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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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From my worship journal, written several years ago

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 13, 2017

After pretty good night’s rest, I woke up at 8:15! Guess I needed the sleep. But my initial reaction was unhappiness because I don’t like to get up late. I don’t like to have my worship, quiet time and prayer later in the day.

 

But I praise you, Lord, that your Spirit right away brought to my mind that fact that I can let go of my desires and preferences, hold on to the truth that you have my day in hand, and rise above my unhappiness, eagerly letting you guide, rejoicing in a different kind of day.

 

And this I did, and am walking now in the freedom and the light of your goodness and presence. Thank you, Lord Jesus, my good Shepherd, that you are leading me well and that I can trust you to carry me in the right direction. Praise be to you.

 

“The Lord is my light and my salvation,” so of whom or what should I be afraid? Certainly not of change, or having my plans disrupted or of being disappointed. No, In you I can rest. Thank you for the great freedom you have brought us, Lord Jesus. Help us to walk in it daily by surrender, praise and obedience to what we know to be true, and thereby continually bring you honor.

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Psalm 28:8-9

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 12, 2017
 
Psalm 28:8 “The LORD is the strength of his people,”
 
[In ourselves we have no strength to speak of. We are here on earth for a short time with a limited sphere of influence, unable to control even our basic lust for significance and security, and we live at the mercy of many other forces around us.
 
But in you, Lord Jesus, we are given strength, filled with your Spirit, washed in your grace, enlightened by your Word, protected by your power, used in your hand. As it says in Colossians 1:11, we are to pray to be “strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that [we] may have great endurance and patience….” Our eyes are on you, Lord Jesus, for otherwise we know not what to do.]
 
“The Lord is…a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.”
 
[You, O Lord God, have declared yourself our Fortress and Protector, the Deliverer and Savior of all who trust in you. In you only there is safety, security, significance and salvation. These are found in no other; all else is temporary, incomplete, weak and futile.
 
The choice is ever before us, in which will we live: Jesus or self, safety or fear, life or death, transformation or termination, good or evil, victory or failure? In you is all good, Lord Jesus; we only need to surrender so you may work all this in and through us.
 
Psalm 28:9 “Save your people and bless your inheritance;”
 
[Praise you, Lord God, that we are your people: chosen, purchased, cherished, dearly loved, delighted in and doted on. Praise you that we are your inheritance: redeemed, treasured, protected and loved. Praise you that in daily happenings you save us and bless us, preparing every event, providing all we need and protecting us in love.]
 
“be their shepherd and carry them forever.”
 
[And so you are, Lord Jesus: our Eternal, Great and Wonderful Shepherd, forever leading, sheltering, feeding, watering, exercising and strengthening us. You carry us through each day, arranging all, holding back the enemy, preparing a feast in the presence of our enemies, leading us beside the still waters, providing patience, peace and purpose. And this you will do forever with passion, power and persistence.
 
So, we can rest in you, rejoice in you, rise up each day in your power, wisdom and goodness. You are worthy of honor, Lord Jesus, of obedience, of worship, of praise and glory. May I give you honor and exaltation today by choosing to live in a way that is worthy of you, being strong in you and the power of your might.
 
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Time Flows By

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 11, 2017
Written two years ago in my worship journal.
 
Time is going by so rapidly. Thank you, Lord, that our times are in your hands and that you move us along as is best, whether we feel good about it or not. Praise you that the measure is not our feelings but your perspective, which is Truth.
 
Praise you for your power with which you arrange and lead in our days. You are my light and my salvation, the stronghold of my life. Whatever comes is a gift from you, an opportunity to live by faith, to respond with trust, to dwell in truth, to walk in the light.
 
I give you praise and honor because you are a strong, wise, gracious God, firm and loving, One who would allow a test like Job’s so that he might become a beacon of hope and wisdom to many, giving glory to you.
 
Lord, help us, help me to remember that each incident, each happening, each chance to react is an opportunity to be a grace receiver and a glory giver–offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving so that I may give you honor and your deliverance can flow into my life. Help me to remember that each event is an opportunity to live in the unseen and eternal, rather than in just what is tangible and temporary.
 
An example is the nearly disastrous happening yesterday when the brakes on my tractor gave way and it careened backwards over a bank, ending up at a dangerous tilt. You enabled me to just step off the tractor as it went over the bank and walk away, avoiding any harm. You kept it from turning over and pinning me under it. You displayed your power, your protection and your provision.
 
In the light of your goodness, thank you now for this new day, for what you will allow or bring, for the uncertainties before us, for Barbara’s continuing illness, for the need to make difficult choices. Help me, Lord, to do what is best in each situation. Help me to speak into messy relationships with grace and gentleness, with wisdom and wit, with truth and tolerance, that you may be honored before men and angels.
 
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Psalm 28:

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 11, 2017

Psalm 28:7b “…my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy”

[To trust you, Lord Jesus, and thereby see you in your grandness, power, glory and wisdom, to understand your carefulness and consistency, your cherishing and constant care in our lives—this leads us to respond with joy.

Your rich love and warm acceptance, granting us honor and security, significance and protection in your Kingdom—these are just what we desire, they are exactly what we were made for in having such a relationship with you! To know you is certainly enough for joy, period!]

“and I will give thanks to him in song.”

[Deep, full, genuine trust leads to rejoicing, thanksgiving and praise with singing. You, Lord God, are the source of joy, of song, of music, of gladness–so you have planted in us this response of love to your poured-out grace.]

I praise you now, Lord Jesus, my Good Shepherd, for the day you have prepared before us, for the things you are going to do and bring, for the activities, the failures, the weakness and difficulties, the joys and pleasures that will come–each an opportunity to live for you, to give you glory, to rest in you.

I praise you, Lord Jesus, for the wonder of knowing you, of living with you, of being called to join you in what you are doing, of being equipped, empowered and protected by you, of being useful for  you, an effective instrument in your hand.

May you be pleased and honored today by my trust and obedience, may your name be lifted up and exalted as your Spirit works in and through me, O Lord God, King of Glory, Ruler of all, Shepherd of the weak. Amen.

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A trained faith

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 9, 2017
“Trained faith is a triumphant gladness in having nothing but God — no rest, no foothold — nothing but Himself — A triumphant gladness in swinging out into that abyss, rejoicing in every fresh emergency that is going to prove Him true — The Lord Alone — that is trained faith.”
 
–Lilias Trotter, 18th Century pioneer worker in Algeria
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Psalm 28:7b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 9, 2017

Psalm 28:7b “…my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.”

[Without trust, much good is forfeited as we hold back and live in anxiety, fear and fretting. With trust, we can praise our mighty and sovereign God in faith before we understand what He’s doing with the difficulties in our lives, before we get an answer, before relief comes.

Trust comes from being in the Word, and trust is strengthened as we offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, giving thanks for what we would normally complain (Ps. 50:23).

We can rest in you, Lord God, because we know that you are the good One who is committed to our good and are certain to guide and protect us through any unwanted circumstance that comes from the world, our flesh or the devil.

As we trust, you give us peace, wisdom, guidance and provision. And in trusting you, we give you glory and honor before all, both the seen and unseen.

As we trust we open the way so that your deliverance for this moment may come through. Paul declared this in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “…I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses SO THAT the power of Christ may rest on me.”

As we trust we are changed, you are lifted up, others are blessed and unbelieving sinners see your glory.

As I trust in you, I can reject impatience, worry, fear, anxiety, lust and over eagerness; therefore, instead of being caught up in the tyranny of the urgent and the power of fretting, I can rest in you in peace and joy and confidence.

Praise you that in trust, I can take up your patience, your grace, your wisdom, your strength, your calmness, and your light so that I can live today in your power, protection and peace. Truly, knowing Jesus is enough for joy.]

Help me, Lord, to so trust you today that you will be honored before all around me for your marvelous character, for your mighty strength, magnificent goodness, majestic greatness and magnanimous graciousness.

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Psalm 28:6-7

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 7, 2017
Psalm 28:6 “Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy.”
 
[O LORD, YAHWEH, you are the great and Triune God, persistently merciful, purely holy, powerfully high, perfectly heavenly—therefore to you belongs all praise. You are the prayer-hearing God, stooping down low from your Heavenly throne to hear and help us, to comfort and support us with your gracious right hand. Therefore you are worthy of all exaltation.
 
I think of your mercy on one Sunday as we traveled to speak in a distant church: an accident on the other side of the freeway caused a huge traffic jam, backing things up on that side for miles, while on our side we could move right along and arrive in time for the meeting.
 
Then on the way back, there was another traffic jam, again on the other side, this time from all the people returning home on Sunday evening. However, again we were able to zoom right along and make it home in good time. You are the provider and protector, the merciful One who watches over us in the way we need it. I thank you for your practical and personal care.]
 
Psalm 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield;”
 
[I am so weak, so vulnerable, naturally so easily defeated by the devil’s deceit and demons, as well as the people they use. But you, Lord Jesus, as the Victor, the Most High, the Almighty, the undefeatable Defeater, you tower over time and eternity.
 
And you give your strength to your children, making yourself our Rock, our Fortress, our Defender, our Stronghold. You give us your shield of victory, you support us with your right hand, you stoop down to make us great.
 
You reach down from on high and draw us out of deep waters, you rescue us from our powerful enemies, from our foes too strong for us, you save us because you delight in us and bring us into a spacious place (Ps. 18:16-19).
 
I give you praise and honor, glory and exaltation for the daily demonstration and revelation of your great goodness, Lord Jesus, as you work powerfully and personally in my life.
 
Forgive me for taking much of it for granted. Every time I arrive home safely, have enough to eat, experience peaceful sleep and awake to safety and beauty, I have experienced your mercy and goodness. Help me to note these God sightings every day and thereby grow in faith and praise so I can give you more honor. Amen.]
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Psalm 28:3-5

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 6, 2017
Psalm 28:3 “Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.”
 
[This is not what most people think of as evil—appearing to be cordial–but would label as goodness! Yet you, Lord, look beyond appearances to the motives, at the intent of the heart and label this as sin. Lord, help us to also be intent on seeing our sins as you view them, and being harsh with evil in our motives, rejecting it and living instead with love and grace in our hearts towards our neighbors.]
 
Psalm 28:4 “Repay them for their deeds and for their evil work; repay them for what their hands have done and bring back upon them what they deserve.”
 
[You, Lord God are a righteous and loving God, therefore you deal with what is evil. You, Lord Jesus, will come as judge and bring clear, just, right condemnation on those who have refused to believe in you, on those who refuse the truth and live according to their own ideas.
 
Praise you, Heavenly Father, that you do not allow evil to go unchecked now and unjudged in the future. I can trust you fully to do what is righteous and merciful, as you have made it possible for everyone to have their record of evil wiped clean with the blood of Christ–if only they will believe in Him.]
 
Psalm 28:5 “Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD and what his hands have done,”
 
[This is a description of selfish independence from God, a rejection of His values, His work, His Word. They do not acknowledge Truth, God, His divinity or His marvelous accomplishments. All is natural, all is science, all is man-centered. And all who live so will fail.]
 
“he will tear them down and never build them up again.”
 
[They are fighting God, and it is futile. He will win in righteousness. They will fail in rebellion. They will fail both in this world and in the judgment to come.
 
You, Lord God, are sovereign, the One to be obeyed, revered, glorified and honored. I praise you for your goodness and purity, your hatred of evil and love of righteousness. In you we can trust.
 
As you have, in your mercy and grace, clothed me in the righteousness of Christ, may my life be the opposite of those described above, so that you may be honored in my words, revered in my actions, exalted in my reactions, and praised in my relationships.]
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Wonderful Provision

Published by S.M. Wibberley on December 5, 2017
The private medical system here is amazing–even though I have no insurance coverage. Yesterday in the afternoon we went to the local private hospital (ten minute walk away for Josh’s house) to check out two problems I’d been experiencing.
 
I immediately was given two appointments, one 15 minutes later, one 45 minutes later, at $30/appointment—total cost, not a copay. The first doctor sent me for an x-ray costing $9. The second doctor prescribed three tests for a total cost of $40.
 
No waiting, no huge costs, no having to come and go multiple times–and the results are ready by this morning!
 
What a difference from the American system in every single aspect. One big difference is that suing doctors and hospitals is unusual here, keeping costs way down and also resulting in decisions being medically based rather than legally driven. I am thankful for such good care.
 
The psychiatrist treating Barbara is in the same hospital, and is also very available (gave us his cell phone number in case of need), is compassionate and really wants to help her. He is taking her off her Cymbalta and upped her dose of Prosaic, which seems to be helping.
 
The Lord has also provided a German counselor who can speak with her in her heart language, is insightful and does her work at no cost to us. “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who trusts in Him.” Psalm 34:8
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