Blog Break

 Morning with Beverly
Resumes Monday 11-11-2024
Stay in The Word!
Miles of Smiles, Beverly

Make Some Quiet

Quiet ain't so bad! Some folks care little for solitude so they pack life full of goings, gatherings and entertainment. It doesn’t seem so long ago my life was filled with little-then-big boy sounds and such; and, yes, this Mama looked for a little quiet! Charles H. Spurgeon writes, “We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in His service.” While being still before God is an intentional act of obedience, we are also instructed to be still with purpose: “Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10). Mister Bill assures me he can be in a mental state of mindlessness – uh, okay. However, in spiritual stillness - with heart and mind and soul centered on The Creator - we begin to understand the purpose of "being still" ... allowing God to reveal Himself to us as He says in the latter part of this verse, “I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.” As The One Most High elevates Himself to all and in all, He ultimately takes His rightful place in the hearts of those who deeply love and intensely seek Him! Will you claim moments each day to exalt (promote) God in your life? Make some quiet!

Unshakable

Most recently, I've watched Mister Bill's latest "project" ... the careful putting-together of a tower stand from which to hunt. As far as I know, it's his largest and most accommodating stand; as it nears completion, every nut, bolt and nail must be secured and inspected before occupancy! Countless things are presented to us as worthy of our trust - things boastful of longevity, steady and secure. All too soon we find these otherwise trustworthy things crash, burn and fail. Edward Mote, writer of more than 150 hymns in his lifetime, wrote for us these words: "His oath, His covenant, His blood - Support me in the whelming flood - When all around my soul gives way - He then is all my hope and stay." We've all seen the stability of roads and bridges recently crushed and crumbled by the deadly force of wind and water; such is our lives when trust is misplaced. David wrote the following words while on-the-run from his enemies including King Saul: "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in Whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." (Psalm 18:2, ESV). Although the words rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, salvation and stronghold are earthly words, they find their fullest and perfect effect in Almighty God! "On Christ the Solid Rock I stand - All other ground is sinking sand - All other ground is sinking sand." May those who know Christ find their habitation in The Presence of The One perfectly and eternally ... unshakable.

Do What It Does

Crawl spaces are creepy! Any “space” coupled with the word “crawl” can’t be good! Aside from babies, anything that crawls isn’t on my list of favorite things! Which would you choose: happy or holy? Before you answer, consider why it has to be either/or; why not both?. Far too long, followers of Jesus have been depicted as these sad-faced people. Somehow, that’s just not how I picture Jesus. Nancy Leigh DeMoss writes, “Did you know that according to the Bible holiness and happiness go together? In Psalm 4 David says that ‘the ungodly love vain words and seek after lies.’ In contrast, those who are godly or holy experience true happiness. David prays, ‘You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.’ If we want to increase in peace and joy, we need to be asking God to make us holy.” Holiness is a spiritual radiator, and it’s visible effects are happiness! Holiness is an inside job and Christ is the author! Joel Houston’s lyrics come to mind: “Consume me from the inside out, Lord - Let justice and praise, become my embrace - To love You from the inside out.” I don’t think about our house's crawl space too much, and I’m pretty content to let it be-what-it-is and do-what-it-does. Believers don’t have to choose between holiness or happiness: when we choose holiness, the happiness comes with it. Just diligently pursue Jesus and let righteousness have its way its way in us. Yes, just let it ... do what it does!

His Steps

When things go askew, there’s usually a reason. Although I’ve had some real atta’girl moments in the kitchen, I’ve had more than my share of ... oh-my moments! God has wisely and graciously given us a recipe for living in harmony with Him and with others: "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8, ESV). These are His instructions; when we refuse to do as He says, the results are both unsightly and unsavory. Do you want to know why the world looks so suspiciously and negatively at Believers today? Because the "walk" they see [of us] is similar to what they see of the world at large. What a holy shame when there is nothing distinctively different about the Saints! "For to this you have been called ... leaving you an example, so that you might follow in [Jesus] steps" (1 Peter 2:21, ESV). None of us will walk perfectly before the Lord or the world, BUT in His grace (strength), He can really shine in those atta' girl moments and those around will take notice! Let's be wise - not in our own eyes but wisely follow in ... His steps.