across something I intended to do and didn't. Those are the times I need to remind myself of my worth in God's eyes.

If there had been only one person in the world, Jesus would still have come as Redeemer. If it had only been me, He would still have gone to the cross. He'd have done it for you if you were the only one as well.

When we look at the price God paid for our salvation, we are reminded that we are not important because we are who we are - but because of the value He placed on each of us.

There is another old hymn:

Jesus paid it all.
All to Him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain.
He washed it white as snow.

Look back at some of the older hymns and recognize the validity of the theology contained therein. When we forsake all the old hymns in favor of only new choruses, we lose part of our roots. Find an old hymn this week and think about the words and thoughts it sings.

Father God, I thank you for this place of rest and healing near to your heart. Help me to see through all the miscellany of life to the reality of the one thing that is most important -- my relationship to you. In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Sing Praise

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 14:12:00 +0000

Focus verses: Psalm 92

Thanksgiving and praise seem to be the feet on which our faith walks. Nearly a hundred verses in the scripture refer to thanks or thanksgiving. More than two hundred refer to praise. And nearly two hundred tell us to "rejoice."

There seems to be a correlation between thanksgiving, praise and joy.

To give thanks, one must be aware of a debt of gratitude. How can we give thanks to the Lord for all that he has done for us? What could he possibly want or need from us? He is all powerful, all knowing, and present everywhere at all times. We are puny, self-absorbed, and limited in power and presence. The only things we could give him would be our love and obedience. He will not coerce these responses to his love for us.

As we thank him, we become more and more aware of his power, his might, his majesty, his magnificence, his holiness and his generosity toward us. Those attributes are the focus of our praise. And as we praise him, he fill us with joy.

The joy of the Lord truly is our strength. One cannot praise the Lord and remain unhappy.

Father, God,
Help us to remember your blessings toward us. Grant us grateful hearts that we may thank and praise you in purity. Let us rejoice in you, always.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Majesty

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 12:59:00 +0000

Focus verses: Revelations 4:1-5:14

We have come close to God. We ask for a closer walk with Him. But we dare not forget His majesty. This picture from the vision of John gives us a glimpse of God's throne.

We will pass over the study of the four living creatures for the moment. If you wish to read more explanation, you'll find some of it here.

But these four creatures begin the praise with "holy, holy, hol y." And the elders around the throne kneel and bow down. When these elders kneel, it is not like when we kneel in church, torso upright. This is the kowtow, the kneeling and bowing low so that the forehead touches the floor or the ground.

This throne is also a judgment seat, like a judges bench only more so. From this throne the pronouncements of God proceed. His judgments, affirmations, condemnations, all are here in the presence of these witnesses.

But for Christ, we cannot know these judgments. It is He who will break the seals on the scroll of judgment. It is through Christ that we can know God without panic. That doesn't mean we don't fear God. It simply means that we accept the sacrifice of the Lamb. We still kneel in awe around the throne of God.

Father, God,

Still the trembling in our hearts. Allow us to love You, adore You, obey You at all times and in all places. Grant us an awareness of Your majesty and our dependence.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Sabbatical

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 11:49:00 +0000

Focus verses: Genesis 2:2-3

We seem to live in a hurried and harried kind of world. If we are not doing something constructive, we are absorbing inanities from the media world. But we never seem to give ourselves, or anyone else, time simply to sit and think.

God worked for six days on creation and sat down to rest on the seventh. I don't believe it was because he needed to rest, for God is untiring. I think he did it more as an example to us. We need time to think, to ruminate, simply to be, and to be in his presence.

Without time for contemplation and meditation, we lose sight of God and our position with him and our purpose in his plans.

It is a management principle that you can expect 85% efficiency from your staff about 85% of the time. The other 15% is just "wasted?" No, the other 15% is that sabbatical that God ordained at the time of creation.

If you expect 100% effectiveness 100% of the time, you are setting yourself up for disappointment and failure. You need that sabbatical that God set aside for you.

Take your sabbath rest. Revel in God's presence. Let him speak to you. Listen for him. Simply be. You will be amazed at how much more productive your 85% will become.

Father, God,

Remind us that you are the be all and end all of our existence. Help us to focus on you as the source of our lives. Then our work and our responsibilities will not be burdensome, but easy to handle in light of your provision.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

An Attitude of Gratitude

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 12:27:00 +0000

Focus verses: Psalm 100

This is one of my favorite psalms. In the first place it says "make a joyful noise" not "sing sweetly on key." The criteria for our singing is joy, not musical ability.

But no one can be joyful all the time, can they? That depends on where your joy lies. If the joy of the Lord is your strength, then you can be joyful all the time. God is always with you. If he is the source of your joy, nothing can change it.

When things seem blackest, we can praise the Lord for who and what he is. He inhabits the praises of his people. No matter what circumstances surround us, he is unchanging and always sure. If your security is in him, nothing can shake it.

This truth allows us to be grateful to God for who and what he is, no matter what happens around us or to us.

So at all times and in all seasons, we can bring a sacrifice of praise to him. Blessing his name for who he is.

That sacrifice of praise will hold you together in the roughest of times. It draws you closer to him and reminds you of all his power and righteousness.

In a time when I thought I would drown in grief, the old hymn, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, came bubbling up out of my middle. While the grief was still there, I had an assurance that it would not overwhelm me, that with God's help I could get through it.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

For that I was and am mightily grateful.

Father, God,

Thank you for being our peace and our strength. Remind us at all times to come to you with praise and thanksgiving so that we may always be blessed of you.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Delight and Desire

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 13:22:00 +0000

Focus verses: Psalm 37

Psalm 37 sets forth a pathway of power. It is filled with things to do and not to do.

Look at the times it says "fret not" and at the imperative sentences that begin with "trust," "commit", and "delight."

¹Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

²For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

³Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

⁴Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

⁵Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

⁶And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

⁷Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

⁸Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

The progression is simple. It mirrors our growth in the Lord. First we come to a saving faith by believing in him. Trust in the Lord.

Then we get so excited about him that thoughts of him take over our lives. We talk about him constantly and find great joy just being in his presence.

Eventually we learn that all we have is not ours, but his. So we commit our lives and our goods and our business dealings to him.

Eventually we learn to rest patiently in him, knowing that all things will come to fruition in his good time, not on our earthly timetable.

Then we can cease from wrath and anger. Those emotions come when we think someone has spoiled something we were entitled to. We are entitled to nothing but a relationship with God. All else is negotiable.

At that point, we can be still and know that he is the sovereign Lord of all the universe.

Father, God,

Help us to move from belief to trust to commitment to rest in you. Grant that we may be swift students and able practitioners. Help us to cease from all futility and know that you are the sovereign Lord, that we can cease our fretting because you have our best interest at heart.

In Jesus' most precious name.

Amen.

Identity and Purpose

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 12:15:00 +0000

Focus Verses: Genesis 1:26,27; Genesis 2:19-25

Looking at the first set of focus verses tells us what we are, creations in the image and likeness of God. We were created to have dominion over all the other creations of God. And we were created in two genders. The two genders were, in my view, needed because of our human limitations. God is infinite with infinite capacities for love, tenderness, judgment and wrath. It would be impossible to get all the qualities of God wrapped up into a single human being, unless that human form were God himself in the person of Jesus Christ.

The second set of verses speaks to the creation of woman out of man. She was created to be a companion equal to and fit for him. This places woman at the side of man, not over his head and not under his feet.

The relationships in these two passages are both vertical (with God) and horizontal (with man). Because God is our creator, we are subservient to him, to his purposes and plans. We are not capable of knowing all of those purposes and plans, but we are capable of trusting him to know them and to see them to fruition. We need only supply our obedience to him.

Because woman was created from the rib of man, they are the same flesh. She wasn't created from his head to be dominant over him, nor from his feet to be subservient. She was created to be a companion and helper, fitted to him perfectly. Equal in all things.

This requires being respectful, submissive, kind, and loving. You respect others because they, too, were made in God's image. Being submissive requires letting people see who you are, without pretense or mask, and letting them show you who they are the same way. Being kind means treating each person as if they were your other self. And loving means having their best interest at heart, equal to or even more that your own self-interest.

Those are tall orders, but possible if we remember who we are and whose we are.

Father, God,

Help us always to remember that our beginning is in you. Help us to remember that everyone else has that same beginning. Grant that we may sink our roots deeper in you, so that we are not blown about by every wind nor uprooted by every storm. Keep us firmly grounded in you and your word that we may be about the work you would have us do.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Identity

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 04:54:00 +0000

Focus Verse: Isaiah 43:1

But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou are mine.

I can think of no better way to start the new year than by remembering exactly what and whose we are. We belong to God. We are his adopted children. He created us. He has plans for us. He has only our best interests at heart.

If we are his, we should seek to make our lives consonant with his thoughts and plans. Therefore we begin the year seeking him - and him alone. As we seek him, everything we need will be added to us.

We need not make resolutions that are abandoned by February. We won't have to try to force ourselves into molds that he didn't design for us. We need simply to seek to be closer to him, not for what he can do for us, but simply to be near him, in his presence. Or more accurately, to be aware of his presence in our lives.

So this year, my goal is to be more of a Mary and less of a Martha. With Brother Lawrence, I will try to practice the presence of God.

Father, God,

Help me to sit at your feet and listen. Keep me still until I know what you would have me do. Help me to instantaneous obedience when I know what that will is.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

For Such A Time As This

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:20:00 +0000

Focus verses: Esther 2:19-20

Esther is an interesting study. We think of her as a kind of savior of her people because of her position in the palace. But let's look a little further into who she is.

First, she is an orphan, having neither father nor mother. Her guardian is her father's nephew, her cousin, who seems to be substantially older than she. Several times, the book refers to her obedience to Mordecai.

In obedience to Mordecai, she is taken to the palace. In obedience to Mordecai, she says nothing about her background or her people.

She seems to have a submissive spirit because she takes with her to her interview with the king only those things suggested by Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the kings harem. She won the favor of every one who saw her.

The nub of this story, however, is in chapter four. When Esther learns of the plot against her people, she is keenly aware of the price she would have to pay for approaching the king without being summoned.

Mordecai reminds her that her life is forfeit in any case, but that salvation will arise from the Lord for His people. He asks her to consider that she may have been placed in the king's palace for just this purpose.

Esther asks Mordecai to have the people fast and pray for her for three days and nights, and she and her maids will do likewise. Then she will approach the king. We all know the rest of the story. While the king's decree could not be changed, there was another decree that allowed the Jews to defend themselves.

So what does this mean to us? First was Esther's obedient spirit. She obeyed Mordecai without reservation. She didn't know why she was sent to the king's palace. She had no idea whether or why she would be chosen to succeed Vashti.

But God knew. He knows the end before the beginning. Our obedience to Him is the key to a happy and fulfilling life. No matter the trials and tribulations that come to us (and we have Jesus' word that they will come), He is still in charge. That fact give us the confidence to walk through whatever life can hand us.

Father, God,

Keep us ever obedient to You and Your purposes in our lives. Remind us that You know the outcome of every trial before it begins. Help us to rely on You alone.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

What's In A Name

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 22:19:00 +0000

Focus verses: Ruth 1:6-18

The story is that Naomi and Elimelech went to Moab with their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, during a famine in Judah. And the sons took wives named Orpah and Ruth.

Translating the names into their respective meanings we get: "MyDelight and MyGodIsKing went to Moab with their two sons, Sickly and Pining, during a famine in Judah. And the sons took wives named Gazelle and Friendship.

During their stay in Moab, MyGodIsKing died. And later both Sickly and Pining died as well. So MyDelight and Gazelle and Friendship were left as widows.

MyDelight decided to return to Judah, the home of her God. Both Gazelle and Friendship started back with her, but MyDelight told them to return to their homes in Moab. Gazelle did go back home (to her old gods), but Friendship had tasted the world of MyDelight's God and would not leave.

She loved MyDelight and the ways of MyDelight's God. She would not leave MyDelight's side.

When we cultivate a friendship with God, nothing can induce us to leave that friendship. We can leave all that we ever knew to be close to God. We cannot pine for what is behind us. We only go on with God.

Whatever is in our past that is not of God deserves to be left behind without regret, without remembrance.

Father, God,

Help us to go on with You, leaving all else behind. Let us not be pulled back into our old ways and old habits.

In Jesus most precious name.
Amen.

Dedicate Your Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 11:51:00 +0000

Focus Verses: I Samuel 1-2:21

Hannah is a model of dedication. She wanted a child desperately. She prayed so fervently that Eli thought she had been drinking. Her emotions were raw and visible.

But the Lord heard her and granted her this son. She nursed him til he was weaned, perhaps the age of two or three, and made good her vow that he would serve the Lord all the days of his life.

Imagine taking your toddler and leaving him in the hands of a man who, if you read on, obviously didn't know how to raise his own sons. Hannah had to be trusting in the faithfulness of God, not the wisdom of Eli, for her son.

So what is most precious to you? What gift can you dedicate completely to the Lord?

There are different kinds of gifts, but all can be put to use in the service of God. If you are brickmaker, you make the best bricks possible. If you are a baker, you bake the finest bread. If you are a janitor, you scrub and clean and chase the dust assiduously.

If your gift is hospitality, or evangelism, or wisdom, you use it gently, graciously, as if the Lord himself were the object of your hospitality.

When you dedicate your gift, the Lord increases it. Look at Hannah. She asked for a son which she gave back to the Lord. Then he gave her five more children, both sons and daughters.

But you don't dedicate your gift hoping to bargain with God for more. You simply dedicate it, and yourself, because that is the right thing to do. Then God is responsible for the outcome. Had Samuel been Hannah's only child, she still would have been satisfied because she had given birth to a great man of God.

Father, God,

Help us to realize that anything we have is yours. Grant us the graciousness to acknowledge that fact and dedicate ourselves and all we have to You.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Don't Help God With His Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:51:00 +0000

Focus verses: Genesis 12:1-7

Abram was seventy-five years old when God told him to leave his homeland. In verse two of this reading He says "I will make of you a great nation." And then again in verse seven he says "To your offspring I will give this land." In these verses, God has twice said Abram would have children.

Abram and Sarai waited. It seemed like they waited forever. Years later, Abram complained to the Lord that he has only Eliezer of Damascus, his steward, as an heir. But the Lord assured Abram that his descendants will be as numerous as the sand on the seashore or the stars in the sky. God made a covenant with Abram. See Genesis Chapter 15.

Ten years passed, and Sarai could hear her biological clock ticking. She knew that she was growing too old for bearing children. She decided to take matters into her own hands and sent Abram in to Hagar to conceive a child for her. In a way, Hagar was the original surrogate mother. At least, that was what Sarai intended. But it didn't work that way.

Sarai was jealous of Hagar and mistreated her. Hagar ran away, only to be found of the Lord and told to come back into her servitude. But the Lord also assured her that her son would have many descendants. He told her to name the child "God Hears" - Ishmael. (Genesis 16)

The prophecy concerning Ishmael in verse twelve, however, forecasts an on-going feud between Ishmael's line and Isaac's line. Look at the middle east today. We have the sons of Ishmael and the sons of Isaac in constant conflict.

So let's play a game of "what if." What if Sarai had not become impatient, Hagar had not become pregnant, and Ishmael had never been born. Would the middle east be peaceful today? We'll never know.

Whenever we try to do God's will our own way, it results in a muddle. God can redeem our messes, but it is never as good as what He had planned originally. It all comes back to the arrogance of the intellect. We think we know how to help God out. We don't.

Our function is to believe His word and obey His commands. We are to do a thing only if God says so, not because we think it's the way to do it.

Father, God,

Help us to remember your wisdom is infinite and our minds are puny in comparison. Remind us that You do not need our assistance, only our faith and obedience.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Surviving On Your Feet

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:01:00 +0000

Focus verses: Job 1 and Ephesians 6:10-20

Jesus promised that in this world we would have troubles. But He also promised that He had overcome the world. You can see in the Book of Job that being a righteous man is no shield from the tragedies and problems of the world.

Job was a righteous man. In the King James Version, it uses the word "upright." Posturally that means standing on your feet. If you read further, you will notice that he continually thinks about the Lord and makes sacrifice for himself and his family, lest any of them had cursed God in their hearts.

Notice it doesn't say aloud. It says "in their hearts." The thoughts of his children were of concern. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.

Job had already done all that is in our Ephesians 6 passage. He knew the truth. He was righteous. He lived at peace with his world. He had faith in God.

Much of the source of his anguish was in trying to defend himself against the charge that when evil things happen, the person to whom they happen must have done something against God to have God punish him that way.

We can see that this is a battle against principalities and powers. Job's righteousness had built a natural hedge around himself and all that was his. God allowed Satan to penetrate that hedge because God knew that Job would remain faithful to Him under any circumstances.

If we are to survive the troubles promised us by Jesus Himself, we must cling faithfully to God.
As my Papa would have said "anti-un-dis-irregardless" of anything that goes on in this world. It is the rock of God's word upon which we can safely build. Anything else is quicksand.

Father, God,

Keep us always mindful that You are the safe haven in our world. No matter what the worlds says or does, turn our eyes always toward You and Your Word that we might be secure in our knowledge of Your faithfulness.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Apology

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:32:00 +0000

Whew!! That's done.

The manuscript for my devotional gift book As Grandma Says is finally off to the publisher, the contract is signed, and all I have to do now is finish the bio, the blurb and provide them publicity pictures.

The book should be available from Harvest House in January of 2011, if all goes well.

We will get back to our weekly posting on Friday of this week, March 20.

Thank you all for your patience and your understanding.

Grace and peace,
Judith

Walking And Talking

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:11:00 +0000

Focus verses: Genesis 6:9 and 2 Peter 2:5

We've all heard the phrase, if you are going to talk the talk, you'd better be ready to walk the walk. Your walk must match your talk. That's part of the definition of integrity.

We can read through all of the story of the flood and it's aftermath. Nowhere does it say Noah spoke to anyone about God and His plans.

But in Second Peter, the scripture calls Noah "a preacher of righteousness." Implicit in walking with God is the idea of speaking of God. When you have a good friend, you quote that friend in your conversation with others. You share that friend's thoughts (the public ones) with people around you because you found value in those thoughts.

How much more should we who claim Christ be willing to share the thoughts of the Lord with those around us. You don't need to have a church or mission to be a preacher of righteousness.

You preach by example as well as by word. If your daily life reflects your walk with God, you are a preacher. Your words may be simple and few, but you are still preaching. Or you may be loquacious and talking all the time. In which case, your walk should reflect what you are saying.

If we would reflect the light of Christ to a hurting world, we need to keep ourselves close to Him, walking with Him, listening to Him, so that what we do and say exemplifies what He would have us be.

Father, God,

Help us to stay focused on Your will in our lives. Keep us faithful to the task You have set before us. Strengthen us to be people of integrity, reflecting You to all the world around us.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Walking With God

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:37:00 +0000

Focus verses: Genesis 5:24 and Genesis 6:9

Enoch and Noah had this in common. They are recorded as having "walked with God." What an epitaph! He walked with God.

But exactly what does that mean? How does one walk with God? Amos says: Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? Agreement simply means that both parties are of one mind as to the destination and the route.

If we want to walk with God, we must agree with God. He never changes. So we must change to fit His plans.

Our destination is eternity with Him. Our route has been laid out for us. Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life."

Study of this Book, the Bible, will lead us to a closer walk with God. Making time to be in His presence alone will give us the strength to lean on Him in the trials of the world. As we grow in His grace and favor, He will lead us gently to our destination, no matter if the scenery around us is sometimes wild and terrifying.

Let us determine to carve out personal time for Him in our daily busy-nesses.

Father, God,

Strengthen our resolve to spend time with You alone. Grant us the favor of Your presence in the midst of the chaos of our lives. Reassure us that You have a plan, no matter what the scenery around us looks like.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Are We There Yet?

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:42:00 +0000

Focus verses: Genesis 11:27-13:18

Are we there yet? Every parent who has taken a driving trip with children knows this question. The answer is easier with a stated destination and a road map showing the landmarks along the way. Without that map and those landmarks, the answer is more nebulous.

Abram set out with his father, Terah, to go from Ur of the Chaldeans to Canaan. But they didn't go there. They stopped at Haran. Scripture doesn't tell us when they arrived at Haran, but Abram left his father there when he was seventy-five and Terah was a hundred and forty-five years old.

Terah had set out for Canaan, but stopped short. Abram set out for "the land I will show you" and arrived at Canaan. It seems a continuation of his father's journey. We can trace it on a map.

There are other journeys that are harder to trace. The journey of our life has different landmarks and a different path. For some, we begin at birth, travel through youth, make a stop at marriage and parenthood, progress on to old age and finally arrive at the beginning of eternity, otherwise known as death.

The beginning of eternity can occur at any point on this "typical" journey. But our destination is the Kingdom of God. The only map we have is in this book, the Bible. We can only gauge how far we have come and how far we have yet to go by examining ourselves in light of the Word of God.

We are told several times about the Kingdom of God. Studying these landmarks will help us stay on the right path for our destination. The question is not "are we there yet?" Are we closer than we were yesterday?

Father, God,

Shine the light of Your truth on our path. Keep us faithful to the journey, walking closely in the footsteps of Jesus. Help us to grow in grace and righteousness.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Knowledge and Temptation

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:38:00 +0000

Focus verses: Genesis 3:1-20

"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, and a little is all most of us ever get." I don't know who said it first, but my grandmother quoted it often.

The first sin in the Bible is exactly that. Eve had a little knowledge about what looked good to eat. But she had no first-hand knowledge of the ramifications of eating the fruit that Satan was showing her. She did, however, have the word of God which told her not to eat it.

Strawberries are wonderful! Beautiful to look at, sweet and a little tart on the tongue. Even nutritious. But if you are allergic to them, they are poison in your system.

I cannot think of any sin that doesn't begin exactly as this first sin in the Garden of Eden. Satan sees something that he can make look good to you. Then he sits on your shoulder and whispers in your ear.

Shh, God isn't big enough. He isn't always right. Sometimes He has selfish motives.
You can be in charge.
This is how you do it.

He will package the "this is how you do it" part in something that is a natural temptation to you. He gets you to looking at a temptation, thinking about it, obsessing over it and finally yielding to it.

Look at the progression. The first thing he does is ask a question -- one that questions God's commands.

"Did God really say..?"
Then Eve said "Yes, God said..."
At which point Satan has the temerity to call God a liar!
That is the first lie of the father of all lies. When we believe that lie, we are undone.

God is not a man that He should lie.

This week, I'm looking at the things that tempt me most. Pleasures, time-wasters, indulgences. What does God say about the way I pleasure myself and spend my time, energy and money?

It's going to be a difficult week.

Father, God,

Helps us to examine ourselves and the plans You have for our lives. Give us the strength and will to follow Your path rather than our own temptations. Teach us to temper our small knowledge with the knowledge of Your word.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Alone

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:05:00 +0000

Focus verses: Genesis 2:15-24

Relationships with other people are important. During all of creation, God said "it is good." This is the only instance where He said "it is not good."

Look carefully. Adam was in the Garden of Eden. He had authority over all living creatures. He was to tend the garden. He needed nothing. But he was alone. That was the only thing that was not good.

While the rest of the passage speaks to marriage most obviously, some other inferences can be drawn. Every human being needs companionship.

At one point, I worked in a nursing home. Most of the residents were alone in one way or another. They had lost themselves in dementia, or they had no close family to tend them. Others had physical limitations that didn't allow them to stay in their own homes alone. Those that did the best were people who had family or friends visiting regularly. Or they cultivated relationships with those around them, both staff and residents.

For the others, we tried to encourage friendships among the residents. We planned social events: teas, games, meals, entertainment, and outings -- feeble substitutes for relationships.

This week, I'm taking stock of my relationships. There is, of course, my husband - the primary relationship - and my children/grandchildren. But there are also friends. When you come to my age (past retirement), many of your friends are of similar age with the concomitant health problems and frailties. You never know how long they will be with you.

Reared as an only child, I longed for sisters. During my lifetime God has given me several. Della and Sandy have gone home and left me here to miss them. Delores and Sally and Geni are still with me. They are listed in order of proximity.

I've known Delores for about thirty years. We see each other regularly - generally once a week - and can share anything without fear of rejection. She knows most of my warts and loves me anyway.

Sally and I were in grade school together (much more than thirty years ago). She lives in Texas, so we see each other rarely. But when we can get together, we pick up in the middle of the paragraph. Although our branches extend in different directions, our roots are intertwined, like side by side grape vines with trunks twisted together and tendrils escaping all around.

Geni is a much newer friend. And my largest regret is that I have never hugged her. We met on line when she and her husband were in China. We struck up a conversation and discovered we were sisters at heart. She prays for me and my other friends, family and causes, and I pray for her and hers. We rejoice, share, complain, chat, and love one another. The only thing missing is the hug because I have never met her in person. She lives on the west coast (closer than China but still too far for coffee and conversation).

Three perfect jewels in my life, each a different color, size and shape. One is an emerald, another an opal, and finally a pearl (listed in alphabetical order, not respectively). What a treasure chest!

This week, take stock of the treasures in your relationships. What can you do to enhance them? Can you cultivate new ones?

Father, God,

You placed us all in specific positions in your world, not capriciously, but purposefully. Show us Your purposes in our relationships. Make us sensitive to new ones and help us to cultivate them to Your glory.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Order

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:50:00 +0000

Focus verses: Genesis 1:1-3

From nothingness, God created an orderly system. Stars and galaxies and planets move in such an order the scientists can predict with confidence that a solar eclipse will occur on a specific date and at a precise minute within the prescribed hour.

When things are in order, they are predictable. My grandmother used to say "a place for everything and everything in its place."

But my twelve room house is cluttered and cramped because I don't have a specified place for everything, so everything is not in "its place." The worst offender is the space I call my "office." I need to weed through the clutter and dispose of much of it. Then categorize and create a system for the remainder so that I can retrieve what I need at a moment's notice.

When I ask God for knowledge, I've noticed He doesn't shine a floodlight all around me, He seems to use a little flashlight to illuminate one small area at a time. I'm going to use that system for this office. Rather than tackling all of it all at once, I will take one section at a time. There are three two-drawer file cabinets, eight bookcases, two open TV stands which hold paper and supplies, and a multi-compartment computer desk. Most offensive of all are the stacks and piles of paper on every surface. Specific goal for this week is to get all the horizontal surfaces clear - nothing on them that doesn't belong. This will be an ongoing project through the year.

Where is there disorder in your life? What can you clear up and organize? Ask Him for help and let us know how it goes.

Father, God,

Shine the light of Your corrective love on the corners of our lives that we can work to improve. Show us how to create order that we might be more reflective of You in all areas of our lives.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

For the Record

My words from the Lord for last week:
Saturday: Be prepared
Sunday: Be hospitable
Monday: Be industrious
Tuesday: Be patient
Wednesday: Be supportive
Thursday: Be faithful
Friday: Be productive

I was amazed that the words were all "be" not "do." I had thought I'd be told to "do" something -- and then I realized, God is I AM, not I DO. If we are to be like Him, we are to be. What we do will flow out of that being.

Beginning Again

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:57:00 +0000

Focus verses: Genesis 1:1-31

Happy New Year!

The beginning of a new year is an opportunity to start anew. We make resolutions - some of which are very short lived. We begin self-improvement projects. We have high hopes for a future.

But the first verse of our reading says "In the beginning God..."

We would do well to consult God before we begin anything. Only those things which have His approval will prosper in this new year. Only the plans we make that fall into line with His will succeed.

God is the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega.

This week I want to challenge you. Before you start your day, ask God what He wants of you. And when you end your day, take stock of how well you have fulfilled His plans.

Keep a journal. Each morning write what you hear Him say to you. And each evening, write what you have done. Do that faithfully - for just this week.

And let me know how it goes for you.

Grace, peace, and blessings in this new year.

Father, God,

Your are our beginning and our end. Help us to be swift to hear Your plans for us and eager to fulfill them. Keep us attuned to Your voice, always.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Just a reminder, we will be posting only once a week this year. And we will try to give you a spiritual exercise or challenge each week. Check back on Friday, January 8, 2010.

Glimpses Of Eternity

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 06:01:00 +0000

Focus verses: Revelations 19:6-22:21

We begin this passage with the marriage feast of the Lamb. Blessed are those who are invited to this feast. The guests will be those who have believed in Jesus and are covered by His sacrifice. They are both guests as individuals and the bride in the community of the church.

The bridegroom is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We see the destruction of the enemies of Christ. And then we see a new heaven and a new earth - a New Jerusalem, The Holy City. The river of life flows down the middle of the main street of this city and on each side of the river stands the tree of life, bearing fruit in each season and leaves for the healing of the nations.

After these pictures, John writes an epilogue which roughly approximates the seal of a notary public. He writes down what the angel said to him. He verifies that He heard and saw these things in his vision.

Then we have the words of Jesus saying the He sent the angel to give this testimony. And He reiterates the list of those who will not - NOT - be included among those who can enter the Holy City: those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and those who love and practice lies.

After reading these things, one can only say "Hallelujah!"

Father, God,

Thank You for the testimony of Your faithful servants. Thank You for the Word You have given us in the form of these scriptures. Thank You for Your graciousness in letting us learn of You and serve You. Grant that we may be faithful for all our days and even into eternity.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

The Final Harvest

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:57:00 +0000

Focus verses: Revelations 14:1-16:21

This section of the Book of Revelations speaks of the hope of the faithful and the wrath of God on the unrighteous. It opens with the righteous safely ensconced with the Lamb upon Mount Zion. They are singing the song that only the righteous know. They are out of the way of the wrath of God.

Three angels herald what is to come. The first urges the worship of God to those not yet among the redeemed. The second proclaims the fall of Babylon the wicked who led mankind into all kinds of sin. The third proclaims the judgment of God on those who continue to follow the wicked ways of the beast.

Then we see the person of Jesus, sitting on a cloud and at the call of an angel, He swings his blade over the earth to harvest it. Then a second angel comes from the temple with a sickle in his hand, and a third angel tells the second angel to harvest the grapes. The second angel does as bidden and the grapes are tossed into the winepress of God's wrath.

Then seven more angels carry the fulfillment of God's wrath in seven bowls. Personal sores on the bodies of the wicked, a sea of blood, rivers of blood, scorching heat, total darkness, false miracles, and finally lightening, thunder and earthquake. Total destruction.

Our God is great, mighty, powerful, majestic and terrifying in His wrath. There is no escape. And those who are His chosen ones do not wish to escape. They are with Him in His triumph over the wickedness of this world.

Father, God,

Keep us ever righteous in Your eyes. Help us to remain steadfast and faithful in the wickedness of this world. Let us be the small lights of God in the darkness of this present evil.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.

Disaster And Stubbornness

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Robl) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 09:50:00 +0000

Focus verses: Revelations 8:7-9:21

The seven trumpets in this passage herald demonstrations of the wrath of God against evil. As you read these seven demonstrations, you will be reminded of the demonstrations of God's power against Pharoah when Moses was called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

Look at the fifth trumpet. A star fell from the sky and opened the gateway to the Abyss (in other words, Hell). From the abyss rose billows of smoke containing locusts who were given the authority to torment people -- but only those people who did not bear the seal of the Lord. Clearly this is a demonstration of God's power against the wicked. And still the wicked people did not repent.

We live in an unrepentant society. It used to be that when people sinned against the laws of God there was some shame involved. But our culture decided to make man the measure of all things. And that shame has been transformed into a pride that glorifies the desires of the individual as primary in importance.

We seem to have placed ourselves on the throne to be worshiped and glorified. Man as the measure of all things is the worst form of idolatry. It places man as higher than God. It vaunts the atheists and humanists who claim that God was created by man, not the other way round.

But there is that small corner in every soul that knows the truth. Man has rationalized it into submission in many cases, but it is there, nevertheless. Even the enemy knows that Jesus is God. And while he growls about it, he still trembles at the name of Jesus.

What kind of stubbornness makes us not recognize the truth when it conflicts with our basest desires? And what kind of disaster will it take to make us recognize that man cannot be the measure of all things?

Father, God,

Open our eyes and our minds to see Your truth whatever form it takes. Soften our hearts to Your word and strengthen our wills to Your service.

In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.