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Green Obedience

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 17, 2025 Respond

Thinking more of bumpy days.

“The Lord is my shepherd…he makes me to lie down in green pastures.” Psalm 23:1,2

 

Praise you, Lord, for you do not take our advice on where we should be at each stage of life. Instead you make us lie down where you know it is best—you don’t ask us or suggest or advise, you make us stay there.

That green pasture could be a

moment of great success—or of monumental failure;

it could be great comfort—or painful suffering;

it could be in wonderful health—or in severe sickness;

in rich, positive relationships—or in continual conflicts;

in having plenty of money—or in pitiful poverty;

in being wonderfully fulfilled in work—or living in futility and frustration; i

n having warm, supportive relations—or in being cut down, wounded and rejected.

 

You know what is best for the moment, Lord Jesus, so you make us lie down in this green, sustaining, place of growth—

a place where we can feed on your Word, drink from your presence, rest in your love.

If we cooperate in this way, then this pasture becomes one of learning, growing and deepening until we internalize what is necessary.

The pasture we find ourselves in may look brown and desolate to us, but it is exactly what we need at the moment to drive us into your embrace where we will be transformed for the next step up in our life with you. Help us to embrace whatever pasture you give us, Lord, and cooperate with you and your plans by first  offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Picture: ears open to the Lord, staying in His green pasture.

No photo description available.

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Rise Above

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 16, 2025 Respond

Wow, today was an even bumpier day than yesterday! Certainly walking with Jesus is often an adventure, if we are willing to accept it. And today was a series of adventures.

The key to navigating these is found  in Colosians 3:1&2
“Since, then, you have been RAISED with Christ, 
set your hearts on things ABOVE, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things ABOVE, not on earthly things.
 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
 
So when confronted with a big “bump” I need to check where I am holding onto things on earth instead of things above. For instance, the challenge of  working with those who are very cautious, while I am a risk taker, eager to move ahead, seeing the way clearly. 
 
But as I struggled with this, the Lord brought to mind the description of heavenly wisdom in James 3:17, which is, “…peace loving, sweetly reasonable, approachable and submissive [to a better idea]….”  
 
So the Spirit said to me, “Are you being sweetly reasonable, are you open to other’s ideas or stuck on your own?” Well, the answer was clear. I was not acting according to heavenly wisdom and had to repent.
 
And then the Spirit brought to mind  a phrase I learned from Colossians 3:  “Let Go, Hold on, Rise Above!” 
“Let go” of what I want to do,”hold no” to the fact that God has a plan, a better one than mine, and I can” rise above” my disappointment and anger, I can bless those who are slower, knowing God is going to use them for good sin this situation.
 
Yes, life with Jesus is an adventure, if we embrace it, giving thanks for every challenge, irritation and disappointment.
 
Picture: with God’s help we can rise above whatever comes
May be an image of 1 person, climbing and horizon
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Bumps for good

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 15, 2025 Respond

Today was a “bumpy” day. That is, there was pressure in a busy schedule, there were disappointments, there were failures, and there were unresolved problems. In addition, however, there were just as many opportunities to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, to honor God and join Him in what He is doing–although I don’t know what that is just yet.

In Ephesians 3:16-17 Paul wrote, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” It is our faith that overcomes the world (and our disappointments).

Paul continues, that, in the midst of difficulties, “you may know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Then he invites us to look away to the only perfect One, who is our help at every bump.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” Ephesians 3:20.

So at the end of a bumpy day, I can rejoice in His goodness, He faithfulness and His wisdom. He has a plan and I can rest in that fact!
Picture: even a bumpy road leads somewhere!

May be an image of nature

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Struggle for Significance

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 14, 2025 Respond

“My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.” Psalm 62:7

 

It is amazing what a pair of glasses can do. After arriving here in the Middle East where the sun is so bright, new sunglasses were in order, and I found a pair that were, in my opinion, well, cool. This was confirmed when someone asked me if my sons had picked them out for me! I felt good in them, handsome, with it.

Now there’s a subtle difference between feeling good in something and drawing your worth/importance/status from them. Unfortunately I crossed that line and actually began to use those sunglasses as a barrier between myself and others, acting distant and, well, cool. No one knew this but God and me, but that was enough.

The Spirit quickly convicted me of my “standing in the way of sinners” (Ps.1:1,2), so I could repent and look to the Lord instead for my status. That desire for worth/importance is a strong one in all of us, and my old nature is good at pulling me in the direction of wanting worth from the wrong source. My attitude had to change. I still wear the glasses, but they are now only a source of good things for me: shade for my eyes, and a reminder of my dependence on God.

This whole experience was an effective encouragement to think according to the Word, which means thinking out of the “world’s box.” We need to recognize and reject ungodly advice, especially when it comes from our own heart.

Picture: earthly sources of significance will all be lost in the end.

May be an image of eyeglasses, ocean, water and beach

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More Fruit

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 13, 2025 Respond

Further Meditation Insights from Psalm 106:

“Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare his praise?” (Ps.106:2). Your powerful acts are as prolific as your multifaceted Character is marvelous. Your praise is ever expanding, ever growing, ever widening, ever deepening, filling the universe because you are absolutely worthy of worship.

No matter how much we praise, you deserve more, for you are infinitely good and great: there is always more to learn about you, giving us more reason to exalt you. Your light, which reveals so much about you, also blindingly hides other aspects of your being, which you will reveal to us only in eternity. There we will experience the unending display of your marvelous, majestic, mighty Character.

Truly you are worthy of endless praise, ever-flowing glory, ever expanding exaltation, full trust and complete obedience. You are great, gracious, gorgeous, glorious and good, worthy of the worship of every creature, every feature, every measure of creation—and that’s not enough, for you deserve more!

 

Prayer: “May you be glorified through praise and obedience in my life today before the unseen hosts, before the unseeing peoples, before your saints, before the Throne of Grace, for you are worthy, O Lord our God, our Savior, our Sanctifier, Supplier and Shepherd, the King of Glory, Lord of Hosts and Ruler of All. Amen

Picture: some of  the  mighty works of the Lord.

May be an image of grass

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Fruit of Meditation

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 11, 2025 Respond

Some insights from meditation, leading to worship.

“Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good….”

Psalm 106:1

You, Lord Jesus, are

powerfully,

deeply,

broadly,

thoroughly,

completely good.

There is nothing in you that even remotely resembles rebellion,

or rejection of what is right,

or any relaxing of your righteousness.

You are purely,

positively,

perfectly,

powerfully good:

You reject sin,

you abhor sin,

you cannot sin,

and we praise you for it!

You love righteousness,

you love purity,

you love light!

In you there is no darkness,

no evil,

no shadow,

no turning from good,

no twisting of truth,

no scheming,

no inconsistency,

no contradiction,

no sneakiness,

no double-mindedness,

no self-centeredness,

no egoism,

no wrong motive,

no mistake.

You are absolutely, unerringly, unchangingly Wonderful. You are to be praised, exalted and honored. May that be so in my life today.

Picture: Jesus, light and the giver of light.

May be an image of 1 person

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Helpful Hints

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 10, 2025 Respond

Here are some suggestions for effective meditation on Scripture.

Set a reachable  goal after picking a passage to memorize—aim for memorizing one verse a day if you  can, or one every two days, or whatever you can handle.
After memorizing 5 verses, spend some days (3) meditating each day through those verses (personalizing and praying them). When I was younger, this took only a few minutes each morning.
Then go on and memorize more verses until you have a whole passage down.
Follow this up by meditating on that passage every day for two weeks and see what insights, new understandings and revelations the Spirit will give you.
Then go on to a new passage.
Here are a few suggestions of passages to memorize and meditate on.
Psalm 23, the “all purpose” passage, useful in every situation.
Ephesians 1: 3-12  Our identity and worth in Christ.
John 15:1-12 What Jesus shares with us.
Romans 12, guidance
Ephesians 6:10-18  Putting on the armor of God
Psalm 62:1-8, our true, ever-present refuge.
This is work, but in the end it yields much fruit, much joy and much help for you and others. It is the best spiritual investment you can make!
Picture: meditation brings much beauty into our lives.
No photo description available.
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Powerful Practice

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 9, 2025 Respond

The most important discipline/practice in my life.

Out of this practice has come the majority of my spiritual growth.
It is the source of most of my biblical knowledge.
It is the well spring for many of my sermons.
It is the impetus for all the books I’ve written.
It is the source of much insight for my counseling.
What is this wonderful practice? It is biblical meditation, which is:
1. Memorizing a passage, giving context. bring transformation of my mind.
2. Personalizing it, bring transformation of my  emotions.
3. Praying it, bringing transformation of my will.
Here is an example from Psalm 1, having memorized it, then personalizing and praying it.
Blessed am I when walk not in the counsel of the wicked. Lord, help me to quickly recognize wicked advice and reject it.
Blessed am I when I stand not in the way of sinners. Lord, help me to realize when I am doing this, watching sinners and envying them, wanting to do the same, and help  me instead to move on with you.
Blessed am I when I sit not in the seat of the scornful. Alert me quickly when I am being critical, negative or condemning of others and help me to quickly repent.
Tomorrow  some of the results of practicing this.
Picture: absorbed, being illuminated by the Word.
May be an image of 1 person and studying
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Happiness Secret #7

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 8, 2025 Respond

The 7 Secrets of Happiness .

First a review:

  1. Count your blessings
  2. Compare down
  3. Distinguish between wants and needs
  4. Do what you should
  5. Speak the truth
  6. Forgive others

And now, the best secret of all:

  1. Get to know God better.

As it says in Psalm 62:5,6, “…find rest  my soul in God alone; my hope comes from him.

Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my high tower, I will not be shaken.”

Having a living relationship with God can take us beyond happiness, which is dependent on circumstances, into a deep, broad joy which is dependent upon the character of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ways to know God better. Read your Bible daily, talk with God each morning and through the day.  Be honest with Him about your failures and receive His forgiveness.

Be a regular part of your church, committed to attending not just to get, but to give to others, to be God’s channel of love.

And as you get to know Him, He will be at work transforming you!  Check out the rest of Psalm 62 to see what it has to say about this.

Picture: Joy with Jesus is beyond happiness:

May be an image of 3 people

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Secret Happiness #6

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 7, 2025 Respond

Secret to Happiness #6

Forgive others:

To forgive is freeing, while holding a grudge does more damage to ourselves than to others.

Unforgiveness unnecessarily destroys relationships and brings unhappiness to all.  To refuse to forgive is like taking rat poison and waiting for the other person to die!

If I don’t forgive, I tie myself emotionally to the person who harmed me: then every time I think of him or her my stomach gets into knots; when I see that person I try to avoid them.  Unforgiveness gives them the power to controls me, even if they’ve died!  But, on the other hand, to forgive is to set myself free to better serve God

The problem is we tend to forget how much God has forgiven us (an infinite amount). In addition, Christ died for the sins of everyone, including those of the people who sin against us. So we can forgive just on that basis.

It is the command of our Savior to forgive: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance ag.ainst someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Col. 3:13

He calls us to the privilege of being grace receivers as He forgives us, AND grace givers as we forgive others. There is much joy in obeying God!

Picture: Forgive as you have been forgiven.

May be an image of 2 people

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