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Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 14, 2017
 
Another excerpt from Canterbury Characters,
 
The farm Bucky Burroughs rented in R.I. was getting too small for his herd, so when a cattle dealer who lived down the road mentioned a farm being for sale in Canterbury, Bucky went over to take a look.
 
He ended up buying Carl Viet’s farm on Barstow Road, as Carl was moving to a larger, stone-free farm in upper state New York. So, in 1970 the Burroughs brothers moved to Canterbury, bringing their mother with them.
 
While hauling the rest of their silage from R.I. to their new farm in Canterbury, Elliot got two flat tires on his truck down on route 14. He didn’t know who to call for help so contacted Dave Viet, who told him to call Max Wibberley. Max came right down and fixed the flats. By now Bucky was there and told Max, “We don’t have any money!”
“Well,” Max relied, “You’re moving into town, not out, right? Pay me when you can!”
 
Bucky learned to be an artificial breeder, both for his own cows and for other farmers’ cows. He also learned to take care of his herd’s health needs, delivering all the calves, giving intravenous treatments and castrating the bull calves for himself and other farmers.
 
One time when Bucky was away on an errand, a cow was having a hard time calving, so George and Elliot called the vet, Dr. Sherman. He came but was unable to get the calf out. When Bucky got home, Dr. Sherman said to him, “Here you take a try at this one.” Bucky was able to turn the calf’s legs and arrange them so he and Dr. Sherman could together pull the calf out backwards.
 
Dr. Sherman remembered that and one day he called Bucky, saying he was in R.I. and wondered if Bucky could help another farmer in Canterbury whose newly calved cow had cast her withers (meaning her uterus had come out after calving). Bucky used the bottom end of a big coke bottle to push it back in so as not to make any tears in its delicate membrane, then sewed her up using his jack knife and strips of cloth from the farmer’s tee shirt. After that Dr. Sherman often called Bucky to deliver calves when he was too busy.
 
If you’ve read the book, please put up a review for it on Amazon and on Create Space (address below). Thanks.
 
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https://www.createspace.com/7320567
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Psalm 18:35-36

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 13, 2017
Psalm 18:35 “You give me your shield of victory,”
 
[Your powerful, proficient protection of us goes on and on, Lord, as you give us your shield of victory. But I must take it and raise it with praise (Eph. 6:16)–and as I do so, you give the victory over the enemy, over temptation, over negative thoughts and emotions, over my old self.]
 
“and your right hand sustains me;”
 
[As I tire in the battle , I can look to you and you will strengthen me, refresh me, give me more will and energy to press on in the fight against the world, the flesh and the devil. I must look “to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” and “consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that [I] will not grow weary and lose heart” (Heb 12:3).]
 
“you stoop down to make me great.”
 
[You in your greatness, as Lord of all creation, must lower yourself to enter the universe, our galaxy, our solar system, our world and come to the location when I’m at. There you reach into my life to do what is necessary to make me successful as you define success.
 
You stooped very low to willingly and lovingly redeem us, becoming a man, being weak, dying in our place, being buried, going to the lower parts of the earth to defeat the devil and death. Therefore, you could rise up in power and light, out of the tomb, up to the Father, again filling the whole of the universe (Eph 4:10).
 
You are astoundingly Great and amazingly Humble. In your grace you stoop down to share your greatness with us so we can push through and win, so can we conquer the enemy, reach the goal and achieve your desires–for without you we can do nothing (John 15:5).]
 
Psalm 18:36 “You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.”
 
[You attend to the details I can’t even think about, like where my next step will be; your capacity to deal with the minutia of my life is amazing. You protect through provision of exactly what we need, and bring us on to the place of achievement and success that you have designed for each—the good works you prepared for us to do (Eph. 2:10).
 
All credit, honor, praise and glory must go to you, Heavenly Father. You are the One to be exalted, not us. We play the small role you give, while you move all the events of history along to accomplish the end of history, sin and death–the glorious end you have for us.
 
I thank you and praise you for the privilege of knowing you, being your child, working as your partner, trusting you by praising you in all circumstances. To you be glory and honor in all: may your name be exalted, may your Word be lifted up, may many be drawn to you today through what you are doing in our lives.]
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Psalm 18:34

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 12, 2017

Psalm 18:34 “He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”

[You prepare me on every level for what you know will come. We see this in how you put Joseph through training in Potipher’s house, and then through serving others in prison, making him ready for being the Prime Minister of Egypt.

So you are preparing us, equipping us, strengthening us through challenges and difficulties, getting us ready for the opportunities you are planning to give us.

I think of how you had me study Latin in high school and this prepared me for learning a difficult Asian language for ministry. I think of how you had me working for years in the tire shop, learning how to manage both people and business, and how to deal with the public, preparing me for leading the field in the Middle East. I think of how you had me marry late, giving me time to mature. I think of how you gave me a German wife with a vision for missions and an understanding of other cultures, making transition to the Middle East easier and our work there more effective.

To you be glory for your wisdom, for your knowing what will come, for your faithfulness in preparing us, for your unfailing presence with us, for the fact we can praise you now for things we neither understand or like.

We can trust you in every difficulty, responding with thanksgiving and wholeheartedly embracing our present experiences, knowing that you will use them to prepare us for greater service for you in the future. Right now you are working in us through my wife’s deep depression to prepare us for some future ministry, unknown to us now.

It is a great comfort to know that nothing comes to us randomly, for every event in the lives of your children flows from your wisdom, plan, purpose and provision. You are in the process of finishing our faith, so we can live in the joy you have for us, enduring whatever cross you bring and despise whatever shame others try to put on us (Heb. 12:2).

Help us to live in the light of this truth, that you are training our hands for the battles to come, so we can effectively join you in your great plan to end history and bring in eternity while sweeping as many as possible into your Heavenly Kingdom.]

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Psalm 18:33

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 12, 2017
Psalm 18:33 “He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;”
 
[David had to be fleet and sure of foot in his fleeing from King Saul, as well as in his battles. In our battles with the Satan and the people he uses against us, you, Lord Jesus, make it possible for us to run swiftly, surely and gracefully in your paths so that, in your strength, we can endure through whatever comes.
 
You enable us to “run with perseverance and patience the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:1b,2).  The credit for doing these things goes to you, Lord God, for you make our feet like that of a deer.]
 
“he enables me to stand on the heights.”
 
[For David, to be on the heights was to be safe, to be the winner. And you, Lord Jesus, make us winners with you by bringing us to the mountain tops of truth, wisdom and faith. You guide us through the valleys, the traps and attacks of the enemy, leading us out into the place of victory.
 
You empower us then to stand on the heights, even though Satan tries to “throw me down– this leaning wall, this tottering fence. Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place,” but you are “my rock, my salvation, my high tower,” and as I abide in you “I will never be shaken…for my hope comes from you alone” (Psa. 62:1-5).
 
As we “put on the whole armor of God” we will “be able to stand in the evil day”—no matter what comes—“and having done all to stand” (Eph. 6:13).
 
Whatever triumph, whatever victory, whatever accomplishment comes, you are the One who brings it to pass, Lord Jesus, “for without you we can do nothing” (John 15:5). I give you praise, for you are the reigning, equipping and protecting God, fully worthy of our obedience, bringing you glory and honor today. May it be so.]
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Psalm 18:31-32

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 10, 2017
Psalm 18:31 “For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?”
 
There is no one else like you, O LORD, the Eternal One with no beginning or ending–all others are creatures with a finite start, each one designed to be in relation to you. You, as LORD, are the only source of unchanging goodness, unshifting stability and unending grace.
 
You are the wholly other One, different from your creatures in essence, in eternalness, in entirety. You are perfect in each part, so there is no need for change or growth, maturing or learning. You know all, you do all in completeness, you make no mistakes. You are the solid Rock of Truth, Stability and Love, totally trustable, fully faithful and completely compassionate.
 
What appears to be failure from a human perspective, is actually perfection in process. Think of the death of Christ–without this seeming defeat, there would have been no resurrection, no regeneration, no redemption. His death was one part of the perfect plan you were bringing to pass.
 
In a similar way you are at work in our lives today, bringing good to pass through the ups and downs of life. You only are our Lord, you only are the Rock, you only are to be worshiped.
 
Psalm 18:32 “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.”
 
[It is not my wisdom or effort, my talent or training nor my resources that brings effectiveness. It is you alone, Lord God, who prepares all: you are the Mighty and Wise One who pours strength into my life, who goes before and prepares situations, relationships, opportunities–and me, making a way perfect according to you.
 
Help me to run with endurance and patience the race that you have set out for me this day, looking consistently to Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).
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Every day there are uncertainties before me, all of which I could worry about. But to reject worry, to actively trust in you by praising you for your help before any appears, to think the truth of who you are, of how you have laid out a perfect path for me to follow, and to find my rest in you (Ps. 62:5)–in doing these, I will fulfill the purpose you have gifted me in life: to give you glory and honor before all.
 
You, out of your eternal riches, have prepared more than I need of strength and grace, of power and wisdom, and of guidance and protection (2 Pet. 1:3-4). You are pouring them into my life whether, at the moment, I see them or not, sense them or not– and I will praise you for your goodness and graciousness now before I see them manifest in this day!]
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Psalm 18:30b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 8, 2017
Psalm 18:30b, “He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.”
 
[Here is another statement of the perfect partnership you desire with us: your powerful protection is predicated on our premeditated hiding in you. If we choose to rely on ourselves, refusing to flee to you, to seek your wisdom, to obey what we know to be true, to run in your Way–we place ourselves outside your shelter.
 
But if we run to you for help, thinking Truth, praying for guidance, submitting to your Wisdom–then you swing your shield of protection over us, keeping us safe from all true harm.
 
How do we run to you? Primarily through the three actions of praise with prayer, thinking your Word, and obeying it. It means taking seriously such statements as “I will boast all the more gladly in my weakness so that the power of Christ may rest on me” (2 Cor. 12:9), and “…call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me” (Psa. 50:15).
 
It means implementing Philippians 4:6,7 “in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard [shield] your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
 
So, for example, when we are sick, taking refuge in you means our first move is to praise, thanking you for the situation, then asking for your help and healing. Then going to the doctor if necessary. This declares our dependence on you, gives you glory and opens the way for you to work through whatever means you choose to bring healing at the right time.
 
The opposite of this is seen in the life of King Asa: “Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians” (2 Chron. 16:12). And he died.
 
When we believe your Word, Lord, and offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, you raise up your shield of love and power over us. We hide in you by giving you honor in words of worship and as we exalt you in faith, you protect us.
 
To praise in trust ahead of time for whatever you will bring is a wonderful partnering with you, a taking refuge in you, a strong statement of faith, a great giving of glory to you before the unseen hosts.
 
Praise be to you, the faithful and holy One, the good and wise God who is never too late, never too early, always prepared and powerful enough to work out all the details of life. I give you glory, Lord Jesus, for you are the trustable Teacher, the good God, the powerful Protector and the saving Shepherd.
 
It is so true, Lord, that you are “a shield for all who take refuge in you.” You are worthy of all worship. Help me to worship you today by taking refuge in you each moment.
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Incredible Planning

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 7, 2017
From today’s entry in EDIFIED!
 
You, Lord God, are the marvelous One, for you are able to weave the evil decisions of all people and the conditions of this warped and twisted creation into the detailed plan for your recovery of righteousness and holiness in the universe.
 
In your wisdom you got Jacob, that stubborn, self-centered, rebellious, underhanded man, to move to Egypt, to where he didn’t want to go, so that his family line could be preserved and produce the mother of the Messiah. “You called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food…” (Ps. 105:16). The far-reaching features of the famine (foodlessness and fear) drove Jacob to leave his beloved land and go where you wanted him.
 
And you didn’t leave him unprotected: “… and you sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave” (Ps. 105:17). He didn’t go on a camel as an esteemed emissary, but as a slave, in chains, cut off from hope, experiencing the death of his vision to be a ruler.
 
It was no pleasant position, being a slave: “They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons…” (Ps. 105:18). As he trudged across the sands of the desert, the shackles cutting into his ankles, the iron ring on his neck burning in the sun, you spoke to him, you brought him to surrender, burned the bitterness out of him, saved him from his self-centeredness, prepared him for being a productive person.
 
Then the years of service, of disappointment, of imprisonment (a second death of his vision), then of abandonment as Pharaoh’s servant forgot Joseph’s help and his plea for reciprocal help, leaving him to rot in jail for another two years (a third death of his vision). You kept him there “till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the LORD proved him true” (Ps. 105:19). You refined him, broke and reshaped him, taught him to trust you no matter how bad it looked.
 
Then when things were ready, when Joseph was fully prepared by you, “The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free. He made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed, to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom” (Ps. 105:20-22).
 
At the right time, you elevated him from the lowest position, a slave in prison, to the second highest position in the kingdom, Prime Minister, as it were. And he was ready to rule: having learned obedience and submission to you, he was able to lead others.
 
You, Lord God, are wise, all-knowing, all seeing, ever looking at the goal, always weaving every detail of life into the fabric of your plan, bringing history to the conclusion you desire: the exaltation of your Name, the elimination of evil, the elevation of the saints and an eternity full of praise, worship and glory.
 
Your wisdom is wonderful, your strength is sure, your love is long-lasting, your grace is ever good, your plan is perfect, your execution is excellent, your greatness is gracious, your workings are wondrous—you, O Triune God, the Excellent One, are worthy of worship and whole-hearted obedience through all eternity.
 
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Psalm 18:30b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 6, 2017
Psalm 18:30b “the word of the LORD is flawless.”
 
[Praise you that we can trust your Word completely: there is no error, no contradiction, no mistake in it. When you speak, command, direct and teach, what you say is right and we can trust it fully.
 
Praise you that you have carefully had your words recorded in the Bible, and that we can take it at face value. Sadly, many twist it for selfish reasons, cutting it out of context, taking a superficial understanding, even blatantly denying what it clearly says and using it for their own ends rather than your purposes.
 
Give us wisdom to discern these perversions when confronted with them–or are tempted to use them ourselves–and to replace them with your clear and clean Truth.
 
Protect us from the traps of the enemy and keep us on the pure path of your perfect way as revealed in your wonderful Word. Help us to be consistent in reading, meditating, believing and living it out every day.
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Psalm 18:30

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 5, 2017
Psalm 18:30 “As for God, his way is perfect;”
 
[You, O Lord God, make no mistakes, you do what is right, with excellence and without error all the time. We can trust you to lead us aright, to teach us your wonderful way, to show us what is perfect. Thank you that you promise to, “lead us in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake” (Ps. 23:3). Help us to actively, wholeheartedly follow.
 
With your Word, you turn the negative values of the world right-side-up because we live in the upside-down-world where selfishness and rebellion are natural, where fear, despair and hopelessness abound. You teach us to live by dying, to get by giving, to grieve by praising, to give thanks before there is an outcome. There are so many opportunities to live by faith as we reject the values of the world and instead walk in the light of your powerful Way.
 
Praise be to you for teaching us that being weak is a wonder, that we should delight in our deficiencies and difficulties, for in such weakness, your power is made perfect and Christ’s might comes upon us (2 Cor. 12:9,10). You teach us that to embrace our neediness and suffering is freeing, empowering and transforming for us and greatly glorifying for you.
 
Praise you that you give us vision and understanding of your perfect ways. “Teach me your way, O LORD; I will walk in your truth: unite my heart to fear your name” (Psa. 86:11).
 
Help us to walk in your truth consistently, denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily and following you, for therein lies the purpose of our lives, the meaning of existence and the hope of glory with you.]
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Psalm 18:29

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 4, 2017
On this Independence day, here is a declaration of dependence, a plan for joining God rather than asking Him to join me.
 
Psalm 18:29 “With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.”
 
[This is a beautiful picture of David’s dependence on you, Lord, seeing his own weakness in the light of your wondrous power. Humanly speaking he could, on his own, easily move toward an enemy and climb a wall, but he knew from experience that doing so in your power is vastly different than doing it on his own.
 
And he moved forward in your power by praying in preparation for the battle, seeking your wisdom, asking your help. There are several instances where this is specifically shown in the Old Testament.
 
In 1Samuel 30:8. David and his men returned to their town, Ziklag, to find that the Amalekites had come and captured all their families. Instead of rushing off to rescue them, David first went to God in prayer, he “inquired of the LORD, ‘Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?’ ‘Pursue them,’ he answered. ‘You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.’ And David and his few men did that, defeating a much larger force and getting everyone back.
 
In all the stories of the Old Testament, there is no record of David ever being wounded in battle. He knew your protection, Lord, your power, your provision in the hand-to-hand combat of dozens if not hundreds of battles he participated in.
 
He declared, “Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle” (Psa. 140:7). Therefore, it was in your active power that he trusted. He saw clearly that in the common doings of his day, he needed your help and he prayed for it.]
 
Lord, help me to be that dependent on you like David, realizing I need your power in even the mundane things of life. Help me to be consistent in praying through my day, in asking for your guidance, protection and power in all that I do.
 
May prayer be the foundation of all, as I remember your words in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
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