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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.
May be an image of twilight, lake, tree, sky and nature
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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
May be an image of 1 person
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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.”
May be an illustration
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In All Circumstances

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 19, 2021
Written some years ago while living in Germany
 
“…give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
 
As I went down the ramp to board the first plane on my return trip to Germany from the US, I heard the stewardess announce, “There is no more room in the overhead bins, so the rest of you passengers will have to check your carry-ons.”
 
I was not happy with that news! My carry-on was packed with personal things, many of which I wanted to use on the trip. Fortunately, most of these were in my backpack in my carry-on.
 
I took it out, surrendered my carry-on case with wheels, and made my way back to my seat, all the while complaining in my heart about this injustice.
 
This event and my response to it colored darkly the whole rest of the trip. On my transatlantic flight I was able to have 3 seats across so I could lie down to sleep. Instead of being thankful for this, I complained about not having the fourth seat so I could stretch out fully.
 
I was aware that I was not responding correctly, not “letting go, holding on, rising above,” and tried to do so but it was so hard because I was staggering about emotionally, wounded by the fiery darts of the enemy.
 
Later, in praying about the situation, the Spirit pointed out to me how, at the crucial moment, I had failed to get up the shield of faith: I had chosen to complain instead of praising God for what He was doing in allowing my carry-on to be taken away. In that split second of failing to praise, failing to get up the shield of faith, I got hit with the fiery arrow of self-pity, followed by the arrow of anger.
 
I was angry at myself for not getting on the plane earlier. I was angry at the stewardess for taking my bag. I was angry at God for allowing this.
 
Without confession and repentance, I was defenseless. I was down and Satan just kept shooting me with one fiery arrow after another: fear, selfishness, self-pity and more complaining.
It was a painful, joyless time before the Spirit gave insight through my journaling as I lifted my soul to Him and He helped me see where I had committed my initial, tactical sin of choosing to grumble instead of praising.
 
Then I could confess, surrender and be healed. After that I could easily raise the shield of faith and joy could flow again. I had to choose to live the truth that knowing Jesus is enough for joy, period! And this is something we can choose.
 
This morning I read in John 14:1, 27 where Jesus said,” Let not your heart be troubled,” and “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
 
These are commands where he tells us not to let our emotions rule us, but to choose truth. And the bottom-of-the-line truth about emotions is that we don’t have to obey them. We can choose to live the truth that “Knowing Jesus is Enough for Joy, Period!
 
 
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More Autobio

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 18, 2021
After our return John and his family decided not to return. His adopted son had serious learning disabilities that required special therapy not readily available here, so they chose to stay in the States for a while. Later they went on to work with Middle Easterners in Australia
 
While we were gone, Charles had found out that the mother of our three “adopted” children had actually kidnapped them from the father, who had custody. Charles got in contact with the father in a city way out in the East and made arrangements to bring the children back to him.
 
We thought about adopting Solomon, as he and Nat were such good buddies. However, when Charles asked the father about this, he said he would only allow us to adopt Solomon if we would get him a German wife! That, of course, was not possible, so we gave up our dream.
 
The plan was for us to drive the children down to this eastern city and we set off in our little car with our German friend, Renate, the three children, Charles, and his two daughters, along with our two boys and the two of us, eleven in all.
 
We left early, hoping to make the trip in two days. I took the first shift in driving. Later in the afternoon Barbara took a turn while I sat in the crowded back seat and slept some. I was awakened by a sudden “whuuump!”
 
I sat upright, “What was that?” I asked.
 
“There was a big rock in the road and I went over it,” Barbara said.
 
“Why didn’t you go around it?” I growled. “Didn’t you realize that with eleven people in the car it’s sitting really low?”
 
“I don’t know, it was in the middle of the road, so I drove over it.”
 
“Well, stop and let me look to see what damage you did.”
 
Everyone got out and I crawled under the car as far as I could. There was nothing amiss that I could see beyond that mark where the rock had struck the transmission.
 
“Ok, everyone back in. Let’s keep going,” I said. All went well for about 100 kilometers; then the car began going more and more slowly until we were barely moving.
 
I pulled over and looked underneath again. The whole underside of the car was now covered with oil that had obviously leaked out of the transmission. The rock must have cracked it on impact.
 
Now what were we to do? I looked around. We were literally in the middle of nowhere. There were no villages, no houses, not even any cultivated fields, just desert-like wilderness with the road running through it.
 
“I’ll try to hitch hike to the next village and see if I can get help,” offered Charles. I gladly accepted.
While he as gone, I went for a walk, leaving Barbara and Renate with the kids playing in the rocks beside the road.
 
As I walked, the Holy Spirit was nudging me, “I want you to praise me in this,” He said.
 
“No way!” I replied, “this is nothing to praise about!”
 
Fortunately, the Holy Spirit doesn’t give up easily, “This is important. Praise me for this and see the good that will come from it.”
 
Finally I agreed and made the decision of will, against my personal desire, to thank God for this inconvenience, this obstacle to our plans, this distressing situation—my emotions were not engaged, but that did not negate my obedience in praise.
 
Charles returned with a mechanic who confirmed that the transmission was not only empty, but frozen up. He proceeded to pump more oil into it, rocked the car back and forth to loosen up the gears, and got it running.
 
“Follow me and I’ll check it out more thoroughly in my garage,” he said.
 
We all piled back in and crept the 20 kilometers to the next village. I had to keep constant pressure on the gearshift lever to keep it from popping out of gear.
 
“Well,” said the mechanic after opening the cover on the transmission and looking inside, “there’s nothing I can do for you other than trying to seal the crack. It needs new gears and I have none. You’ll have to go to the next big city to get parts. It’s 100 kilometers that way on the other side of the mountains.”
 
It was getting on towards evening, so after paying the mechanic, we drove slowly in the direction he had indicated, and looked for a place to stay. In the next small town we found the “White Palace Hotel.” It was far from my idea of a palace, but we were able to get two rooms for the eleven of us for about three dollars, so I was happy.
 
It was a hot night and I didn’t sleep well. The Holy Spirit was still nudging me to praise Him for our situation, so against everything I felt, and with the weight of the uncertain future pushing against me, I again agreed to obey Him, offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving.
 
Sections of Scripture I’d memorized came to mind. “I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Ps. 34:1,2).
“My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations, knowing that the trying of your faith works patience” (Jam. 1:2).
 
It was good that I was learning to praise, because little did I know that this was only the beginning of the adventure God had in store for us.
 
Picture: small town like the one we stayed in (from internet)
May be an image of nature, sky, grass and mountain
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No Fear

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 17, 2021
“For whom the Lord loves he chastens….” Hebrews 12:6
 
You are a wonder, O Lord God, for in your wisdom you always know exactly what you should do. You understand the right role to play in each situation: sometimes as our Savior, sometimes as our Father, sometimes as our Coach, sometimes as our Rebuker and sometimes as our Discipliner.
 
Your basic invitation to all people is to move from being a child of wrath to being a child of God. You are a judge for all people, for all are sinners, but you want to move from being the Judge of all to being the heavenly Father of all, if they will only believe.
 
Those who have taken your invitation and have become your children have also been made saints: forgiven, cleansed, transformed into a new creature, adopted into the family of God and are now dearly loved and deeply cared for.
 
We may be saints in Christ, but we still continue to sin unintentionally and, sadly, sometimes intentionally. In our rebellion and unbelief, however, you are no longer our judge; you do not condemn us in our sin, for we stand in the forgiveness of Christ.
 
You are now our heavenly Father who, with your Spirit, convicts us, chastens us, trains us and forgives us (Heb. 12:1-17). I praise you that you are the perfect Father, not too lax, not too strict, but an exact balance of grace and goodness on one side, firmness and force on the other.
 
You are committed to us, to our growth, to our sanctification. Your love and grace means that you will never reject us. Therefore, we never need to be reticent or reluctant about coming to you to confess.
 
As it says in Psalm 86:4,5, “Rejoice the soul of your servant, O Lord, for I lift up my soul to you, for you are good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy to all those who call upon you.”
 
Your goodness, your forgiving heart and your great mercy continually beckon us into your presence. To you we can confess without fear. Help us to be transparently honest with you and ourselves so we completely confess and be fully forgiven! May we do this to your honor and to bring you joy.

Picture: Climbing the stairs of life in Josh’s city

May be an image of tree and road

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Freedom from Fear

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 16, 2021
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1
 
One gift that Jesus gave us is freedom from the oppression of the devil. I’ve told before of my slavery to irrational fears of the dark with thoughts of “If I open that door, there will be a flaming, ugly face hanging in the air!” or “If I open my eyes, there will be a wolf at the foot of the bed with red, fiery eyes!”
 
These fears were powerful and palpable even to those around me who did not share them. About 8 years ago, while in Albania, the Lord orchestrated a “show-down” with these fears, and as I wielded the Sword of the Spirit, using Psalm 23, those fears were vanquished, and I’d not been troubled since–until this fall.
 
Then while living in Germany, Barbara stayed with her aged mother about 6 nights a week to help her with going to bed and getting up in the morning, and on those nights, when I am home alone, those irrational, powerful fears began to return. Not as strong as before, but still compelling.
Psalm 23 again was effective against them as I prayed, “‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.’ Lord, even if such a face should be there when I open the door, I know that you are with me and would help me.”
 
With the Spirit’s help, I was winning, but the fears kept coming—until one night. That night as I got up to go to the bathroom, intentionally not turning on the lights in order to face these fears fully. Just as I was opening the bedroom door, a new thought came. “Do you know who’s actually on the other side of this door?” I paused and then answered the question: “Jesus!”
 
Wow, that thought was like a precise atom bomb that blew my fears to smithereens. I was immediately freed, and have had no reoccurrence since! Now every time I open a door in the dark, I think: “On the other side of this door, waiting for me, is the Lord Jesus: my Rock, my Salvation and my high Tower!”
 
As Psalm 68:6 says, The Lord “leads forth the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun scorched land.” The Lord desires to free us from the corruption of sin and the traps of Satan. May He help you in your struggles as He helped me in mine through meditating on and wielding the sword of the Spirit, obeying the Word.
 
He always wants to work hand in hand with us in this. When we obey, cooperate, and use the Word, then He moves, just as He did with removing the pagan peoples from the promised land so the Israelites could live there.
 
The Israelites still had to strap on their swords and fight, but God was the One who actually cleared the land for them. And so, He fights for us as we obey what we know to be true.
 
Prayer: “Lord, I praise you that you are the all-powerful One who has defeated Satan, sin and self. Help me to dwell in the shelter of your Word that I may rest securely in the shadow of your Almighty power and protection. Amen.”

 Picture: strapping on our spiritual armor to stand firm!

May be an illustration
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