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Christmas Day and God’s Gifts

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 25, 2017
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him so that your lives may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13
 
God is an inveterate gift giver. He loves to pour out goodness on His children and Christmas is a good time to remember that.
One of the gifts He’s given us through Christ is the privilege of personal worship and the powerful positives that flow from it. Such worship is focusing on our triune God, praising Him for who He is, standing in the light of His presence, looking away from the temporal to the eternal, setting our hearts on things above—these all give Him glory and bring transformation in our souls.
 
Here’s a worship entry from my prayer journal, meditating on Romans 15:13 which lists out other gifts our good God loves to give. “May the God of Hope….” and that is what you are, Lord: the God who is hope, who brings hope, who calls us to hope—a hope which is a rock-solid certainty based on your unchanging, perfect character—you promise and you deliver.
Praise you for your desire to fill your children “with all joy and peace….” This says so much about you, my Lord God. Not just some joy and peace, but all joy and peace. You give us a joy that is unquenchable, unalterable by the difficulties, tragedies and suffering in life, because you, the unchanging God are its source.
 
You give us a peace that is sure and sound, deep and dynamic, restful and responsible. As we confess and receive forgiveness, you give us peace with you, peace with ourselves, peace with others—a vibrant peace, a powerful peace, a renewable peace, one which can be restored each time we sin. You are truly the God of joy and peace, giving us in abundance these deep qualities every person longs for.
Then comes our part: “as [we] trust in him….” Praise you, Lord, for the role you have given us in having this joy and peace. We must trust, believe, live in the truth of who and what you are. As we look away from the problems, aggravations, disappointments and difficulties of life and look up to you, it is clear that we can trust you in all that comes to us. You are the Great Shepherd, the All-Powerful King, the Everlasting Sovereign, the Ruler of the universe, the Lord of Glory, the Spinner of the earth, Bringer of the dawn, the Beginner and Ender of time.
 
We can trust you by responding with praise, no matter how painful our situation is, because you, in your wisdom, grace and mercy have allowed this for good in our lives and for glory in yours. Forgive us for the many times each day we trust ourselves and not you and therefore complain.
Praise you that trusting is the doorway to more blessing: “trust…so that your lives may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” The more we trust you, the more joy and peace you give us and the more Holy Spirit-empowered hope we receive, leading to more praise and positive trust.
And as we trust, we become a cup of hope, a basin of hope, a spring of hope, a river of hope to everyone we meet, for it will flow out in our attitude, in our words, in our actions, in our reactions.
 
Glory be to you, O Great and Powerful One; you are Wise and Loving, Just and Merciful. You provide so that we may give you ever-increasing glory before the world!
 
Prayer: “Forgive me for being busy here and there with this and that, and not spending time with you, Lord Jesus. Help me to be in the Word, in personal worship, in prayer and in confession every day, to live in the light of your presence all through the day. Amen.”
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Wonderful Outcomes

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 24, 2017
As we contemplate the Incarnation on this snowy morning, we can’t help but think of the outcome, as described in Edified:
 
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness….”
 
This is an accomplished fact, a certainty that we are no longer the children of the devil, bound to sin, controlled by the prince of the power of the air, but have been freed by the blood of the Lamb!
 
“…and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:12-14).
 
What a powerful statement: “…in whom we have redemption,”…not “I hope so” but “I know so!” What a wonder, what a privilege, what an astounding, unbelievable, too-good-to-be-true outcome you have given us, Heavenly Father—we are pardoned, adopted, brought into the Kingdom and made co-heirs with Jesus and with the saints. We live in the light, are dearly loved, delighted in, doted on and deeply cared for. We have a future with you as well as a daily walk with you now. You give total provision, complete protection, loving direction, wise counsel, consistent correction, unswerving goodness and unending grace.
 
To know the Great Shepherd of souls, the Wise Warrior of prayer, the Powerful Planner of good, the Diligent Director of details, the Lasting Lover of sinners, the Triumphant Transformer of rebels, the Final Forgiver of our sins, the Great Giver of grace—what more could we want?!!! This is far beyond what we could imagine or ask for. This is more than a human being could conceive. You are more than wonderful, more than great, more than good.
 
To you, Lord God, all creatures must come and bow down in worship and adoration. To you every person must fall on his face and give you glory. To you every believer must surrender and rejoice in your perfection by denying self, taking up his cross and following you.
 
Prayer: “May this be true today in me, Heavenly Father; may you be pleased with my thoughts and words and actions. May you be glorified in my life today before men, before angels, before the hordes of Satan. May honor and praise flow from my life up to your throne moment by moment. Amen.”
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Grace

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 23, 2017
I praise you, Heavenly Father, for your very personal, present and powerful working in the framework of my day and all its details. Yesterday was very full and busy, with you working it all out, right down to the minute in getting each thing done in time.
 
It’s so good to know you, Lord Jesus, the God of love and light, of goodness and grace, of forgiveness and favor, of joy and justice, of righteousness and release.
 
I revel in the truth that you have a plan and a purpose for me and each of your children in this day–and the power to bring them to pass.
 
I praise you for your rich, active and consistent love, laced with patience, spiced with wisdom and empowered with grace.
 
To you belongs surrender in worship, honor in thought, obedience in action, and exaltation in word. May these all flow from my life to you today so those around me may taste of your goodness.
 
May they be refreshed by the fragrance of the Holy Spirit spilling over onto them as I respond to your guidance, resting in your goodness and offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving in each situation.
 
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From Edified

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 22, 2017
“…I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.”
Psalm 70:5
 
Praise you, Lord for your steady presence. As I think on you and your unswerving faithfulness to your Character of love and purity, goodness and forgiveness, faithfulness and grace, I find answering echoes in my own being—a rest in you, a growing trust, a desire to obey you, a lessening of the pendulum swing of my emotions. In you is safety, in you is security, in you is peace.
 
When I make a mistake or sin, you don’t jump on me or condemn me or reject me. You put the arm of your Spirit around me, draw me to yourself, tell me of your love, and graciously talk with me about what I have done wrong. You lead me into confession and repentance, reminding me of your purchasing pardon, assuring me of your faithful forgiveness, encouraging me to make correct choices from here on. You are a gracious Father, a forgiving Lord, a loving Brother. In my relationship with you I am safe.
 
Praise you for your positive provision and your continuous care, your fine heart and your gracious intent. With you we have life, with you we have peace, with you we have hope, with you we can choose for joy. These we find nowhere else.
You are the well-spring of all good; without you life is a desert: dry, hostile, threatening, dangerous and in the end, deadly. With you, life even in the desert of this world is lush, green, growing, refreshing, secure and joyful. You help us get our roots down deep into the water of your Word, you make us fruitful, you keep our life leaves green, you protect us in the midst of danger and make us successful in service to you.
You, O Lord God, are worthy of worship, of following, of obeying, for great is your heart, pure is your mind, eternal is your being, good is your intent.
 
Prayer: “I love you, Lord Jesus, I praise you, I bow before you, honor you, give you my life, my day, my all. Help me to live worthy of the privilege of being your child. Amen.”
 
[picture from unknown source]
 
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Haiku God

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 21, 2017
Still recovering.
 
From Edified:
 
“For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’”
Isaiah 30:15
 
God, I think, is like a Haiku. Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry: 17 syllables in four lines usually involving an unexpected twist at the end. For instance:
 
Spring has come
The snow melts
The village is flooded
With children.
 
We expected damage from water and end up with happy kids! So it is with God; except that instead of twisting, He untwists things. For instance, to make a Haiku out of my experience,
 
Unjustly jailed
Put on trial
Prosecutor stood firm
To defend me!
 
God is the great Transformer, the great Surpriser. He can and does take the most painful and difficult happenings and tenderly turns them into our good and His glory. Think of the death of Lazarus; of the blindness of men Christ healed; and of His own suffering.
 
Old age is an example of God’s transforming powers. Aging is the process of losing things, going from competent, self-sufficient, productive people to helpless, dependent, and in the eyes of some, useless people. However, those who walk with God may be helpless physically or mentally but can still be mighty warriors in prayer and example.
 
I recently visited a 98-year-old friend. He can no longer walk, but is clear-minded. When I asked him how he is doing he replied, “I have so much to be thankful for! I just can’t understand why God is so good to me. I’m such a sinner; I certainly don’t deserve it!”
 
It is clear that, as he has aged, he has grown in his understanding of his depravity, as well as of how much God has forgiven and loves him, and how much God is blessing him.
 
Old age may be the process of losing things, but maturity is the willingness to let them go. In knowing God we can have the bigger, longer range picture of what He is doing, as well as what He has in store for us in the new heaven and earth. So we can know that it’s ok to let go of what we cannot keep anyway.
 
“Lord help me to know you better in the light so that when I walk in the dark, I will trust you fully and give you glory whether I see any answers or not. Help me to live in the truth that you are good, all the time. Amen.”
 
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Stability

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 20, 2017
I missed posting yesterday as I was in the hospital for a minor but debilitating operation. Home now n getting better.
 
From Edified
 
“Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever” (Ps. 125:1).
 
I praise you, LORD, Yahweh, the great I AM, that you make us unshakable as we rest in the truth of who you are. You are the unchangeable One, the Almighty One, the Undefeated One, the Eternal One, the All-seeing One, the Righteous One, the Holy One, the Loving One.
 
You are ever at work, you are aware of all, you are constantly, consistently, compassionately arranging the events that come into my life. You are able to take our mistakes and sins and somehow use them for good: chastening, correcting, counseling, changing us with them.
 
Praise you for the certainty of your work in my life today, for the certainty of your protection, presence and provision in each step, each moment, each interaction. I praise you for your going before me and preparing each event and relationship. I praise you, LORD, for you are worthy of trust.
 
“As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore” (Ps. 125:2).
 
You, Heavenly Father, are far more stable than any mountain—you are always there, surrounding us with your love, grace and protection. Nothing can move you, remove you or shake you; you are sure, unchangeable, solid, reliable, and trustable. Your faithfulness has no end, your wisdom no bottom, your goodness no top, your power no measure.
 
You are worthy of praise for your great character: full-orbed, multifaceted, sparkling in purity, shining in goodness, balanced in integrity, perfect in fullness. You are faithful in your love, in your goodness, in your protection, in your wisdom, in your presence, in your power. We can rest in you, on you, by you, with you. To you belongs all praise and honor.
 
Prayer: “Today help me to exalt you in my responses, glorify you in my motives, lift up your name in my speech, please you in my actions. Help me to remember that no matter what my circumstances, your character is worthy of worship. Amen.”
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Psalm 29:4-9

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 17, 2017

Psalm 29:4 “the voice of the LORD is majestic.”

[To stand under the darkened sky, to see the great shafts of lightening flash to the earth, to hear the powerful peals of thunder as they make the ground shake–this is to see a tiny piece of your majestic, overwhelming greatness, Lord. You are awesomely magnificent and incomprehensibly powerful.]

Psalm 29:5  “The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.”

[The power of a storm, the breath of your mouth, can smash the greatest cedar trees; you are unbelievably strong, Lord. We cannot begin to grasp the power of your Person, the might of your mind, the strength of your Spirit. A storm like this gives only a tiny inkling of your mighty hand’s ability.]

Psalm 29:6  “He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.”

[By your power you can shake a land with earthquakes, move mountains, shift and split the landscape. You are great, O God.]

Psalm 29:7,8 “The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.”

[Your power moves over the landscape, from the mountains of Lebanon to the great deserts, sweeping away all in your path.]

Psalm 29:9  “The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare.”

[Where you have passed, all is carried away, the leaves are gone, the trees stand gaunt. You power is displayed, your might is manifest, our hearts are stirred, and we are filled with awe and fear, reminded of our smallness and your greatness.]

“And in his temple all cry, ‘Glory!’ “

[You, O Lord God, are Awesome, Overwhelming, Majestic, Powerful, Strong and Mighty. You are worthy of worship, worthy of glory, worthy of our surrender, awe and fear.

We confess our foolish pride, repent of our fruitless rebellion and bow before you, the Worthy and Mighty One. We submit ourselves to you, we rise up to serve you today in joyful obedience, joining you whole-heartedly in what you are doing in and around us.  May you, the all-powerful One, be lifted up and exalted in our lives today!

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Psalm 29:2-3

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 16, 2017
 
Psalm 29:2 “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;”
 
[You, Lord God, deserve all glory, all honor, all praise, all worship, all adoration, for you are the glorious One, the powerful One, the perfect One, the pure One–the only good God. Glory flows from you as light flows from the sun. In giving you worship and honor we are simply reflecting your glory back to you as the moon reflects sun’s shine, illuminating the darkness of the night.]
 
“worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.”
 
[You, Lord, are glowing in your perfection, shining in your purity, radiant in your otherness, completely different than any creature, for you are the Creator of all. You are the Sustainer of time, the Ender of history, the Savior of all and the Shepherd of those who believe.
 
Therefore, since you are marvelously worthy, we bow before you in admiration, we fall on our faces in worship, we raise our hands in praise, we lift up your Name in awe. We give you honor, glory and exaltation, for you are splendid.
 
Psalm 29:3 “The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.”
 
[You, O Lord God, are mighty. You, the Creator, displaying your greatness and the power of your voice in storms over the mighty waters of the seas. Such storms can make waves many feet high, crashing down on the shore, tearing down rocky cliffs, washing away shorelines, sending spray high into the air, rushing inland to wipe away all in their path. You, O Lord, are more mighty than we can imagine.]
 
Psalm 29:4 “The voice of the LORD is powerful;”
 
[With your voice you created the heavens, the earth, the stars: “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth” (Ps. 33:6).
 
With your Word you established laws and set limits. “Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm” (Ps. 33:8,9). You are unbelievably powerful, shaping and shaking the earth with your voice. You are awesome and overwhelmingly powerful.]
 
As we see your majestic and magnificent might in your creation, and see your perfect, pristine splendor in your character, Lord, may we today live in awe, act in wonder, obey in joy and honor you in thought, word and deed.
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Psalm 29:1

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 15, 2017
Psalm 29:1 A Psalm of David.
 
“Ascribe to the LORD,”
 
[ O LORD, Yahweh, we proclaim that you are the source of all possible positives. We attribute to you all the beauty and good in the world. We declare that you are righteous, holy and without fault, shouting out before men and angels that you are perfect, pure and powerful, the Paragon of excellence.]
 
“O mighty ones,”
 
[Angels, great in strength, and humans who are, on their level, have some power, with resources and influence, should freely and eagerly assert that You, Lord God, are the Most High, the Almighty, the Eternal King. In spite of their measure of power, the strength of men and angels is monumentally minuscule compared to yours–which of them could create even a small star like our sun?]
 
“ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.”
 
[We declare, O Lord, that all glory and strength flow from you, the majestic and mighty One. You are glorious in your greatness, in your grace and your goodness. You are glorious because in you there is no evil, no darkness, no wrong, no sin. You are glorious as you shine out from your Being in holiness, purity and goodness. You, the glorious One, are full of light and splendor, majesty and might; there is no other like you.
 
We see your strength in your speaking the stars into existence, forming the world with your Word, setting it in place, in orbit, in proper tilt to support the carbon-based life you created.
 
Praise be to you, Lord God, for your infinite, immeasurable, eternal, irresistible, unthwartable power. All might flows from you, from the level of sub atomic particles to the greatest stars and the huge galaxies–you are the Source, you are the Creator, the Sustain who is worthy of worship.
 
So, we bow before you this morning, surrendering to you the day you have given us, acknowledging our weakness, our ignorance, our neediness so that, in you we may be strong.
 
Help us to keep on your armor, to fight the right enemy with praise, prayer and persistence in obedience, thinking truth and living in the light of your presence. May we bring joy to your heart and credit to your name in all we do. I praise you now for your answers to this prayer. Amen.]
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Wise Example

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 14, 2017

We had a chat a while back with an older neighbor who has given up gardening because it is beyond her strength. She knew when to quit and to focus on other things. I want to have such wisdom, to willingly, whole-heartedly give up what I can no longer do. Then I can move on to what else the Lord has for me, making my way through the aging process with grace and praise.

Such wisdom will lead us:

  • to remember our great purpose in life–to glorify God–and do so in the small and the big;
  • to make praise the keynote of our lives;
  • to focus on prayer, the Word, and reading good, edifying material;
  • to lift our souls to God every day, not storing up negatives, especially bad feelings;
  • to praise in and for all that comes and goes;
  • to continue to be teachable;
  • to let go of what we cannot keep;
  • to let go of what tends to worry us (what will happen if…?) and let God handle them;
  • to let go of our small desires and keep our eyes on the bigger picture;
  • to deal with resolvable pain with what’s available: diet, exercise, weight loss, meds, etc.;
  • to accept offered help;
  • to speak kindly and with patience;
  • to be generous;
  • to not fret about waste.

Such non-self-centered living will free us to enjoy what God has given us. It will help us to focus on the Joy that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, enduring whatever cross we may have, despising whatever shame we or others may put on us, knowing that we are going to be seated with Him in heavenly places (Heb. 12:2). Let us embrace this great hope, this great future and this great purpose and rise above every situation.

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