Never Overwhelmed

What comes to your mind when you think of "overwhelmed?" I guess my mind goes back to the laundry of years ago. If you didn't stay on-top of it and got behind, it was ... overwhelming! Listen to this cry of the overwhelmed: "Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry for help come to You! Do n ot hide Your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline Your ear to me; in the day when I call, answer me quickly." (Psalm 102:1-2 AMP). We all handle "overwhelmed" differently: we lash out at whoever happens to be nearby or it's met with an onslaught of whining and tears or we just throw up our hands and walk away. To the best of my recollection, none of these helped me ... especially in the case of laundry! The psalmist finds relief in the LORD: " But You, O LORD, are enthroned forever [ruling eternally as sovereign]; and [the fame and glory of] Your Name [endures] to all generations ... You remain the same, and Your years will never end." (Psalm 102:12, 27 AMP). The Father hears us in our overwhelmed moments; He is greater than anything that seeks to overwhelm us, and I'm not just talking laundry. There is no worry, depression, fear, grief or uncertainty He cannot smooth and soothe. It is God alone Who sits enthroned above it all and He is ever eager and altogether able to lift us above every challenge. What is threatening right now to overwhelm you? Have you given it to The Lord? He is ... never overwhelmed.

Promised Presence

Sitting at the breakfast table with Mister Bill, reading and praying together is a sweet reward for the years when mornings were not-so-quiet nor leisurely. I well remember those days when the morning routine was more of a science: knowing exactly what minute on the clock to be at the breakfast table, in the car, and at a particular stop light. In retrospect, I wish I had been more conscious of the little "graces" in each day. What a shame I allowed the days' demands and the frantic rush to rule me rather than the promised presence of God. The God Who said this to His ancient people speaks still to His children today: "It is the Lord Who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV). There's beauty in God's Presence regardless of the season of life: giggles or snickering after lights are out, the proud presentation of bitter weed in little hands, hand-made love notes, sitting on the patio watching chickens forage for food, even timely stop lights that help us reach a destination "on time." Yes, the little "graces" can and should remind us how precious life is and that we don't do-life alone - God is always with us. What a sweet reward - His ... promised presence. 

Take a Seat

If every day was a courtroom where justice was served, what seat would you choose? Oh, I know where I seem to be most comfortable ... in the seat of the judge. Well, although each day is not a courtroom where justice is appropriately served, I seem to dish-out a lot of verdicts! Jesus warns us, "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7:1-2 ESV). How foolish that we imagine we can judge rightly! According to Jesus, every judgment we make becomes a basis - a standard, a measure - by which we also will be measured. This should make us shiver! Bottom line, how can one guilty of so much fairly or rightly determine what is just? The answer is: we cannot but God can! Psalm 50:6 says, "And the heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is judge." Yes, God is a righteous judge (Psalm 7:11). So, what seat are we commanded to take each day of our lives? "Humble yourselves before the Lord" (James 4:10 ESV) and "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God" (1 Peter 5:6 ESV). This seat of humility is too often vacant yet it is the seat God has appointed for His children. A judge's responsibility is a heavy one, and I'm so glad that role is not mine. We can rest in the righteousness of The One Who "out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shone forth" (Psalm 50:2 AMP). In gratitude and in humility ... take a seat.

No Introduction

At most conferences, there is a keynote speaker - one who is usually introduced with much ado! Read this introduction the psalmist Asaph gives, "The Mighty One, God, the LORD has spoken, and summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting." (Psalm 50:1 AMP). He uses three titles for the stunning introduction of The God and Creator. In his book, Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer writes: "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." [By the way, if you don't have this book ... you should!] Over and over in his book, he reminds us what a very low view we have of our Holy God. Why else are we shocked when prayer is answered or we discover His wisdom really is best, or we realize He really is sovereign in all circumstances? Yes, He is a great God and we should begin to believe it! God needs no introduction to those who truly know Him!

Read and Write

The older-men has learned the value of writing things down. The only trick to this new-found help is to remember where I wrote things down. How wonderful it is that God has given to us His written word. I suggest even though we may be in the habit of reading His Word, we often fail to allow the words to be written where they matter most - that is, on the heart. God says, "My son, keep My words and treasure My commandments within you. Keep My commandments and live, and My teaching as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart." (Proverbs 7:1-3 NASB). I've discovered there is a systematic read-and-write process: as I faithfully devote time to read and study and meditate on God's words, The Holy Spirit completes the process by writing them on my heart. It is in the heart and mind where transformation takes place! It is there in the inner man where God desires His words to be kept and treasured. What a beautiful and beneficial process we are part of ... read and write.