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Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 29, 2021
More of Heavenly Wisdom
 
Dodge turned towards Cody and suddenly shouted, “Look out!” Big John had come to and had his bowie knife draw ready to throw it at Cody.
 
Cody’s gun came up faster than the eye could follow, and with a bang the knife went flying and John was again holding his hand. Everyone gave a sigh of relief.
 
The Captain spoke to his soldiers, “Take him and secure him.
We will take him in for attempted murder and arson!”
Then he turned to Cody, “Why didn’t you shoot to kill him?
You could have done it twice!”
 
“Because of the fifth aspect of Heavenly Wisdom: mercy,” replied Cody. “He may have deserved to die, especially as he was ready to kill me with his knife, but I followed the law of the Lord: ‘do good to those who attack you,’ and ‘Do good to those who persecute you.’ Remembering that my enemy is actually
Satan, not Big John, I allowed him to live.”
 
Both the Captain and Dodge shook their heads. “I’ve never heard or seen anything like that,” said Amy, “it’s so different from everything we’ve experienced out here.”
 
“Just read the New Testament and you will gain the same perspective,” said Cody. “You do have one, don’t you, Mr. Dodge?”
 
“Yes, but I’m not much of a reading man,” Dodge replied.
 
“You don’t need to be,”replied Cody. :It takes only 6 or 7 minutes to read a chapter in the New Testament. Start in the gospel of Matthew and read one chapter a day and in 9 months you’ll have read the whole thing. Then you can start over. I’ve read through it fifteen times in the last ten years. Anyone can do it if you put a mind to it!”
 
“Well, I’ll give it a try,” said Dodge.
 
“Me, too,” added Amy. “I’d like to learn more about this”
 
As Cody and Amy walked with the Captain over towards the encampment, the Captain said, “I’ve never seen anything like it. Normally it always ends in a range war with a lot of good men and bad men killed. But you spared everyone!”
 
“It wasn’t me,” said Cody, “It was the wisdom of God. When we follow His way, which often means denying ourselves, things can work out a lot better. No guarantee, because some folks, like Big John, are dead set on taking out those who oppose them.
 
“But for people like Mr. Dodge, the Heavenly Wisdom approach brings good results. Having the right motive, knowing who the real enemy is, speaking in a peace-loving way, being sweetly reasonable and being approachable and properly submissive to good ideas will do wonders.
“Then the next four qualities need to be used: being full of mercy and good fruit, being impartial and sincere.”
 
“You certainly do have a lot of that down by heart,” said Amy.
Cody nodded, “If I want to think like God, I have to have his thoughts in my mind and heart. I’ve got lots of time in the saddle to memorize, just taking a bit each day.
 
“Most people say they don’t have time for such activity, and memorizing is work, but the truth is, we do what we want to do. And I want to be useful for God, so I must be thinking His thoughts, obeying His Word.”
 
After they had talked a while, Amy went back to the house.
 
“You are a most unusual man, Cody,” said the Captain. Then leaning over so the others couldn’t hear said, “And I believe Amy Dodge thinks the same thing. I will never forget you, nor will she. I will try to follow in my duties these things you have demonstrated.
 
Then he straightened up and announced, “Now my men and I will return to the fort. Let us know if you need any further help.”
“Thanks so much, Captain, you have been a tremendous help,” Cody replied. He rose and went to his horse. ———————
An hour later Cody rode up to John’s house, dismounted and tied his horse to the rail.
 
Sam came to the door. “Hello!” he shouted, “Come in and tell us what happened!” As always, he was excited to see Cody again.
 
Cody went in and took a seat at the table. Amanda brought him a cup of hot coffee and Cody related what had taken place.
When he finished, he paused and turned to Sam.
 
“I want you to remember, Sam, that God’s word is more powerful than a gun or knife. Sometimes we have to defend ourselves from those who are violent but remember what you’ve seen of God’s Heavenly Wisdom at work here and apply it to your own life. You’ll have a lot less conflicts if you live by it.
 
Picture: Cody talking with Sam; from the internet
May be an image of 2 people, people standing, outdoors and text that says 'ock Images iStock by Getty Images iStock by Getty Images iS+ Getty iStock by Getty Images iSt iSt-c by iS+ ock by by Stock GettyImage 11886024 Ima'
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Fear and Faith

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 28, 2021
“Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table. Thus is the man blessed who fears the LORD” (Ps. 128:1-4).
To fear the Lord is defined in Psalm 34:13,14:
“Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies,
depart from evil and do good,
seek peace and pursue it.”
 
Fearing the Lord is basically doing what we know from His Word to be right; this opens the way for the Lord to give us what He knows we need.
Of course, along with visible blessings, some of what we may need for our family to prosper spiritually may be having difficulty, suffering and lacks on a physical level. It is through such difficulty that we truly grow (Jam. 1:2-4). Jesus our Shepherd is faithful to bring what is right. In every circumstance we are to be faithful in fearing and obeying Him.
 
It is astounding that, in spite of his being the Most High, the Lord Jesus chooses to stoop down and work with and through miniscule men, waiting for our cooperation, our obedience, our surrender before proceeding with His mighty works.
 
Prayer: “Help me, Lord, to cooperate with you in what you plan for this day. May I fear you and play the part you have for me. May I be a channel of praise and glory for you today, Lord, as I seek you, fear you, obey you and honor you. Amen.”
 

Picture: Pigeons in a park in downtown in the city we are visiting

May be an image of 6 people, pigeon, footwear and street

 
 
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(Untitled)

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 27, 2021
More on Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him so that your lives may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
 
in order to recieve the promised joy and peace, we have to participate in the process by actively trusting Him.
 
Praise you, Lord, for the role you have given us in having this joy and peace. We must trust, believe, live in the truth of who and what you are.
 
As we look away from the problems, aggravations, disappointments and difficulties of life and look up to you, it is clear that we can trust you in all that comes to us.
 
You are
the Great Shepherd,
the All-Powerful King,
the Everlasting Sovereign,
the Ruler of the universe,
the Lord of Glory,
the Spinner of the earth,
Bringer of the dawn, t
he Beginner and Ender of time.
 
We can actively trust you by responding with praise, no matter how painful our situation is, because you, in your wisdom, grace and mercy have allowed this for good in our lives and for glory in yours. Forgive us for the many times each day we trust ourselves and not you and therefore complain.
 
Praise you that trusting is the doorway to more blessing: “trust…so that your lives may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
 
The more we trust you, the more joy and peace you give us and the more Holy Spirit-empowered hope we receive, leading to more praise and positive trust.
 
And as we trust, we become a cup of hope, a basin of hope, a spring of hope, a river of hope to everyone we meet, for it will flow out in our attitude, in our words, in our actions, in our reactions.
 
Glory be to you, O Great and Powerful One; you are Wise and Loving, Just and Merciful. You provide so that we may give you ever-increasing glory before the world!
 
Prayer: “Forgive me for being busy here and there with this and that, and not spending time with you, Lord Jesus. Help me to be in the Word, in personal worship, in prayer and in confession every day, to live in the light of your presence all through the day. Amen.”
 
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More Autobio

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 26, 2021
The next morning, after a breakfast of freshly baked French-type bread, white cheese and tea, we piled back into the car and began our slow trek up through the mountains.
 
The transmission whined and complained, the worn gears fought against the pressure I put on the gearshift, but by afternoon we had made it down the mountainside and into the city.
 
Charles got directions to the car repair area–the locals tend to group all the same businesses together in one spot—and we found a repair shop that advertised repairs on VW’s.
 
I pulled in and we all got out. Charles explained to the mechanic what the problem was; he pulled the car into his garage and went down into the pit underneath it.
 
After about fifteen minutes, he came back up, wiping his hands on an oily rag. “Sorry to tell you this, but you need a new transmission. You won’t find any new gears here and it would cost more to replace them than it will for a new transmission.”
 
Well, that put us on a new track! Again the Spirit called on me to give thanks, and I did. I asked the mechanic to take the transmission out of the car because I knew I’d have to surrender it to customs in order to get the new one I’d ordered from Germany.
 
Charles suggested that he go on by bus with his own two plus our three “adopted” children to deliver them to their father. He took their luggage and, after we’d all said our good-byes, left for the bus station.
 
While we were making those arrangements, a local woman had come over to see what these foreigners were doing in her city—not many came to this Eastern area. When we explained to her what had happened, she invited us to come and visit her home, which was right across the street.
 
This was such an unexpected thing, and at the same time, as we were to learn, so typical of local hospitality. We spent the afternoon with her, then that night got on a bus along with our defunct transmission for the twelve-hour return trip to our city.
 
Since we were members of the German Touring Club, I called them and they arranged to have a refurbished transmission shipped to me. It took a week to arrive. When customs called to say it was there, I took a bus out to the airport, dragging along the old transmission.
 
As the customs agent went through the paper work, he said, “Our warehouse is full, so I won’t take your old transmission. I’ll write it in your passport and the next time you leave the country you can take it with you.”
 
I objected. I already had one transmission to take back with me on the city bus; how was I supposed to drag two along?
 
However, the agent insisted that I keep it. And unbeknownst to me, this agent was also an agent of God, protecting me from a big mistake. It was another chance to trust God when I didn’t know why He orchestrated this.
 
That evening we got back on the bus to the East and spent another long night of sitting in uncomfortable seats, having our light sleep interrupted by “rest breaks” as well as stops to pick up new passengers.
 
We arrived groggy and tired; while we were transferring to a taxi, Nat stepped into a hole in the road filled with raw sewage.
 
We got to the repair shop just as the owner was opening up. He looked at the new transmission, then looked at me, “Where’s the old one? I need to get several parts off of it in order to install the new one!”
 
“I left it in my city.”
 
“Well, you have to go back and get it; you’ll never find those parts here!”
 
My first response was, “Oh no!” But the Spirit then led me again to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving. God had a plan here and I was about to see some of it unfold.
 
Picture of a car like ours that we had come with 11 passengers!
 
 
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The Great Giver

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 25, 2021
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him so that your lives may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
 
God is an inveterate gift giver. He loves to pour out goodness on His children and Christmas is a good time to remember that.
 
One of the gifts He’s given us through Christ is the privilege of personal worship and the powerful positives that flow from it.
 
Such worship is focusing on our triune God, praising Him for who He is, standing in the light of His presence, looking away from the temporal to the eternal, setting our hearts on things above—these all give Him glory and bring transformation in our souls.
 
Here’s a worship entry from my prayer journal, meditating on Romans 15:13 which lists out other gifts our good God loves to give.
 
“May the God of Hope….” and that is what you are, Lord: the God who is hope, who brings hope, who calls us to hope—a hope which is a rock-solid certainty based on your unchanging, perfect character—you promise and you deliver.
 
Praise you for your desire to fill your children “with all joy and peace….” This says so much about you, my Lord God. Not just some joy and peace, but all joy and peace. You give us a joy that is unquenchable, unalterable by the difficulties, tragedies and suffering in life, because you, the unchanging God, are its source.
 
You give us a peace that is sure and sound, deep and dynamic, restful and responsible. As we confess and receive forgiveness, you give us peace with you, peace with ourselves, peace with others—a vibrant peace, a powerful peace, a renewable peace, one which can be restored each time we sin. You are truly the God of joy and peace, giving us in abundance these deep qualities every person longs for.
 
You are a God beyond wonder, filling the whole universe and near as our breath. Truly you are worthy of worship, worthy of honor and obedience. May I give all of these to you today.
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Christmas Exit

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 24, 2021

“Here, my Lord,” said the angel, “I will hold all these things for you while you’re gone.” He named each thing as he put it into the big hall closet, “Your royal robe of divinity, your bag of infinite power, your cap of omniscience, your shoes of omnipresence, your shirt of splendor, your staff of omnipotence as ruler of the all creation and your badge of decision-making. Anything else, Lord Jesus?”

Jesus smiled, “No Gabriel, I think I’m ready.”

“One more question,” Gabriel said. “You who breathed the stars and know the name of every one, will you have that knowledge with you on the earth?”

“No, I must limit myself for this mission. But the stars will be waiting when I come back!” Jesus replied, smiling.

Gabriel looked sad, “I can’t understand why you have to do this, Lord, going to this twisted earth as a little, weak, vulnerable baby, submitting yourself to scandal-ridden, inexperienced parents. And living in that filthy, dirty, broken world.”

Again, Jesus smiled. “Yes, and there are lice and fleas, disease, and demons, to say nothing of sweaty unwashed bodies. However it is actually because of this brokeness  that I will go, obeying the Father’s plan.

“I know it is hard for you to grasp, but in time you will understand. The great love of my Father for those wretched, unhappy rebels leads me to go. He planned this whole solution and it is perfect. When I return I’ll explain it all to you.”

“We will be watching your work, Sire.”

“Good, you will see that by going I will bring honor to my Father, deliverance to my people and joy to myself in the end.

“Don’t forget my instructions: first a visit to Mary, then to Joseph. And then after I am born, a visit to the shepherds. Ah, also check on that star leading the wise men, those followers from afar; make sure they arrive at the right time.”

The angel nodded.

“And, don’t forget to warn Joseph about fleeing to Egypt at the right time.”

Gabriel bowed low, “Your wish is my command, Lord. May you have great success on your mission.”

And suddenly Jesus was gone.

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Gracious Goodness

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 23, 2021
“Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8
 
Praise you, Lord, that as I face a busy week, I can go in your peace, in your strength, in your wisdom and self-control. I give this week over to you and ask that you will help me to be focused, to follow through with my surrendered “to do” list, to do first things first in a disciplined, Spirit-led way.
 
I give over to you the things that burden me, like being out late three nights in a row this week. Help me to pace myself well and to go in your strength. Praise you for your presence, your power and your perspective.
 
“Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever” (Ps. 125:1).
 
I praise you, LORD, Yahweh, the great I AM, that you make us unshakable as we rest in the truth of who you are.
You are the unchangeable One,
the Almighty One,
the Undefeated One,
the Eternal One, the
All-seeing One, t
he Righteous One,
the Holy One,
the Loving One.
 
You are ever at work, you are aware of all, you are constantly, consistently, compassionately arranging the events that come into my life.
 
You are able to take our mistakes and sins and somehow use them for good: chastening, correcting, counseling, changing us with them.
 
Praise you for the certainty of your work in my life today, for the certainty of your protection, presence and provision in each step, each moment, each interaction. I praise you for your going before me and preparing each event and relationship. I praise you, LORD, for you are worthy of trust.
May you be honored in my thoughts, decisions, words and actions today!
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The arsonist, more from Heavenly Wisdom

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 22, 2021
More on Heavenly Wisdom
 
After carefully examining the hoof prints of the horse ridden to John’s to set the barn on fire, Cody went back to the barn where the others were waiting. “I’m going to follow those tracks and see who made them, and where they go” he said.
“I’ll come with you,” said the Captain, “if you don’t mind.”
 
“Come along,” Cody replied. They mounted up and Cody led the way.
 
“This fellow isn’t even trying to cover his tracks,” he said, “he must have been totally confident that the barn would go up in flames and no one would try to follow him.”
 
They were riding westward towards Dodge’s ranch. “I can’t believe they did this after our talk with them,” said the Captain.
“It may have been that one of the hands did it on his own,” Cody replied. “They, too, are facing the loss of their way of life.
But it is illogical, what with the army sitting there in his yard.”
They topped the hill and there was Dodge’s ranch house. The tracks led straight to it.
 
“Let’s remember to use Heavenly Wisdom here,” Cody said.
As they rode up to the house, Dodge came out, with Amy right behind him.
 
“Well you’re back. I’ve been thinking more about what you said, and it makes sense. I’ve talked with my men and picked out the ones who will make claims on certain parts. I accept that half a million acres is enough. I never realized how much land I was using!”
 
“That’s wonderful,” said the Captain, smiling. “But now we’ve got another problem.”
 
“What’s that?” asked Dodge, surprise on his face.
“Someone just tried to set fire to John’s barn. We followed his tracks and they came right here.”
 
“Really? I know nothing about this,” said Dodge. Amy looked shocked.
 
“I can tell you who it was,” Cody interjected, “if you let me look at the horses in the corral.”
 
“Be my guest,” Dodge said, waving his hand towards the corral.
They all walked over to where the horses were milling about. Cody climbed into the corral and began to check the horses’ shoes one at a time. On the fourth horse he straightened up, “This is the one ridden to Dickson’s ranch. Whose is it?”
 
“Big John’s,” said Dodge. “I did not put him up to this!”
 
“Well, it wouldn’t have been very smart to do so,” said the Captain, “what with forty soldiers sitting in your yard, ready to take you in!”
 
“I’ll call him,” said Dodge.
 
Big John was the right name for the man. Well over six feet tall, he had broad, muscular shoulders, hands like shovels and he probably weighed 250 pounds. Not a man to be trifled with. And he was belligerent.
 
“Yah, boss, what’s up?”
 
“Where were you this afternoon?”
 
“Just went out checking things.”
 
“Were you at John’s ranch.”
 
“No, why would I go there?”
 
Cody spoke up, “Your horse was there. I found the tracks and followed them here. I checked the shoes and it was definitely your horse.”
 
“Are you calling me a liar?”
 
“I’m calling you an arsonist.”
 
“Why you no good drifter, you’re the liar!”
 
“Horse tracks don’t lie.”
 
Big John went for his gun, but before he could get it up to fire, Cody had his out and fired, shooting the gun right out of Big John’s hand. Amy screamed and put her hand over her mouth.
Hearing the shot, the soldiers came running and crowded around, as did the other cowhands.
 
“You dirty coward,” yelled John holding his hand. “Doing it with a gun is easy. How about meeting me man to man without guns?”
 
“Fine,” said Cody. “Take your guns off.” He dropped his own gun belts and stepped forward. Big John grinned; he was much bigger than Cody, confident that he would win.
 
Cody came out quietly while Big John rushed at him. Cody dodged the first few swings and went underneath with some powerful jabs to the stomach and chest. Then he rocked big John back with a swift left to the jaw, but John came right back at it again and landed a punch on Cody’s face. Cody went down, but he was up immediately.
 
From then on it was downhill for Big John. Cody was too fast, too tough, even though he was smaller. All the time he’d spent in the saddle, in digging fence post holes, and wrestling steers paid off. In the end Big John was out cold on the ground.
 
Dodge stepped forward. “Alright, was anyone else in on setting that fire on Dickson’s barn?” he asked. No one answered. “I trust that means no one. We are not going to do anything against Dickson. We are going to lay claim to enough land for ourselves and let him have his land. We are going to be neighborly. Understood?”
 
The hands all nodded. Amy took her father’s arm and smiled approvingly at him.
Dodge turned towards Cody and suddenly shouted, “Look out!”
 
Picture: Big John knocks Cody down, but he’s not out. From the internet.
May be an image of 9 people, people standing, outdoors and text that says 'gettyimages® John Springer Col lection 526813222'
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Purpose of our lives

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 21, 2021
An edited devotional from Intersessors for America website
 
As we continue to prepare our hearts for this Christmas, may we never lose sight of the reason we were created. We were created TO GIVE PRAISE, GLORY AND HONOR to our King.
 
Shepherds left their flocks to see the One born of God. Wise men traveled hundreds of days to find the One true God. ALL so they could bow before the newborn King.
 
We live on the other side of the curtain being torn in two. We live in a place and a day where our entire devotion has access to “touch the hem of his garment,” to sit in the light of His glory, to enter the throne room of God, the holy of holies; we have access to the heart and ear of our King.
 
He is looking for worshippers in spirit and in truth. Worshippers who cannot explain everything but who KNOW in the depths of their hearts who HE is. Worshippers who followed a star (the wise men). Worshippers who didn’t follow class status but followed the song of heaven (the shepherds) to worship the King.
 
Consider the men and women in the upper room, waiting for a touch from the One who would send the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, so that they could then go out in the FULLNESS of the One who called them by name.
 
We are also called like those men and women of the upper room – to wait on His move and to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in boldness and authority.
 
We are called to worship, with the awareness of ones who have been “set apart,” as ones who recognize the GIFT we have been given, the relationship we have access to!
 
Let us remember the purpose of our lives: giving glory to God. The primary means of doing that is to give thanks in all circumstances, expressing our confidence in His goodness, in His plan, in His power. And when we do that, we join the angels in winning victories for Jesus in the war against the world, the flesh and the devil–joining Jesus in advancing the Kingdom God.
 
Picture from the internet: angel ready for battle with the sword of the Spirit
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Grumble to your own peril

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 20, 2021
How easily I fall into grumbling! How significant a seemingly small decision can be, how dangerous is the innocuous sin of complaining.
 
It rises from unbelief and rebellion against what God has brought. It comes from pride, from fear, from selfishness, from listening to self rather than the Spirit.
 
In God’s eyes complaining is a serious, destructive and deadly sin: it attacks faith and trust; it questions His goodness and wisdom; it dishonors Him as we reject His gifts. T
 
hat’s why He reacted so strongly to the Israelites’ complaining and grumbling: “And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp” (Num. 11:1).
 
It is important also to note that in the story of my temptation to complain in yesterday’s post came after an intense, very full three weeks of successful work and ministry. I was tired and not watchful; I chose to sin without even realizing it. I need to remember that after victory often comes significant temptation.
 
But praise God that He is faithful, that He brings us back to Himself, into the light so we can be healed, restored, strengthened and again put on the armor He has provided so that we can “take up the shield of faith with which you can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” that “you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Eph. 6:11,16).
 
Prayer: “Lord, help me to keep on the armor of God every day, and especially to raise the shield of faith by giving thanks in every circumstance so that you may have more glory. Amen.”
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