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Psalm 37:16-17

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 26, 2019
 
 
Psalm 37:16 “Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked;”
 
[Better $15,000 a year than $200 million–if the difference is between righteousness and wickedness. This is thinking with an eternal view, a judgment based on the unseen. To decide for this truth requires faith, rejecting what we can see and touch, to receive what we know, resting on the Word of God. Praise you, Lord, that you have revealed this perspective in your Word. Help us to always decide for it.]
 
Psalm 37:17 “for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.”
 
[The power of the wicked was broken at the Cross. You, Lord Jesus, won in the midst of what seemed certain loss. You defeated sin and Satan, death and despair. You upheld righteousness, and made it available to all those received you by faith.
 
And now you give us the privilege of living out, every day, the reality of your upholding the righteous. This involves walking in your Spirit, drinking in of your Word, and deciding consistently to follow you rather than the world, the flesh or the devil. Praise be to you for the Light, the Freedom, the Love, the Hope, the Power, the Future you have given us out of your gracious heart.
 
It is wonderful that we can praise you now for whatever you will bring into our lives—for, what you give is always good in the end, no matter how painful and difficult it may be in the moment. I thank you, Lord,
 
Here at the beginning of a new day, we ask that you guide us, Lord, that we may accomplish all that you desire. Help us to keep our eyes on you, to rest in your greatness, to trust in your wisdom, to rejoice in your power. I praise you now for the answers you will give, for the protection you will offer, for the progress you will grant us.
 
We can trust you because we know that you are good, always; that you are wise, always; that you are holy, always; that you are infinitely powerful, always–and that you win in the end, always.
 
I praise you for how you will demonstrate your grace in all today. Help me to live in faith, offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving in all, so that I may continually bring honor to you.]
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What a God!

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 25, 2019
 
I praise you, Lord Jesus, for your active work in our lives. I surrender to you my focus getting more done and instead thank you for what I don’t get done, for that which I must wait. I praise you for how you are watching over us in great and profound ways beyond our conception.
 
I praise you for your powerful patience, for your careful working as you woo and win many for your Kingdom. At the same time you allow the headstrong and unbelieving to reject your offer, to continue on in their rebellious, evil ways and thereby inflict pain, suffering and sadness on your heart. Praise be to you that you give every person many chances to believe, that your Spirit works with each one, giving them enough light to pursue–and will give them more if they do.
 
I praise you for your compassion released upon your creation through your giving justice its due on the cross. I praise you for your love setting fire to our hearts when we begin to grasp our own depravity and your great, costly forgiveness. I praise you for your graciousness in granting us all we need to live a godly life for you.
 
Praise you for being the Powerful Creator, the Lover of sinners, the Faithful Savior, the Redeemer of all, especially those who believe, the Wise Shepherd, the Righteous Judge, the Beginner and Ender of Time and the Lord of eternity. To you belongs glory, honor, power and praise.
 
I bow before you this morning, confessing my total unworthiness to be your son, while rejoicing in your qualifying me to be a partaker in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of Light. I rise up to obey you in all I know to be true, submitting to your authority. May I lift your name on high today, bring you much glory and proclaim your greatness to all around.
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Faithful Fulfillment

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 24, 2019
 
Praise be to you, Lord God, the Triune One, for you keep your word forever. Like the coming of the dawn, you are ever faithful.
As Solomon proclaimed in 2 Chronicles 6:14,15, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth—you who KEEP your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. You have KEPT your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have FULFILLED it—as it is today.”
 
As Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist said in Luke 1:68-79:
 
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he HAS come and HAS redeemed his people.
He HAS raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
(AS HE SAID through his holy prophets of long ago),
salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, my child [John], will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
 
As Simeon said when he saw baby Jesus in the temple: “Sovereign Lord, as YOU HAVE PROMISED… my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32)
 
This, Heavenly Father, is the fulfillment of your word given in the beginning: “And I WILL put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he WILL crush your head, and you WILL strike his heel” (Gen 3:15).
 
Yes, you Lord God, always fulfill your promises, you bring to pass what you desire, your timing is perfect, and therefore you are the one to be trusted and glorified. You HAVE SAVED us all, both Jew and Gentile, from our enemies and those who hate us—that is, Satan and his hordes.
 
I praise you that we can now walk in the light of your presence, in the warmth of your love, in the illumination of your Word, in the fullness of your Spirit. I praise and extol You, I lift up your Name and exalt your Word. May I continually walk in the shining light of all this truth so that you be glorified in my life today.
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Psalm 37:12-15

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 23, 2019
 
Psalm 37:12 “The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;”
 
[There will always be hatred for those who follow Jesus. The wicked will seek to eliminate anything that stands in their way, and we certainly are a thorn in their side, so we should expect opposition, hatred and attack.]
 
Psalm 37:13 “but the Lord laughs at the wicked,”
 
[“but” is a wonderful word here, bringing hope of justice, protection and deliverance. God is not intimidated by the anger and plots of the wicked: “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD” (Prov. 21:30). He is completely in control and will easily limit their actions to what He will use for good.]
 
“for he knows their day is coming.”
 
[God will competently bring judgments against those who oppose Him and attack His children. He stands outside of time, seeing the future as well as the past. He knows what He will do to thwart the plans of the wicked, judging them at the right time and in the right way. We can rest in this certainty of God’s power, plan and purpose.]
 
Psalm 37:14 & 15 “The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.”
 
[God, in His greatness, power and graciousness, will turn the plots of the wicked back on themselves. They will not be successful in their schemes in the long run, but will be brought to justice in His time and in His way.
 
I think of Hitler, who was limited to only 12 years of rule instead of a lifetime. And he was used by God to plow the hearts of many people, making them open to the seed of the Word. Plus, God used him to give many believing allied soldiers a vision for the needs of the world, resulting in tens of thousands going out as missionaries all over the globe after the war. The wicked did terrible things; God used them for good.
 
Praise be to you, O God, my Father, my King, my Shepherd, my Brother, my Lord. You are the One we can and must trust, for you are powerfully and consistently in control. You are good, you are wise and infinitely strong, able to bring what you desire to pass and to block the way of all you proclaim to be wrong.
 
Praise you for the protection, the exposure, the problems, the trials you lead us through so we may be shaped and sharpened into better instruments in your hands.
 
May you be glorified in my life today, Lord, so that you may have more honor before men and angels. Fill me with your Spirit, may He overflow onto those around me, keeping us all washed with the cleansing, transforming water of your Word.
Picture: the evil will be brought down like this huge tree
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Remembering

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 22, 2019

 

 

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Direction through Prevention

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 21, 2019
From EDIFIED!, written in 2009
 
“Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.”
Psalm 119:24
 
I feel somewhat restless, disturbed, unsettled today; I am not sure why. But in the midst of this, the rock-solid, unshakable Truth is: Knowing Jesus is Enough for Joy, Period!
 
Praise be to you, Lord Jesus, that you are unchanging, faithful, trustable, reliable, always good and always there. And when things are right with you, they are right, however I may feel. Whatever troubles we have will be dealt with in your time and power and can be released to you. You are enough; in you I am complete. Praise you that you are the King and I am your child.
 
Thank you for your promises, that you will always “preserve my life according to your word.” “…strengthen me according to your word.” “…be gracious to me through your law” (quotes here and below from Ps. 119:20-32).
 
Your Word is the clear measure of what you will do. Because you and your Word are good, I can trust you with all my heart, and I can appeal to you according to your Word: “I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD; do not let me be put to shame.” You will always come through just as you have promised.
“I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.” Your way is the only way for me. With your strength I can trust and obey.
 
“I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” Free to follow, free to obey, free to say “no” to what is contrary to your Word, free to let go of what is temporal and hold on to what is eternal, free to rise above the everyday events of life, to live in the truth of your Sovereignty, of your goodness, of your protection.
 
As I am, at the moment, trying to buy a ticket to the conference I will attend in November, and keep getting rejected by the system, it is a certainty that you are doing something here, directing me away from what is not good, leading me towards something better.
 
Therefore, knowing this, instead of frustration, there arises a sense of excitement, of adventure as you beckon me to follow you on a trip whose destination is not yet clear. You are the One who will decide, and I can say, “Yes!” to following without knowing the outcome.
 
In the meantime, I praise your holy and trustable Name, I exalt your faithful and fruitful character, I magnify your powerful and protective being, I glorify your wise and wonderful heart.
 
Today is in your hand, therefore whatever comes will be good, whatever happens I can praise for, because you are only good, only great, only glorious, only gracious.
 
Epilogue: The Lord prevented me from buying my plane tickets from the first website, and led me in finding a better schedule and lower price on a different website. It is good to trust Him!
 
Prayer: “Lord, I praise you for what will come today. I trust you to bring what is good. Help me to rest in you when things don’t go my way, to remember that you, the Sovereign God, will work what is best for me, whether I can see it or not, understand it or not. To you be glory. Amen.”
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Office Turmoil

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 20, 2019
During the 1990s
Along with our traveling and oversight of work abroad, there was the work I needed to attend to in the office.
I am not by nature an “office person,” being used to a more flexible schedule—often working 50 to 60 hours a week, but at my own schedule. Even my work as a teacher did not rule all my time. But here I was expected to be at work at 8:30 and to be in the office every day, all day; so I complied.
 
Near the end of my years of working in the office, I took the Meyers-Briggs test. The results described someone quite different than I knew myself to be. When I questioned this, the evaluator told me that it was because I’d unconsciously adapted to the requirements of my work environment, changing my natural responses to those needed at the moment to do my job well. She added that I would most likely revert to my normal personality when I exited my present work situation. And so it proved to be.
 
God has made us in marvelous ways and equips us to function in whatever situation He puts us in, whether it be within our area of gifting or the opposite. We only need to be willing to whole-heartedly embrace the work He brings us, appropriating the grace He provides.
 
At the last men’s conference I attended before we left Turkey, a very charismatic friend of mine stood up and said, “I have a word from the Lord for Steve Wibberley and his team.”
I cringed. Was this going to be a public rebuke? Such pronouncements weren’t something that we were used to within our conservative, non-charismatic group.
“God is pleased with what you and your group are doing!” My friend proclaimed and then sat down.
“Well, that was good to hear, thank you, Lord!” I thought, relieved and pleased.
After the meeting my friend came to me and said, “There is more to this word from the Lord, but I thought it best not to share it publically.” I was glad for his discretion, whatever this word was going to be. “This is a prophecy for you. The Lord is going to take you back to your home office and use you like a hammer!”
 
I cringed again. Was this really a “word from the Lord,” or was it just something this guy felt? I was not sure. He certainly didn’t know anything about our home office. Nor did I, for that matter.
 
In an attempt not to fall into any trap that Satan might have for me, I sought to avoid fulfilling this prophecy on my own. However, relationships within the home office were tumultuous so I finally asked our President if I could do a survey of the personnel to find out what was going on.
 
After getting his permission, I talked with every single person, and it was no surprise to find that the secretaries and workers had a long list of issues that disturbed them, while some of the leaders responded with, “Problems? What problems?”
 
The fact was that every one of us was contributing to the turmoil whether we realized it or not. We newcomers just went along with what was considered the norm, without challenging or questioning it. This prolonged the dysfunction that already existed.
 
I collated the responses to my survey and took them to the President. “There are fifty-two distinct problems in seven major areas,” I began.
 
He raised his hand. “How about if I put you in charge of the office and have you solve these problems? I’ve already tried and haven’t been successful. I’m an evangelist, not a counselor. I’ve sought to confront but when people don’t respond to that, I don’t know what else to do!”
 
After praying and thinking about it, I agreed to help him. This basically meant that I became the “field leader” for the office and that the President was putting me in a position over him—a big responsibility which was in addition to what I already had on my plate. This drove me to pray more.
 
The Lord answered those prayers swiftly. Within a few weeks, the three most problematic people, through their own actions, were forced to resign. This brought about a huge and positive transformation.
 
Next came a “clean up” of the debris left over from years of difficult and unhealthy relationships. One serious problem was the lack of communication, so we worked at getting the minutes from council and staff meetings sent out to everyone on the same day the meetings took place. People then felt included and saw that their concerns were being addressed.
 
The President himself had certain ways of interacting that, unbeknownst to him, created some of the turmoil. The truth is, we all have our blind spots and need help in seeing them. Fortunately he was a wise and teachable man, ready to change when he saw the need.
 
He wisely told me how I should confront him: “Use Paul’s sandwich method,” he said. “Tell me what I’m doing right, confront me about one thing, and then tell me more of what I’m doing right.”
 
In my talk with him about where he needed to change, I came with two written lists of things he was doing well. After going over the first one, I told him a joke. “One night the radar operator on an aircraft carrier reported to the captain that there was a smaller ship directly ahead of them. The captain radioed the small ship and requested that it change course, as it was easier for a smaller ship to turn than an aircraft carrier.
 
‘The answer came back, ‘No sir, I suggest that you change course.’
“After two such exchanges, the Admiral, who happened to be on board, took over, ‘This is the Admiral of the Pacific fleet, now in charge of this aircraft carrier. I command you to change course!’
 
“The answer came back, ‘This is seaman first class, in command of this lighthouse. I suggest that you change your course, and quickly!’”
 
The President looked at me, “So you are saying that I need to change course? That I am doing something wrong?”
“That’s right,” I answered. “Do you want to hear what it is?”
He looked down for a moment, “Of course, if I can make things better in the office then I want to hear how I can do that.”
 
“Well, first you need to stop using the ‘sandwich method’ with people in the office. Whenever you compliment someone, they cringe, waiting for the correction. Instead, compliment people regularly, without correcting them.”
 
I mentioned a few other points, then got out my second list of positives and commended him for the good work he was doing. As I left, I handed him both sheets of paper full of the constructive things he was doing so he could remind himself of my positive words.
 
His glad and willing acceptance of correction himself, which brought further positive change in the office. By the time we left to return overseas, the new US Director inherited a reasonably well-cleared field where he could do his work with a minimum of conflict.
Picture: Barbara at this time with our cat Obur
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Hebrews 12:1-2

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 19, 2019
Each day, each week, each month , each year is a new start, a white parchment stretching out before us, blank to the horizon. What will God write on it? We cannot know now, but we do know that God is good and has prepared a course to run for us that will move us upwards and onward, no matter how it may appear. The more important question is, “What will we write on the parchment of the futre?”
 
Hebrews 12:1&2 has been a great help to me this year, assuring me that God has laid out a race for us and that Jesus is running with us. It gives us the perspective needed to realize what great roles He has offered us in the midst of distressful happenings.
 
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,”
 
[Indications are that we are being watched by many: certainly angels, demons and maybe those who have gone on before us, who lean over the balcony of heaven to cheer us on, as well as the people who see us every day. We are not hidden in a corner, but are in the stadium, running for the pleasure of God–and our performance matters.]
 
“let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.”
 
[Realizing our role, we should eagerly look to jettison anything that prevents us from running well. This could range from too much phone/TV/movie/game time, to sin we are willfully engaging in. Like a runner shedding his street clothes, stripping down to just the essentials, so we should eagerly give up what hampers us in this race for life.]
 
“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”
 
[It’s clear: God has set out a course for each of us; nothing is random. We cannot get lost as long as we follow the path before us as it twists and turns, dips and climbs. The race will require perseverance and endurance, but God gives those, too. Are we going to run or will we sit and feel sorry for ourselves when the climb is steep or the mud is deep?]
 
“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”
 
[Jesus is running with us! And as we run, we are to keep our eyes on him, not circumstances, other people or our feelings. When we encounter difficulties, we can know they are for the development of our faith as Jesus works to mature and perfect it.]
 
“For the joy set before him, he [Jesus] endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
 
[We need to have Jesus’ attitude. As He faced the cross, He looked beyond to where he would be seated again with the Father. We, too, need to look to where we are going (eternity with God), to count as nothing the shame we and the world try to heap on us, and to rest in the Truth of the coming new Heaven and new Earth.
 
Charles Spurgeon said, “Christian, meditate much on heaven, it will help you to press on and to forget the toil of the way. This vale of tears is but the pathway to the better country; this world of woe is but the stepping stone to a world of bliss.”
 
So true! So let us run with perseverance and endurance the race He has set before us for this day, keeping the big picture in mind, laying aside whatever hinders us, looking to Him, trusting Him, praising Him in all, following Him–and we will fulfill the purpose of our lives: honoring Him before all.
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What Love!

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 18, 2019
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 heinous 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.
 
“There are, however, some conditions for this pardon. You must fully confess and accept your crimes. 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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Psalm 37:7-10

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 17, 2019

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 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. 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.]

 

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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