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Psalm 23:6b: https://www.edifyingservices.com/

Published by S.M. Wibberley on March 2, 2019
 
Psalm 23:6b “and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
 
[This powerful statement of certainty turns my gaze ahead, beyond the end point of our journey here on earth, to being with you forever, Lord Jesus, in a sinless, unending, glory-giving relationship.
 
We will live in your Light, revel in your Love and embrace your eternal Life, unfettered by any darkness, brokenness, negativeness or failure. We will live with you face to face!
 
There will be joy without sorrow, happiness without regret, celebration without interruption and relationship without pain. We will be able to live in perfect patience, selfless service and a surplus of self-control. There will be surpassing beauty, unending joy and incomprehensible glory.
 
Praise you, Lord Jesus, for this unspeakably marvelous future you have prepared for us through your terrible suffering, your becoming sin for us, your taking on yourself the punishment that our rebellion deserved.
 
When I look into this future, and see this certain coming reality revealed in these powerful promises, the pressures and problems of this world fade into the background. I still have to deal with them, but their importance shrinks, their significance lessens, their power to hold me drops away.
 
What is happening in the world politically, economically and socially shifts from being a source of fear and frustration to being a window into your wisdom, into your power and grace.
 
You use the evil of men and devils to strip away the illusion of self-sufficiency and bring all who are willing into your Kingdom of light.
 
You, Lord God, are Sovereign, Almighty and All Knowing–nothing escapes your attention as you inexorably move ahead with your mighty and marvelous plan of redemption, transformation and re-creation.
 
As we look back, we can see your love, mercy and goodness following us. As we look forward, we can see greatness, joy and glory awaiting us. You have done it all, prepared it all and will bring it all to pass. Therefore, you deserve all obedience and submission, all praise, honor, glory and love.
 
And I praise you, Triune God–Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit–for your great work in bringing this all to pass. You are the only One worthy of eternal honor, exaltation and worship, and I begin giving you those right now!]
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Psalm 23:6

Published by S.M. Wibberley on March 1, 2019
Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,”
 
[What a beautiful promise. Lord Jesus, my Great and Faithful Shepherd. Your goodness, love and mercy will be with me always, without fail. However, I will often not see them in the midst of a difficulty because they FOLLOW me; later I will look back and see how you used them in my life. Although I cannot see them, yet I can know that they are there, supporting, protecting and finishing your work.
 
Therefore, I can trust you in any circumstance which is allowed through your wisdom and purpose. I think of what you did in one situation as we faced uncertainty and the threat of loss. In your mercy we did lose, but know now that you had a higher, greater purpose, so in your goodness, we won by losing.
 
Praise you for what you did in our local friends’ situation where they were assigned to work in a dangerous, difficult and down trodden place. Looking back now, we can see your goodness, mercy and love at work in their lives, as you protected them from attacks by terrorists, as you brought new maturity and deepening, and provided for their needs. You helped helped them to live by faith, including giving them courage to share about you when it was dangerous.
 
To you be glory, Lord, to you be honor, for your goodness and mercy awhich re always at work amongst us, especially when we cannot see them. I give you praise now for the outcomes you will bring today as I face uncertain situations.
 
You are truly the God of goodness! I praise you, Lord, for the stability this Truth brings into my life: stability flowing from your consistent and warm love, your unchanging grace and your always pure motives. I praise you that I am always with you because you promised to never leave or forsake me. No matter what I do, you are always there, as the perfect Father, ever waiting with open arms, gracious thoughts and a forgiving heart.
 
In you I am safe, on sure ground, fully protected, even though I may not see your goodness or mercy at the moment. In you alone I can find rest, protection, acceptance, approval, affirmation, worth and significance. In you alone there is shelter, a shadow for protection from the heat of the day and a sovereign grace to erase all my guilt.
 
I praise you, Lord God–Father, Son and Holy Spirit—for your wondrous, gracious and rich love: undeserved, unending and unquenchable.
 
Your thoughts are higher than ours and if we don’t seek your input, we certainly will not follow your greater ways. Help me to be consistent in seeking your deeper thoughts and higher wisdom. Help me, Lord, to partner with you each day, each moment, to be open to your direction, to come to you very frequently to ask for your perspective on the situation. I thank you now for the goodness, mercy and love that will follow me in every event.
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Psalm 23:5b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 28, 2019
Psalm 23:5b “You anoint my head with oil;”
 
[A shepherd anointed his sheep to protect them from flies, to heal them, to protect them from head-butting damage. Your anointing of us, Lord Jesus, is the act of choosing, of giving worth, of blessing, of providing and protecting.
 
–You chose me before the foundation of the world.
–You had your Spirit convict me of my need for you.
–You poured out your Spirit on me at the point of belief.
–You sealed my adoption by placing your Spirit in me.
–You pour out on me unending blessings of grace, goodness, wisdom, weakness and power.
–Every day you provide me with protection, guidance, insight, goods, money, relationships, opportunities to give you glory, chances to share your Word, time to be with you, and enough health to serve you as you desire now.
–And most of all, you give me your presence and love in a rich and enduring relationship, the one for which you created me.
 
You are amazingly gracious and generous, for in my natural state, I actually deserved the opposite of all this: condemnation, rejection, punishment, suffering, pain, failure, depression, despair, hopelessness, separation and eternal death.
 
Praise be to you Lord, for your gracious, glorious goodness that you pour out on the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve who come to you to be the sons and daughters of the living God!]
 
“my cup overflows.”
 
[You promise that my all needs will be met, but you usually give far more. Nothing I have can contain the blessings you pour out. Your gifts overflow in my life so I can share them with others. Some of these gifts are joy, praise, peace, insight, wisdom, strength, faith, vision, love, grace and goodness. Along with these are material gifts, which I can then share with others.
 
So, we bow before you in belief, Heavenly Father, exalting your high and holy Name. We rise up in faith, trusting in your goodness and wisdom. We move into this day in trust, offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving so that we may honor you and open the way that you may show us the salvation of the Lord.
 
And I have opportunity to practice this right now, as yesterday I got a big bill for my visit to the emergency room last month. I can rest in you in the midst of this surprise, trust you to work this out and provide in whatever way you choose. It is wonderful to face difficulties with you, knowing you will carry us through.
 
Praise you for what you will do in the coming days, Lord, as you lead us in paths of righteousness, and for how we will be able to trust you in everything that comes because you are absolutely faithful, unchanging in your generosity, goodness and grace. Amen.]
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Psalm 23:5

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 27, 2019
 
Safety is not the absence of danger, but the presence of Jesus.
 
Psalm 23:5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
 
[We tend to think of peace as being the absence of any threat, but you give us a different perspective, Lord, one where your presence is enough to bring peace, no matter what may be threatening us.
 
In the picture you give us, you provide us with a sumptuous table set out on the lawn, decked out elegantly, filled with delicious food, ready for the guests. But, on the edges of the wide lawn are a roaring lion (fear), a growling bear (worry), a prowling tiger (greed), a slinking jaguar (lust) and a menacing rogue elephant (impatience) trumpeting his rage. The sight and sound of any one of these dangerous enemies is enough to strike fear in our hearts.
 
Yet there stands Jesus, calm, quiet and smiling. He calls us to the table and motions for us to sit down. The threatening roars and growls increase as we obey, but our enemies dare not come close when the All-Mighty Shepherd is there.
 
As we turn our focus to Him, the threat, the noise, the fear all fade. Peace comes because of His presence and because of our trust in Him. This peace is contingent not on the absence of danger but on the absolute power of Christ. We eat in peace, enjoying His company, the conversation and the feast provided by His hand.
 
He could remove the enemies if he wanted, but as we live in a fallen world, he allows Satan and his cohorts to exist, for he uses them to accomplish his purposes of bringing all who are willing into the Kingdom, of maturing His children, of giving us the opportunity to live out the Truths of His Word. We are safe, in spite of the presence of danger.
 
Lord help me today to live in the power of your presence, ignoring the threats of the enemy, focusing instead on you, on Truth, on your might, on your beautiful character, on your being the One in control, the One who has a plan, who will carry it out in faithfulness and power, and on the fact of your continual abundant provision. Praise be to you, Lord Jesus, our Conqueror, our Protector and our Provider.
 
Safety is not the absence of danger, but the presence of Jesus.]
 
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From EDIFIED! Written in about 2006

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 26, 2019

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone.” Psalm 62:4

Anxiety, tension and pressure. These are reality in a fallen world and this week they were very real for me as wave after wave of difficulty rolled over us: broken schedules, dashed hopes, tension-filled relationships, hampering sickness, unreasonable demands of others (at least from my perspective), mistakes, disaster looming in a couple of areas, conflicts of value and potentially dangerous exposure to the authorities. It was enough to make a strong man cringe, and that I am not very strong.

But our Father is faithful. In each case, He led me to Scripture which gave perspective: John 8:32, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free….” And Isaiah 30:15-16 says, “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, “No, we will flee on horses.” Therefore you will flee!’”

It is very easy, when under pressure, to flee on the horses of our own wisdom, of man’s help, of our own feeble efforts. But real help and strength come from spending time with our Father, telling Him of our needs and repeating Truth to ourselves.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Ps 91:1). The Hebrew word for “Almighty” means the one who satisfies and the one who fights for us. We can rest in the midst of anxiety, tension, uncertainty and pressure if our trust is in the Almighty One who has unlimited power, unlimited knowledge as well as unlimited wisdom–and has promised to fight for us.

Our part is to pour out our hearts to Him and to look to His Word, meditating on passages that tell us what ultimate reality is. This allows Him to strengthen us while He works on the problems before us.

It’s been a profitable week from the standpoint of spiritual growth! We are happy to be here in the Lord’s “precious cooker” and to serve Him.

Prayer: “Lord, as difficulties come today, help me to flee to you in prayer and thanksgiving, to think your truth and to be set free from the worry and stress of this world. Amen.”

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A God Worthy of Our Enthusiasm

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 25, 2019
Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of waking from disturbing dreams and finding you there, strong and gracious, kind and firm, protecting and delivering. In the midst of all the world’s uncertainty, the stability of your goodness is such a support. It is so comforting to know that you do not change, you never tire, grow impatient or fade in your love.
 
You are my resting Place, my Shelter, my Shield, my high Tower, my Fortress and my Deliverer. As I think of the past, a long stream of God sightings come to mind, events where you have provided, protected, intervened and answered prayer—all showing your love, commitment and goodness.
 
As I look to the future, which is ever uncertain–every day could harbor a disaster—knowing you as the unchanging, mighty and gracious God, I can relax in your love, rejoice in your goodness and be ready to embrace whatever comes.
 
Not only do we have you as our personal Shepherd, you have given your children a wide and high perspective on history, both past and future. You have great and comprehensive plans which you will bring to pass. You are dealing with injustice, violence and evil. You are working to bring as many as possible into the Kingdom.
 
In addition, you are giving your children multiple opportunities to mature, deepen and earn rewards by responding to all in faith. As we offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving for whatever you allow, we can, like Jesus–for the joy that is set before us–endure whatever cross you give us, despising the shame, knowing that we are going to be set down with you in heavenly places (Heb. 12:2).
 
We can know that, along with whatever challenges you bring to us, you will give us more than enough grace to move through them with power: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” (Ps. 23:1). You will give us more than enough insight, answers, direction and resources.
 
Praise be to you, Lord, for your mighty grace, your majestic love and your magnificent plans, into which you have brought us. I praise you for the purpose, the meaning, the hope and the future you have laid out before us.
 
I praise you for your giving us your Spirit to teach, rebuke, guide and provide for us whatever we need to live for you. I praise you that no matter how I may feel, the truth is that you, Lord Jesus, in your “divine power [have] given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of [you] who called us by [your] own glory and goodness” (2 Pet. 1:3).
 
Help us to live in the light of these Truths, Lord Jesus, to walk in wisdom, in faith and in grace so that we may be hope carriers, light bringers and faith givers to all those around us today.
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Accidental Adventure

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 24, 2019
John and his family decided not to return to our new country. 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 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 the will, against my personal desire, against my feelings, 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 below: Charles and his family
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Psalm 23:4

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 23, 2019
 
Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…”
 
[Such valleys come in our lives. I have been faced with physical death, with death of a vision, death of a relationship and death to self: dark times that were difficult, disorienting, distressing–like my wife’s long lasting depression. You, Lord Jesus, knowingly lead us into these, just as when you sent the disciples out in their boat into the teeth of the storm (Matt. 14:22-24)
 
And it is for good reasons that you, Lord Jesus, lead me into and through these valleys–the greatest two being my giving you glory through trust by giving thanks, and my growth in grace. And you have other reasons beyond my present understanding. I can trust you as you lead me through the darkness, no matter how it feels–what you taught me in the light is still true in the dark.]
 
“I will fear no evil, for you are with me;”
 
[Evil is there in the valley, both in presence and potential, but I need not fear it, for you are with me–you, my Great and Good Shepherd, who is my Rock, my Fortress and my Deliverer. When you are there, what grounds do I have for fear? You are sovereign over all and are in control of all; you are our great and mighty Ruler.
 
As one person said, safety is not the absence of danger but the presence of Jesus. I praise you for your faithful and powerful presence, full of wisdom and grace, love and firmness, able to protect us in the midst of any evil.]
 
“your rod and your staff, they comfort me.’
 
[With your rod, you hold our enemies at bay. You rule with a rod of iron; no one can defeat you: “there is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord” (Prov. 21:30). Therefore I need not fear.
 
And with your shepherd’s staff, you guide me, correct me, bring me back to the path when I wander off. It is my nature (old self) to veer off the path, for I don’t have a valid compass within myself. But your constant correction with your staff (your Word, your Spirit, consequences to my wrong choices and advice of godly believers) keeps me on track. My course may be a zigzag one as I stray and you bring me back, but the progress with you is always forward.
 
Praise you that you are helping me to walk more in wisdom, to zigzag less, to squander less time and energy on my own way, thereby bringing you more glory as I tread your path. Praise you, Lord Jesus, for your faithful and powerful presence and protection. To you be glory and exaltation and honor, for you know the way through the dark valley and will lead me out. You are worthy of exaltation, thanksgiving and obedience.
 
Therefore I bow before you today in faith, I rise up in the day’s dawn to walk in submission to your loving guidance, especially when it takes me through dark times. Truly, the commandments of the Lord are radiant, giving light to my eyes (Ps. 19:8). Praise be to YOU!]
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Psalm 23:b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 22, 2019
Psalm 23:3b,“He leads me in paths of righteousness”
 
[I praise you, Lord Jesus, Our great Shepherd, that you carefully and consistently show us the right way, the best way, so we can walk with you well through whatever circumstances you bring or allow. We can be sure that you will always lead us in what is righteous; when we feel led to do something that is less than righteous, we can be sure this is not from you.
 
So often we are advised by well-meaning people to “just follow your heart!” But our hearts are naturally “deceitful above all and desperately wicked…” (Jer. 17:9). You came to save us from your hearts, so we could follow you instead. I praise you that we can know the way of righteousness because you reveal it to us with your Word, your life and the Spirit’s guidance.
 
Praise you for the preparation you have done to give us direction–drawing and driving us into the Word, teaching us your thoughts and giving us wisdom (“If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God…” James 1:5) Praise you for your constant presence to lead us step by step as we listen to you. “…run with patience the race set out before you, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). Thank you for your loving, gracious, calming care.]
 
“He leads me…for his name’s sake.”
 
[What a wonderful motive you have for guiding us—so we can be absolutely sure that your guidance will be right–for you will never guide us in doing anything that would dishonor your name.
 
Praise you that your foundational desires are always clear in your Word, that your Spirit prompts us in the right way, and that we can then bring glory to you by obeying you.
 
Part of your leading us on these righteous paths, is teaching us how to respond to difficulties and persecutions, which are possibilities to share in the sufferings of Christ. May we do this well, offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving at each juncture and rejoicing in the privilege of honoring you.
 
I think of my lost passport in Charlotte, of our delayed arrival in Dallas so we missed our appointment, of my plane being late coming into Frankfurt and missing my train. These uncomfortable situations were all opportunities to follow you in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake, by rejecting complaining, fear and anger, and instead exalting your name through offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving, trusting you to have a plan and to work it out for the best. And in each case you did.
 
I praise you that these happenings show how trustable your leading is, how you always help us move away from our natural, selfish responses of complaining, worry and anger, towards doing what is right and righteous, to keep your name clear and clean before all the seen and unseen beings around us.
 
You, Lord Jesus, are our gracious and good Shepherd, worthy of trust, worthy of worship, worthy of following. May I obey your leading today, following you in paths of righteousness.]
 
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Psalm 23:3

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 21, 2019
 
Psalm 23:3 “he restores my soul.”
 
[You, Lord Jesus, are the Shepherd of my whole being: spirit, soul and body. I praise you that, in believing in you, I was born again and you made my spirit come alive. Praise you that in living with you, my soul is being restored–moving me towards the pre-fall condition Adam and Eve enjoyed.
 
This is a partnership process, with each of us playing a role. You transform my soul (my thinking, my will and my emotions) as I lie down in your pasture and drink from your still waters. As I take in of your Word, I can bask in the beauty of your being, live in the light of your love, and rest in the power of your presence.
 
The rich discipline of memorizing your Word and praying through it while personalizing it, brings more transformation in each area. You teach me to think your thoughts, to desire your will, to lead my emotions.
 
In addition, worshiping you through praise brings additional change, much of it on an emotional level, as seen in a solidification of strength in my soul, bringing a multitude of shifts:
–A greater grasp of your love, a deeper understanding of the security of belonging to you.
–A detachment from the thoughts and opinions of others, as I learn to fear you instead of people.
–A growing desire to please you, a deepening certainty of your goodness to do what is best, a deepening of faith.
 
Worship leads to:
–giving thanks instead of complaining,
–positive words instead of critical and negative statements.
–a deepened patience flowing from grasping that you control the timing of all around me.
 
You, Lord Jesus, are the source of life, of healing, of transformation, of hope and joy. I praise you for your great and deep love which keeps you working with us, your stubborn sheep, who wound you afresh every day with our willful, selfish, sinful choices.
 
Forgive me, Lord Jesus, for hurting you so. Forgive me for my rebellion and unbelief. Forgive me for not walking consistently with you through the day, not praying during conversations, not denying self when necessary, not rejecting the fear of man, not immediately fleeing lustful thoughts, not being diligent in what you have given me to do.
 
Help me today, Lord, to walk in close communion with you, to obey the clear commands of your Word, and to follow the promptings of your Spirit, so that I may not grieve your heart, so that my soul might be further restored and that you may receive more and more honor and glory.
 
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