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All Joy

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 21, 2026 Respond

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,” James 1:1


This is easy to say, hard to practice. Why? Because it is done in the face of pain, and is completely by faith—faith in God’s goodness, His plan, His power.
 
My wife, Barbara, has landed back in the hospital, her least favorite place. She has low sodium, low temperature and low kidney function. To count this joy is, by human standard’s illogical, hard to do–and right. 
 
James goes on to say, “for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” God has a purpose (actually several), and this is a big one. Our suffering is not random or purposeless, but has positive goals.
 
Jame encourages us to press on through these trials: “And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Why persist? Because God is seeking to make us complete, mature, entire.
 
Are we going to embrace the trials He allows? Or are we going to  complain, feel sorry for ourselves or question God’s goodness? The right answer is clear and powerful.
 
In the midst of this, we would appreciate prayers for Barbara’s recovery and return to home in the Lord’s timing.
May be an image of one or more people, people smiling and hospital
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Twitching Grace

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 19, 2026 Respond
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Rom. 8:28

The Lord has allowed another malady in my life: restless legs, which started when I was in my mid-thirties. I would go to bed and sleep for an hour, then my legs would start to twitch or jump involuntarily, waking me up. There was no point in staying in bed, so I’d get up and work.

This pattern would continue for 4 or 5 days, then I’d be so exhausted that I could then sleep one whole night—then it would start over.
At that time in addition to  my family, I had 3 big responsibilities, each of which could have been a full time job: leading our large team, being one of the temporary elders in a church plant and teaching full time at the university.
My restless legs providentially gave me much more time to carry out these three responsibilities. God has a way of turning a “malady” into a blessing.
There were some things that helped with restless legs: exercise, magnesium and avoiding stimulants like sugar and tea, but these did not cure it.
After two decades of dealing with this, a friend recommended a medication for it: Mirapex. It is actually for  Parkinson’s, but works wonderfully for restless legs. As long as I remember to take it early enough (it takes 2 hours to take effect), I can sleep wonderfully.
But on those  times I forget to take it on time, I have at least two more hours to work, write and pray in that day!
Truly, “God works ALL things together for good!”
May be an illustration of ‎text that says '‎Nighttime leg twitching طس ارص‎'‎
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Why, Lord?

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 18, 2026 Respond

Eczema is an interesting disease to have. Its cause is unknown and there is no cure. I have a cream called Aveno which is very helpful, but not curing.

For those of you who have never had it (and hopefully never will), it is a burning, itching sensation in your skin. It can be mild to intense, and if you scratch it, you can easily cut your skin, making it worse.
Mine moves around my body. One day it may be on an arm, the next on my ankle, another day on my back. Some days there’s none, some days there are several spots; some days it’s intense, some nights it’s unbearable.
 At night the discomfort intensifies and can make it impossible to sleep. Then I have to get up and put ice packs on the burning points, then can sometimes sleep.
Why does God allow this? He always has reasons. Here are some: it’s a great opportunity to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, to accept and rest in Him, to develop  endurance and to mature in faith.
God is good and wise and we can trust Him in all. As Psalm 23 says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”  Note that they follow: I may not see any now, but looking back I will, for He is faithful.
Picture of eczema
No photo description available.
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Full Forgiveness

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 16, 2026 Respond

In dealing with my failure mentioned yesterday, the following words are helpful.

“The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand….”  Psalm 121:5,6

Praise be to you, Lord, for your faithfulness:

you are the God of goodness,

the Lord of love,

the Almighty One who gives your word

and keeps it.

I praise you for your being Elohim, the strong and faithful One. Whatever promises you give, including forgiving us, you have the power to fulfill them and the faithfulness to do so. I give you praise and honor and exaltation for you are the King of Glory.

I praise you, Lord Jesus, for the total forgiveness you give us; your death and resurrection bought forgiveness for every sin I have and will commit. A truth that makes me want to obey you more.

Such grace, such love, such kindness. Praise be to You!

May be an image of text that says 'FORGIVENES THROUGH CHRIST'

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Fall from Grace into Grace

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 16, 2026 Respond

I failed majorly today, stepping into sin. I talk all the time about offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving, but today I didn’t. Several frustrating situations came, one after the other, but, instead of giving thanks, instead of trusting God, instead of honoring Him, I  complained. This led to unhappiness, then to anger, and then spilled over into ungracious interaction with others.

Amazing how quickly I can forget truth and then fall over the cliff of  complaining into the valley rebellion. God, however,  is faithful, and reached down to catch me. He gently corrected my thinking, helped me return to praise, and led me up  the path out of rebellion back into the light of His love.
And then He sent a big God sighting, resolving the biggest problem I’d been struggling with all day!
Certainly offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving, getting up the shield of faith is great protection from the flaming arrows of the enemy and from my own delusions about what is important.
“He who offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving, honors me and opens the way that I may show him the salvation of the Lord!” Psalm 50:23f
Picture: The Lord is always there to help us up!
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Worship out of and for Love

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 14, 2026 Respond

Today I want to give you  an example of personal worship helping to nurture my first love for God, using Psalm 84, focusing on the name “Lord Almighty” or “Lord of Hosts”.

“Praise be to you, Lord God Almighty,

Commander of the hosts of Heaven.

To you we give glory and honor and praise, for you,

Lord God,

King Jesus,

Gracious Father,

Holy Spirit.

You are the most High,

the most Wise,

the most Powerful,

the most Good

and the most Holy of all.

You are without beginning or end.

You are the junction point of seeming opposites:

justice and mercy,

truth and grace,

holiness and redemption.

Only you could be so,

only you are worthy of honor and praise.

It is right to bow down in worship before you.

It is right to surrender all to you.

It is right to rise up in obedience.

Praise be to you, Lord God Almighty.”

May be an image of cloud, horizon and text that says '"Blessed Be the Lord God Almighty"'

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Renewing First Love

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 13, 2026 Respond

So, here are some ways to nurture our first love for Jesus.

First, repent: acknowledge that our relationship is not what it should be.
Second, remember:
take the time to think about the early days of our walk with Him, the delicious sense of freedom from condemnation, the giddy wonder of having a new start, the soothing warmth of being fully accepted by God.
Third, reveal:
practice lifting our souls to God, regularly telling Him honestly what we are thinking (mind), wanting (will) and feeling (emotions). Then evaluate these by the Word, surrendering each to Him.

Fourth, rejoice:

spend time daily in personal worship, extolling Him for who He is without thinking about how that benefits us.
This kind of worship is standing in the light of God,
 seeing more and more of Him,
having sin exposed,
being transformed (2 Cor. 3:18),
 reveling in His love and grace.
As I do this, usually by writing my worship thoughts in my journal, there is continual renewing of my first love, there is a growing passion for Christ—and Barbara can see the difference.
Tomorrow an example of this kind of worship.
 
Picture: worshipping in the Light of the Lord
No photo description available.
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What Jesus wants

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 13, 2026 Respond

“…I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” Revelation 2:4

 

Barbara says it’s easy to tell when I am “in tune” with God, because then I am in tune with her. What she is referring to is the condition of my first love for Christ.

I can perform all the spiritual disciplines correctly (quiet time, prayer, attendance, giving, being nice) but Barbara can tell when the connection with God is missing, when I have no passion for Him.

As you may remember, when Jesus spoke to the Ephesians in the opening chapters of Revelation, He had a lot of positives to say about them, but ended with rebuking them for losing their first love. They had all the mechanics right, but their hearts had grown cold.

His command to them was, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen. Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place” (Rev. 2:5).

So it is with us: we get busy, we give our heart and passion to something else, like our work/ministry/hobby/sport. As a result, our relationship with God grows cold, so slowly that we don’t notice it. But our spouse often does because our marriage relationship reflects the warmth or coolness of our walk with God.

So, what can we do to nurture, strengthen and deepen our first love for Jesus? Tomorrow I will give you 4 ways to do this!

Picture: Jesus call us to a renewal of our first love:

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The Power of Prayer

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 11, 2026 Respond
” The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16.

Prayer is joining God in what He is doing

Prayer is powerful because God is powerful.
As tumultuous events unfold in the world, we shouldn’t just sit on the sidelines and moan and groan, or just hope it passes son. No, we should go on the offensive with prayer, tapping into the power of the Lord God Almighty.
I encourage you to intercede for things like these.
Pray for the end to the war in Ukraine.
Pray for God’s desired outcome in the chaos in Iran.
Pray for protection for persecuted Christians.
Pray for the persecutors to come to Christ.
Pray for God to guide world leaders.
Pray for God’s will to be done.
Do so will bring change because God is faithful, bringing light out of darkness.
May be an image of lake and fog
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Ubiquitous Love

Published by S.M. Wibberley on January 9, 2026 Respond
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:9  Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” Rom 5:8,9
 
We got an illustration of God’s application of this love. There is a man who lives near us; his wife has MS and is quite incapacitated, so they don’t get out at so we go and visit them in between.
Today he told us his story. Grew up with a very abusive father, a man so evil that our friend thought about killing him.  The son went on to work for the mafia as a messenger, and lived the high life with great clothes, drink, relationships and respect (fear) from others.  
Then something happened and he become homeless, living out of his car. In the end he went to see his aunt who took in him on the condition he would go to church with her, which he did. And then came to the Lord.
He has a deeper understanding of how loving and forgiving God is. “It is amazing how much God can forgive, I have done so much evil in my life, and I am so thankful that Christ’s blood covers it all!”
So am I! It is so wonderful to know that every sin I ever committed and ever will commit has already be covered by Christ’s blood and I am already fully forgiven. Dwelling in the light of the Love of Jesus is a wonderful thing.
” See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1
Picture: Jesus, “I’m so glad you are my child!”
No photo description available.
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