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Idol Hunting

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 30, 2021
“The righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”
Psalm 34:19
 
Idolatry in my life has been steadily losing ground. Ever since learning that concise definition of an idol (whatever I demand to make me happy), the Lord has been pointing out one idol after another. The first one was the “need” to be on time to everything, followed by the “need” to look good in what I did, and it went on from there.
 
The best antidote to idolatry is knowing God better—no idol comes across well in His presence! This month while re-memorizing and meditating on Psalm 33, the rich depth of God’s character stood out clearly: “The word of the Lord is right and true, he is faithful in all he does… let all the people of the world revere him, for he spoke and it came to be…the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love” (Ps. 33:4,8,9,18).
 
Standing in the presence of such heavenly light frees me from the clinging, whining manipulation of the idols of my soul, and sweeps me up into the joy He bought for us: “In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name” (Ps. 33:21).
 
Lord, you are an active God, a caring God, a powerful God, a delivering God. I praise you for what you are doing in my life, delivering me from many troubles, including my idols. You transform each difficulty into an opportunity to see you at work, to trust you, to rest in you.
 
Each thing we do is an adventure with you, a chance to do what is fine and right and good. I give you honor for your wisdom, your care, your grace, your active, intimate, incisive, positively invasive interaction with us, your children, in all things of life. You are good and I praise you for it.
 
Prayer: “Help me to be alert to your pointing out idols in my life; help me to quickly abandon them and to run to you, the God who delivers. Help me to see each problem as a potential-filled adventure with you. Amen.”
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Graciousness

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 29, 2021
You, Lord God are wonderful: so gracious, so kind, so firm, so faithful, so consistent. Your agape love flows from your being no matter what we do—for you are love itself, you cannot never not love! And I praise you that in your love are both mercy and forgiveness as well as righteousness and wrath against sin.
 
Without punishment for evil, your love would be faulty because love protects from evil, love brings refuge, shelter and safety. Therefore, justice is a part of your love, giving what your rebellious creatures deserve in the perfect court of judgment. Yet in each case you offer us sinners pardon. That is an astounding truth, if you think through the implications.
 
A criminal is brought before a judge for sentencing. His guilt has already been established beyond the shadow of a doubt, although he protests, saying his acts weren’t that bad. His crimes are read out along with his sentence: execution. He hangs his head at the prospect.
 
Then the judge gets up from his bench, comes down to stand beside the prisoner and puts his arm around him. The prisoner looks up. “Bob,” says the judge, “I want to offer you a full pardon for your crimes. But, in order for me to forgive you, your sentence must be served, so my own son will be executed in your place. You will go free and be able to have a fresh start in life.
 
And, because you are forgiven at a great price, you must be willing to seek to live a life for good. To help you in this, I invite you to come and live with me in my mansion as my new son. I will provide abundantly for all your needs, I will support you with meaningful, important work along with training, guidance and resources. I will be with you every day, protect you from harm and will love you unconditionally. Along with this, you will be my heir.”
 
What condemned criminal wouldn’t accept that? Yet many, many people reject an even better offer from you, Lord God, one of total pardon, of eternal life, of a transformed being, of power to live rightly, of meaningful work with you, plus love, joy, peace, hope and security. And most importantly of all, a close, warm, wonderful relationship with you–out of which flows all the goodness you have for us.
 
Everything else pales in comparison to knowing you, living with you, being loved, accepted, and cherished by you. I praise you, Lord God, Heavenly Father, that you have called me to be your son, to come into your family, embraced by you, and to become the object of your delight, your joy, your care.
 
What a marvel, I who deserve your wrath, have been transformed into your dearly, warmly loved son in whom you rejoice. You provide me with full access to your throne room at any time, you give me your full attention at all times. You pour out your full love on me unendingly–a love that is undeserved, unconditional, unlimited, which flows constantly, surrounding, engulfing, nurturing, protecting and cherishing me.
 
This is what you offer, Lord Jesus, for you are love itself. To you be unending praise, honor and ever-flowing exaltation. You are most worthy of glory, for you are good against all logic, beyond all comprehension, over all expectations.
 

Therefore, I commit myself, for your honor and joy, to live in the light of your love this day, responding with obedience, openness, attentiveness and thankfulness. May you be exalted, glorified, praised and pleased in all I do.

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More from autobio

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 28, 2021
That evening in December 1979 we stopped in the small city of Osijeck and stayed in a hotel. Barbara wanted hot water to mix with some milk for Nat’s bottle so I went down and tried to ask for hot water. I got no response as no one could speak English or German.
 
After I returned and told of my lack of success, Barbara went down and shortly came back with plenty of hot water.
“How did you do that?” I asked.
 
“I went into the kitchen and showed the bottle to a lady there. She understood!” replied Barbara. Smart wife!
 
We went out in the town to look for a place to eat. Although there were plenty of people on the street, no one spoke. It was eerily quiet. We guessed that under Communism it was probably unsafe to say much in public.
 
We found a restaurant and went in and the waiter gave us menus, but we could not read a word. And the waiter could not speak any of our languages, so no help there. In the end we picked an item and pointed to it.
 
Soon the waiter brought our dinner. On each plate was a stone-cold, rock-hard ball of hamburger and a pile of raw onions. That was it. We ate what we could, paid the bill and headed back to our hotel.
 
The next morning was another long day of the “truck passing” game. What I remember most about that trip was the all-pervasive grayness of Yugoslavia. Even the people looked
gray, with bowed backs and heads. No one smiled. Communism did not seem to make the workers happy.
 
That evening we stayed in another small city where all the signs were all in Cyrillic. There was a fancy new hotel, but it looked expensive, so I went to an older, threadbare looking one. When I came to the desk, the man looked at me and shook his head. He pointed towards the new hotel.
 
I said “No, how much is a room here?” Finally someone came who could speak some broken German.
 
“No foreigners here. Must go to big hotel. Price the same.”
 
“Ok,” I thought, “not much other choice,” and off we went. The man was right, the newer place was cheap. This was probably the only positive side of Communism: everything costs the same whether it’s old or new.
 
The next day we pressed on, passing into Greece, where we stayed in the city of Kavala. During the night I couldn’t sleep, so at about 2am, I went outside to check on the car. As I was looking it over, another car pulled up next to me and the male driver propositioned me. I was shocked and had no trouble in saying no!
 
The next morning we left early and drove two hours on curvy mountainous roads to the next big town, Komotini. There we stopped so I could go to a bank and exchange some traveler’s checks for gas money. When I got to the front of the line, the teller wanted to see my passport, but I didn’t have it with me. I talked him into cashing the check anyway and went back to the car.
 
I asked Barbara if she had my passport; she checked and didn’t find it; hers was also gone! Then we realized that we’d left them at the hotel. When you check into a hotel in Europe, they take your passport, both to report to the police about who is staying there and to make sure you pay; we’d forgotten to reclaim ours before departing.
 
So, we had to drive back over those turning, twisting roads again. Two hours later we were back Kavalla. The desk clerk said he’d run down the street after us as we left, calling to us that we forgotten our passports, but we hadn’t heard him.
 
We went to get gas and as I paid, I found that the teller in the bank had given me way too much money. It seems he had cashed the checks as English Pounds rather than dollars because the traveler’s checks were from a bank in England.
As we drove back over those hilly, curvy roads for the third time, we talked about the situation and decided to go to the bank and return the money.
 
When we arrived, it was after hours and the bank was closed. But I banged on the window and someone came to the door. When I explained what I wanted, the man took me in.
 
All the employees were standing around the teller who had waited on me, commiserating with him because he had to pay out of his own pocket the extra dollars he’d given me.
 
I was ushered into this group and when I presented the man with the extra money, he looked up at me in awe and asked, “Are you an ambassador?”
 
I was taken aback at his question and missed the opportunity of a lifetime to say “Yes, I am an ambassador of the Most High King, Jesus!” I had been so often warned about being careful in witnessing in our new home, that I’d become too cautious.
 
Instead I muttered, “No, I just want to be honest.” The man was very thankful.

Picture: windy roads like we had to drive 3 times in Greece

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Psalm 37:9-11

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 27, 2021
Psalm 37:9 “For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.”
[Here is the word for all of us who wonder why the evil succeed and the righteous seem to fail: their failure is temporary; the righteous will endure and reign forever.
 
We can respond in every situation in grace, in goodness and wisdom because we know the outcome. The wicked will be dealt with, while we who Hope in you, Lord, will get all. We may have temporary setbacks, losses and defeats, but in the long run, you will bring the victory. This we need to keep in mind.]
Psalm 37:10,11 “A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.”
[In this great contrast, the wicked will be taken away, while those who submit to your timetable, to your plans, will get more than they can possibly imagine and with it have great peace.
 
I praise you, Lord God, for the richness of your heart, the splendor of your schemes, the magnificence of your mind, all displayed in your persistent patience as you wait for the perfect point at which to act.
So, we can wait, knowing that you will do all wonderfully at the opportune time. An example of how waiting on your timing is how my parents (pictured here in their youth) finally came to Christ in their 80s, after many years of prayer for them.
 
Help us, Lord, to be people after your own heart, believing your Word, waiting for your timing, acting according to what you have revealed, and sharing your grace and goodness with all around us.]
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Psalm 37:7-8

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 26, 2021
 
Psalm 37:7b “do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”
[This command shows how are we NOT to respond when our leaders pass laws approving of evil, bringing wickedness and encouraging disobedience to your Word. Such things will happen: God allows them for His reasons and will use this evil to open the eyes of many to their need for a Savior. Our part is to NOT fret. Are we willing to trust Him and obey this command?]
Psalm 37:8 “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.”
[God knows the natural tendencies of our heart: fretting, fear, anger, chafing and wrath. All of these are wrong. I praise you, Lord, that your Word is clear: these human reactions lead to the opposite of what you want, Lord, because in indulging in fretting, anger and wrath, we focus on people and events, rather than on you with your great plans, your wide wisdom, you magnificent might that you will use to right all wrongs at the appropriate time.
Help us, Lord, to let go of our anger, to move through forgiveness and prayer, doing good and trusting you in the midst of difficulty. We should refuse to be involved in culture wars where hateful words strengthen the focus on our seeming enemy. The rhetoric of talk show hosts, with its name calling and bitter opposition is not for us.
 
In contrast, the rhetoric of Jesus in the sermon on the mount is what we should pursue. We are called to be involved in grace giving, loving those who oppose what is biblical, doing good, speaking truth in love–while standing against what is evil.]
 
Lord, help us to note and reject the words and ways of the world, and instead to memorize, walk and talk your Word and words. May we think your thoughts, live your values and love with your grace.
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More from the Cowboy with Heavenly Wisdom

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 25, 2021
More from the Cowboy with Heavenly Wisdom
 
BEING IMPARTIAL
 
The next morning the hands spread out along the edges of the herd, keeping them moving forward. As they moved through a low spot in the hills, they were suddenly attacked by Indians who came down on the herd without warning.
 
As the hands were all spread out to hold the herd, the Indians could come at them each as a lone man. The cow punchers were not at all prepared to fight, and that’s just what the Indians wanted.
 
There were fifteen of them, and it was like they had each already picked out the man they would attack. Cody had his rifle out immediately and shot from the hip, hitting two Indians right off. The others coming at him went to ground.
 
He looked over and saw three attacking Andy, who seemed to freeze, so Cody swung his rifle and shot over the herd at those Indians. Unfortunately for them, he was an excellent shot and two went down right off while the third, who was a learner, turned and ran.
In the end they were able to hold those Indians off without losing anyone. A couple hands got winged, but no serious injuries.
That night at the campfire, one of the hands asked Andy if he knew who saved his skin.
 
“’Nope,” he said, ‘I was too busy shooting myself to notice” Now Cody knew that wasn’t true, Andy hadn’t done any shooting, but Cody let it pass.”
 
“’You know it was Cody, he shot two of them right out of their seats. Otherwise you would have lost your scalp and probably your life today.’
 
“Really?” said Andy soberly, “I didn’t know that.” He didn’t thank Cody, but everyone noticed that after that his attitude began to change.
 
—-some weeks later——–
 
Cody sat on his horse, rifle in his hand, carefully scanning the horizon, and then turning to look at his back trail. He spoke quietly, “Keep your eyes open, son, you never know what is out there.”
 
The boy sitting behind him, clutching his own rifle nodded, even though the man could not see him. The pair of pistols the man had belted on were rubbing the boy’s knees, making him uncomfortable.
 
“Look over there,” Cody gestured, “see that small cloud of dust? Someone is coming. Let’s get out of sight.” He turned his horse and headed down a slight slope into a stand of trees growing around a seep in the hillside. “We’ll wait here and see who it is.”
 
He swung the boy down, led his horse further into the stand of trees and tethered it where there was a bit of grass for it to feed on. He came back to the boy, canteen in hand. “We’ll fill this with fresh water, never can tell when we’ll find another place to water.”
 
Cody took his rifle and went to the top of the rise to see who was coming and which way they were going. The boy sat down by the horse and waited, letting the man handle the situation. He didn’t really know him, but the man gave off an aura of confidence and competence and the boy trusted that.
 
He had been out hunting and had lost his way. The man had come along and rescued him. They hadn’t been together long enough even to exchange names, but the boy felt confident of his goodness. There was something solid and sure about him.
 
The man came back down, quiet as a cat. “Lone Indian, riding hard; he’s not coming this way, didn’t even look here. But we’d better be on the lookout. Might be others around. Now, what’d you say your name was?”
 
“Actually, I didn’t,” said the boy, “My name is Sam Dickson. My father has a farm on the other side of the river, but I don’t know which direction that’s in.”
 
The man nodded. “I’m Cody Smith, just moving through after finishing a cattle drive. Let’s mount up and move away from where that Indian was headed. We’ll go back to the river and cross over, see if we can find your father.”
Picture: the great Plains, from internet, new scientist
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Psalm 37:5-7

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 24, 2021
“Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.” Psalm 37:5-6
[Praise be to you, Lord God, for you truly know where we are right and where we are wrong. When we are falsely accused, unjustly condemned, or wrongly attacked, we are to entrust ourselves to you, because at just the proper time, you will clearly and publicly reveal where we are right in you.
The key is that we need to wait for your timing. This means to be willing to endure wrong, to pass through the tension of others’ disapproval and condemnation, believing that you, Lord, know the truth and will bring it out at the right juncture.
I praise you for the times in my life where you did exactly this, with those attacking me admitting in the end that they were wrong, without my forcing their hand in any way. You brought along the right person to intercede for me, or you opened the eyes of those opposing me. I praise you, Father of Truth, that you are faithful to bring timely vindication of those who trust in you.
Psalm 37:7 “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;”
[That can be so hard, so difficult when we want to act, or you to act right now. We want help and justification immediately! But you, Lord, in your wisdom and complete knowledge, will move in your perfect timing–which is usually different than ours.
“Why do you wait so long?” we cry. Yet you are at work, preparing all for the right time of revelation and deliverance. Again, a good example is Joseph. You kept him in captivity “till the word of the LORD proved him true.” (Psalm 105:19). When Joseph had learned all he needed, then God acted and brought him out to Pharaoh for service.
And it wasn’t until more than eight years after becoming the ruler that Joseph was justified before his family, when they came to Egypt for food. Then his prophetic dreams came true as they all bowed down to him. It was God’s time.
Am I willing to wait for His timing? Things work out much better that way! Help me, Lord, to rest in you, to patiently trust you, to join you in waiting for the perfect time for you to answer my prayers–and thereby bring you honor before the great cloud of witnesses that surround all believers (Heb 12:1).]
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(Untitled)

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 23, 2021
When things look bad it is important to remember God is good, and that He has a plan in all this turmoil.
 
So what is God doing in our lives with the difficulties He brings to us? Are we, through worship, looking at God’s glory daily, and thereby getting glimpses of the great things He’s doing?
 
Are we grasping that our disappointments, hurts and sufferings are all being used by Him in the big picture in significant ways we can’t understand, and therefore we can praise Him for these problems?
 
As an application of this, a doctor comments that getting “over an illness should not be the primary goal” for a Christian. “What glorifies [God] is what is best for all believers; therefore what glorifies Him will be the best for the sick believer.
 
Getting well is not necessarily the best thing…The hope for the believer is victory, not relief. Relief is not inherently wrong, but it becomes wrong when it is the primary goal [an idol].
 
God promises victory in illnesses and trials, not deliverance from them.” (Dr. Robert Smith, The Christian Counselor’s Medical Desk Reference [Stanley, NC: Timeless Texts, 2004]). The real goal is God’s glory!
 
Prayer: “Lord, I confess that my glory and comfort has been my goal, not your glory. Forgive me for pursuing personal comfort as my goal and idol instead of your glory.
 
Help me today to live instead with the desire to bring you glory and honor through my motives, thoughts, words and actions, trusting you to carry me along in your great plan to end history, eliminate evil and bring in the new Heaven and Earth. Amen.”
 
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Consistent Provision

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 23, 2021
Lord, in a world that is going rapidly down hill, we can be confident that you know exactly what you are doing. You are going to bring about your great goals no matter what the enemy, Satan, wants, no matter what your enemies (unbelievers) do, or how your children rebel. As your Word says, “The Lord foils the plans of the nations and thwarts the purposes of the peoples” (Psalm 33:10).
 
I praise you with my whole heart, with all that is within me,
for your wisdom,
your power,
your love
and your faithfulness–
 
all of which are displayed in
your planning,
promises
and past performance.
 
These give me great security, for when all seems to fall apart around me and in me, I can know that you are at work, bringing to pass your plans for the future, for the universe, and for me.
 
Just as you were with Joseph, so you are with me. You were with him when his brothers sold him, when he trudged through the desert sand in shackles, when he was sold again in Egypt to just the right man, when he was put in prison, when the man who promised to help him forgot—you were at work, preparing Joseph for the great task of saving many and preserving the line of Christ, playing the role you had for him.
 
So you are doing in my life. I can trust you, no matter how bad things seem to get. I can know that you are carrying me forward, not because I deserve it, but because you are the God of Love, Light and Life who has proven your care for me and every other person in the world, over and over again. I can rest in your Truths when, from my perspective, everything is going wrong.
 
You only, Lord God, are
my Rock,
my Salvation,
my high Tower,
my Fortress,
my Sanctuary.
 
In you I am safe, in you I am protected, in you I have refuge. I praise and thank you for your goodness to me in every way, none of it deserved, all of it appreciated.
 
I thank you for the care and protection you will provide today. I bow before you in worship. I surrender to you my will, my life, my future. I rise up to obey you no matter how I feel. Help me to keep on the armor, to stand firm in your Truth, to follow you consistently. To you be glory in my life today. Amen!
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More from my autobio

Published by S.M. Wibberley on August 21, 2021
 
More from my autobio
 
In October of 1979 we got approval to buy our tickets and we opted for the least expensive. This meant that the airlines would pick the date for us within a certain time period.
 
When we got the news that we would fly the first week of November, we went to the church and spent most of the day in prayer and praise, wanting to begin this new phase of our lives by seeking His face and putting it all in His hands.
 
Our church family and home family gathered around us to help with the packing and preparing. We were blessed in being able to keep a lot of personal things in the attic of the old house where we were living. Other things we wanted to get rid of were put aside for friends to sell for us in a yard sale the next spring.
 
Mom and Dad drove us to JFK Airport in the business van. As we walked down the ramp onto the plane, Mom cried, knowing this was an end of an era for our family. Barbara also cried, not just for the separation, but also for leaving the farm and her life in Connecticut. She said it was harder for her than when she’d left her parents in Germany.
 
I led the way down the walkway, but I was not thinking about the past, but about the future. I did not cry.
We flew initially to Germany to spend some days with Barbara’s parents. My first task there was to buy a car. I found an old VW variant, a small station wagon with the engine in the rear. When I told the salesman that I planned to drive it to the Middle East, he laughed.
 
“It may make it there, if you’re lucky, but don’t expect much more from it.” he said. However this faithful little car not only got us safely to the Middle East, but made the same 1800 mile (3000 kilometer) trip another four times as well.
 
While in Germany we attended a conference for people working with Ts in Europe and were warned that the main road through Yugoslavia to our new country was really dangerous. Everyone said that it was better to take back roads instead.
 
We also heard about the shortage of basic supplies in the country, so we stocked up with toilet paper, light bulbs, cooking oil and a tank for extra gasoline.
 
We packed what we could inside the car and tied the rest to the roof rack, including a plastic tricycle for Nat who was now eighteen months old.
 
We set off at the beginning of December making our way slowly down through Germany, stopping to visit several of Barbara’s friends. We also visited Litzen, the town in Austria where we’d worked three years before.
 
Climbing the switchbacks over the Alps, we left Western Europe behind and descended into Yugoslavia. We were following the main route between Europe and the Middle East, so the two-lane road was filled with many trucks traveling in both directions.
 
It was a constant game of catching up to a line of trucks, looking for an opportunity to pass them, then dropping back to pick up speed and zoom by. In some places the road was so straight that it was hard to tell how far away the oncoming traffic was, or how fast it was approaching. “Should I pass or shouldn’t I?” was my constant question to myself.
 
Along the sides of the road were the wrecks of cars and trucks whose drivers had misjudged the traffic and not made it. Grim warnings of the dangers we faced.
 
We decided to get off the main road, so Barbara, being an excellent map-reader, took out our map and began to navigate for us.
 
The side roads had fewer trucks, but lots more tractors and wagons, most of which came out of the muddy fields and spread a thick layer of mud over the road, making it slick and dangerous.
 
We stopped to get gas and I was pleased to find that the attendants spoke a little German, enough to communicate about gas and bathrooms.
 
Shortly after leaving the gas station we were pulled over by a policeman. He came to the window and said something totally unintelligible to me.
 
“He wants the car papers,” said Barbara.
“How do you know that?” I asked in amazement.
“He used some words similar to German,” she replied.
 
The policeman took the papers, looked them over. Then leaned back and said something else, pointing off to our right.
“He said we should go back to the main road,” said Barbara.
“How do you know that? He wasn’t speaking German!” I asked, amazed again.
“I just understood it,” she said.
 
I thought to myself, “It is really great having an intelligent German wife!”
 
So we returned to the main highway. That evening we stopped in the small city of Osijeck and stayed in a hotel, which was another adventure.

Pictures: just before we left, and leaving with Mom and Dad

May be an image of 2 people and indoor   May be an image of 4 people, people standing, car and outdoors

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