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Accidental Growth

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 21, 2018
In the mid 1980s, when driving back from Germany to Turkey after visiting Barbara’s parents, as usual we drove through Yugoslavia in the night. After having a picnic breakfast under a tree by a river, we decided to make a short detour and visit Phillipi, the place where Paul and Silas had been jailed and then freed by an earthquake. I love to “touch history” like that.
We were back on the road by about 10 am, driving on a very curvy two-lane road along the sea. There were almost no shoulders and on the right side was a drop off into the ocean with no guardrail.
Very shortly after I saw a puff of smoke come from the left front tire of an oncoming Mercedes, and suddenly that car veered into our lane. We were going to have a head-on collision! By the Lord’s grace, instinctively I whipped the steering wheel to the right—usually I just freeze in such a situation—and was able to avoid a direct hit. The Mercedes struck our VW’s driver side right at the headlight and proceeded to crush in the side all the way to the back. We were thrown around and spun off the road on the sea side—but here, instead of a drop off into the water, there was a large parking area! Our car came to rest just short of a large concrete pillar planted on the edge of the area. What protection from the Lord!
My glasses were gone, slung over to the floor on the other side; we had to find those so I could see to proceed. Josh’s arm was bleeding, cut by the glass, and I had a particle in my good eye. The driver who had been behind us came up to the car and offered to take Josh to the hospital. So he and I went while Barbara and Nat stayed with the car. The doctor sewed up Josh’s cut, but didn’t use any anesthesia, and Josh let him know that it hurt!
While waiting for us, Barbara turned on the tape in the car and it began playing a hymn, “Trust In Jesus.” She was encouraged. The driver of the Mercedes also stayed and talked with her. It turned out he was a Greek who worked in Germany in a city very near Barbara’s hometown. His tire had blown out and there was nothing he could do to prevent the accident He very sorry for the damage, especially since he had grandchildren Nat and Josh’s ages.
Although the right rear wheel was bent at quite an angle, the car was still drivable. The man who hit us helped us find a place to stay and put us in touch with a friend whose son had a body shop.
God’s hand was so obvious in all that happened. The village near where this accident occurred had many Greeks who spoke Turkish (they had emigrated from Turkey when the great population exchange had occurred in 1923), so we could communicate with no problem. We found a reasonable place to stay right on the beach and spent a rather pleasant 8 days waiting for the car to be repaired.The hotel bill was all paid for by the German Touring Club, as we were members and the other driver’s insurance paid for all the repairs, even though it was more than the value of the car and they didn’t see the car!
Beyond the physical care the Lord gave us, there was another aspect to this happening: the Lord was working to get my attention on an important point. I didn’t think we had any time for a vacation (certainly traveling to and from German and spending time with my in-laws was not a vacation), but the Lord showed me that I could take time if I wanted. He give us a fine time to relax and enjoy and be refreshed here on the Greek coast. “OK, Lord, you got my attention and I hear you,” I said, “a vacation every year!”
Pictures below: our damaged car, Barbara and Nat on the beach.
 
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Psalm 16:7

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 20, 2018
 
Psalm 16:7 “I will praise the LORD,”
 
[Yes, I will wholeheartedly, with every part of my being, praise you–such a wonderful Lord you are, the King of Kings, the God of greatness, the Lord of lords, the Sovereign Shepherd, the Mighty Master, the Creator of all creatures, the Ender of Epochs and the Leader of Love, Light and Life. Out your great love, you pour blessing after undeserved blessing in our lives. You are worthy beyond all measure, worthy of all the worship I can give!]
 
“who counsels me;”
 
[You are the God who reaches into my life moment by moment, speaking to me through your Word and through your Spirit, through the insights of others, through realizations and understanding.
 
When I am confused, uncertain or afraid, you are there to counsel me from your measureless love and infinite knowledge. I can turn to you for wisdom and know for sure that you will give it, for you have promised: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5).]
 
“even at night my heart instructs me.”
 
[As I wait for sleep and meditate on your Word, you teach me new things, reinforce old truths, reveal insights and bring further transformation.
 
Even in my dreams you speak to me, as Scripture comes to mind. Sometimes, without realizing I am in a dream and face life-threatening circumstances, or temptations where I can respond with praise and trust and obedience, hearing the leading of your Spirit.]
 
Psalm 16:8 “I have set the LORD always before me.”
 
[To my shame, I cannot say that I do this always, but certainly want to put you first, Lord Jesus, to acclaim you in every aspect of my life, to have my heart open to your guidance at each juncture, to follow your leading constantly. Help me to do that consistently, Lord Jesus.]
 
“Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
 
[In contrast to me, you, Heavenly Father, are totally consistent, always faithful, unshakable. You have a detailed plan for me in each day and will carry me through it. You will never leave me; you are persistently there and will always give what is necessary in protection, guidance, wisdom and provision. So, there is no reason for me to be shaken, I only need to look to you, knowing that you will give beyond what I need. I can praise you in it ahead of time.]
 
Praise you, Lord, that as I go into this day, it is certain that you will be there, keeping me within the pleasant boundaries you have set to protect me, blessing me with your presence, giving me new vision to understand what is good and what is not.
 
I praise you for your great wisdom, your abundant love, your ever-flowing grace and your endless kindness. To you I lift up my voice of praise, to you I give my life anew. Glorify yourself today in all that will come, that those around may see your greatness and bow before you, too.]
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Psalm 16:6a

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 19, 2018

Psalm 16:6 “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;”

[Where you have placed us, Lord, is more than pleasant: we are within the Kingdom of Light, under the Lordship of the Great Shepherd, within the Family of God, on the right way to Heaven, in the company of the saints, equipped and assigned to a specific area of service to you, my beloved King.

This Truth is a wonder, a joy, a pleasure, an ever- increasing realization of the undeserved, unearned privilege of walking on the pathway of the Creator of all, the Ruler of all, the Restorer of all. In my opinion, “pleasant” is far too mild a word for this state of ever-growing joy!]

“surely I have a delightful inheritance.”

[Out of your glorious treasures you have prepared a rich inheritance for your undeserving children. As it says in Ephesians 1:3, you have blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus—every possible spiritual blessing will be ours. As you are infinite and all-powerful, Lord, so these blessings will be unending, uncountable, incomprehensible.

These will include a sinless life, total security and significance, sweet fellowship with all, ever increasing joy, and living in the light of your presence. In addition, you have made us fellow-heirs with Jesus, meaning that whatever He inherits, we will get also!

This will include an infinite future, an unending walk with you, an unlimited growth in knowledge of your character, having fulfilling, positive challenges of service for you, and rich, uninterrupted fellowship with all other beings in Heaven. It will include living in your glory: “When Christ, who is our life, appears, then we also will appear with him in glory” (Col 3:4).

It will include mostly and most importantly, the ability to gaze uninterruptedly on your face, Lord Jesus, being in the full presence of our Bridegroom, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Ruler of all, the Holy, Pure, Powerful, Wise and Good God of all. That will be far more wonderful than we can imagine!]

Lord, help me to walk in the knowledge of the riches of your goodness and all the pleasantness you have for stored up for us. Help me to see where I let the small (very small!) things in life take my focus off of you, to steal my joy, to trap me in the dust and dirt of a natural worldview.

Help me instead to let go of the temporary, hold on to what is eternal and rise above everyday hassels in the shining knowledge of you and who you are. May I think truth, keep on the armor and be able to stand no matter what comes, thereby bringing more honor and glory to you.

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Beauty

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 18, 2018
From EDIFIED!
 
“My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:26
 
As I look out the window, the morning sun creeps over the horizon. As it emerges, everything is lit with a burst of glory: the sun’s first rays shine golden on the maple leaves of fall, their beauty doubled by their reflection in the pond. The still-green grass, clothed in frost, shimmers like a thousand diamonds. Overhead a flock of geese wings towards the south, sent on their way by the barking of our faithful dog, Jack. Such is the beauty of our home in Canterbury.
 
This scene reminds us of the goodness of our God who loves beauty and shares it with us. He knows the future and has reminded us that the loveliness we have here is only a dim shadow of the beauty He has in store for us, both here and in Heaven.
Psalm 73:25 speaks of this: “Whom have I in heaven but you, and earth has nothing I desire besides you!” To live such a truth! That is where I would like to be–so in love with God that all here on earth pales, fading into the background, serving only as a picture frame for the character of Christ.
 
We can only move towards such an understanding by letting go and moving on when He calls. But thinking Truth brings both perspective and joy: a fierce kind of joy that comes from giving up what we can’t keep anyway and moving on to what He has not yet revealed. But because His is faithful, we know that whatever comes, it will be good.
 
Prayer: “Lord God, more beautiful than any scene on earth, more valuable than all the wealth of the world, more loving than all mothers put together, more powerful than all the energy of every star in the universe–You are the One to love, to worship, to honor, to obey. Help me to nurture my first love for you, to be in your Word every day, to praise you in all things, to live in the light of your love so that I may bring glory to you each day. Amen.”
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Psalm 16:5

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 17, 2018
Psalm 16:5 “LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;”
 
[All I have comes from you, O Holy God: my position, my provision, my protection, my portion. And what you give is good. This includes my body, my brains, my boundaries, my bonds, my bounty; whatever they appear to be from a human perspective, they are good and I will praise you for them.]
 
“you have made my lot secure.”
 
[You, Lord, are the God of power and authority. Only you can give security: whatever you choose to protect will be untouched by the enemy; whenever you allow an attack, it will be used for good, no matter how unpleasant it may be.
 
I can rest in your glorious and endless perfection, knowing you will weave all into your great plan for the end of sin, of evil and time, while sweeping as many as possible into your Kingdom.
 
To you be glory and honor today, Lord. May praise and thanksgiving continually well up in my mind and spill off my lips. May the light of your love shine from my being, may you be lifted up in my actions and reactions, my attitude and speech. I thank you now for your provision for today.]
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Psalm 16:3-4

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 16, 2018
Psalm 16:3 “As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.”
 
[You, Heavenly Father, made us saints when we were born again. You qualified us to be partakers in the Kingdom of Light, you rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of your beloved Son. And you have made us glorious in Jesus, giving us His righteousness. Therefore you delight in us, despite what we are naturally—rebellious, unbelieving, selfish and proud.
 
You have made us new creations in Christ, welcomed with joy into your presence where we are delighted in, rejoiced over and treasured. In you we can rest securely, knowing that you have accepted us fully, finally, faithfully. In you alone we are safe, for safety is not the absence of danger but the presence of Jesus.]
 
Psalm 16:4 “The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods.”
 
[Every other god is false–the gods of every religion, along with the gods of comfort, power, materialism, politics and business, sex and entertainment, getting my way and controlling others.
 
Each one is an illusion and leads only to disappointment, bondage, oppression and darkness—the opposite of what you bring, Lord, for you are Light, Love and Life, you bring freedom, joy and peace as well as grace, greatness and goodness. You are the opposite of all other gods, you are the only One worthy of worship.]
 
“I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips.”
 
[I must avoid involvement in any way with these other gods, not making them gods in my life but using those that can be positive in a proper way.
 
I must not offer them, as gods, any acknowledgement or worship, time or affection; I must not put any hope in them. I must not give them any credence or credit, but look only to you, Lord Jesus, the Creator, Sustainer and Ender of all, the only true Hope there is.
 
May praise for you be the keynote of my life today, may the darkness of complaining and discontent, grumbling and negativeness be swept away in the brightness of your presence so that you may have more glory before both the invisible hosts and visible folks.]
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Psalm 16:1-2

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 15, 2018
 
Psalm 16:1 “Keep me safe, O God,”
 
[You can easily do this, Lord Jesus, my Good Shepherd, for you are incredibly powerful, deeply wise, all-knowing, all-present and all-seeing, living outside of time. You are passionately loving and whole-heartedly compassionate. I can cry out to you, know that you will hear and that you will answer in the best way. Praise be to you.]
 
“for in you I take refuge.”
 
[This is my part, coming to you, meditating on Scripture, thinking Truth, trusting, praising before any answer comes—prayer without obedience to what we know to be try hampers the answer. As always, it is a partnership between you, Lord, and your children. I praise you for how you call us to join you in what you are doing, making us responsible, giving us the power of causality.]
 
Psalm 16:2 “I said to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord;’”
 
[This is a statement of surrender—you are my Adonai, my Authority, the One I obey, the One who has the right to demand absolute obedience while promising absolute provision. To say “You are my Lord” means, “What you command I will do.”]
 
“apart from you I have no good thing.”
 
[This is a full focus on Truth—only you, Lord, are truly Good. All else that I have is chaff–temporary and worthless in the long run. As the author of Psalm 73 said, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you!”
 
To live this Truth is freeing, powerful and focusing: “apart from YOU I have no good thing!” All else must be viewed in relation to you, as elements of stewardship, as tools, as means of obeying and glorifying you. It is in you that all comes together.
 
Praise be to you, Lord God–Heavenly Father, King Jesus, Holy Spirit–for you are the reason for our existence, the focal point of life, the eternal and infinite God.
 
Therefore, I choose anew to bow down before you, praise you, love you, glory in you, honor you, exalt your name and your Word, rejoice in you, revel in you, and obey you–all for your honor. May you be exalted in my life today.
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Family

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 14, 2018
Family can be a very good thing, and I’m glad to say ours is. The five of us siblings had a good childhood, growing up together on the farm, all going to a good church, most of us working together on feeding the cows, getting in hay, helping my father in his tire business and playing an instrument in my Grandfather’s family band.
 
And our good relationships have, for the most part, continued on into the present, with grace, kindness, love and support–even though we live far apart.
 
I am so thankful for this as I look around and see so many broken families, so many families filled with strife and discontent. Truly It is good when brothers and sisters live together in harmony.
 
This picture of us all, with Mom and Dad, was taken in East St. Louis while visiting our Grandparents, probably in the mid 60s.
 
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Spiritual Amnesia

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 13, 2018
Praise be to you, Lord, for your kind and consistent, detailed and direct involvement in our lives. I exalt you, Lord, for how you are so persistent in pouring pardon into our lives, giving us the opposite of what we deserve. Thank you for your patience with us as we zigzag along, bouncing between arrogant rebellion and abject self-pity.
 
We are so prone to spiritual amnesia! We so quickly forget the most basic spiritual truths:
 
–that we deserve condemnation and rejection but you constantly give us the opposite;
–that we can do nothing without you;
— that you are our Shepherd so we will not lack;
–that we can offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving instead of complaining;
–that we can keep on your full armor so we can effectively fight the devil rather than people.
 
But you do not give up on us, Lord. You are gracefully, lovingly consistent in correcting, reminding, protecting and, when necessary, rebuking.
 
You, Lord, are a wonder, too good to be true–but are actually even better than that! I thank you so much, Lord, for the privilege of not just being in your family, but of being able to come, at any minute, directly to you in the throne room of Heaven, and to crawl up in your lap for comfort, encouragement and redirection.
 
Help us to live in the light of your great goodness, your rich righteousness, your lavish love and your powerful presence. Help us to join you today in your plans, to shed our pride, our selfishness, our lust for significance and security, and instead to find rest in you alone, humbly bowing before you in the fear of God, joyfully accepting all you will bring in your plan for us.
 
Help us to move by prayer, to work through obedience and to overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit so that you may be honored throughout this day.
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God’s Embrace

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 12, 2018

Praise be to you, Lord, for how faithful and good, wise and powerful you are. We see this in the expanse of the heavens, which you stretched out for billions of, not just miles, but light years. You filled it with stars, gathered them into galaxies and the arranged the galaxies into formations—and you know the name of each of these trillions of stars; you know their number and you keep them in place.

As you are able to administrate all that, so you are certainly able to deal with the details of my life. Being outside of time, you know every event that will come and can shape them to be useful in our lives, or prevent them if it is best.

I think of the many times I’ve had close calls in driving, including one this week: you prevented an accident each time and kept us safe. And I’m sure there are thousands of times you have protected us in every area over the years that we were not aware of it. You are certainly the Deity of details, the Shepherd of strength, the Lord of lavish love. You are the One we can trust, rest in and rejoice in.

Last night when I went to give a discipleship lesson, the couple had just gotten a new little dog. He’d been suddenly taken from his familiar environment where he’d lived all his 3 years and was feeling very unsure and insecure in this new situation. For some reason he would not got to the two females in the house but jumped up on the man’s lap for a bit, then onto mine where he snuggled down and stayed for the whole lesson. Somehow he felt safe there, and enjoyed the scratching I gave him.

So it is with us and you, Lord. No matter how challenging our situation or how dangerous and painful the happenings in our life, we can snuggle down in your embrace, knowing that you have already prepared a path through whatever is facing us, that you will accompany us along the way and carry us through. You have a plan, you are faithful, you are able to carry it out.

The only element we have to add is trust, based on our knowledge of who you are; then you will pour peace, joy and hope into our lives (Rom. 15:13), along with more than enough grace (undeserved help) to move through any circumstance with power.

I praise you now, Lord Jesus, for the day you have laid out before me. Help me to keep on the full armor you have provided, to trust you by getting up the shield of faith through offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving and to join you in what you are doing so that I may give you more and more honor each day.

 

 

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