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God's Character Revealed in the Beauty of Fall

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 31, 2015

From my morning worship journal

October 31, 2015, Saturday, the last day of October. As I step outside on the porch, the moon shines brightly in the west, Mars, Venus and Jupiter form a clear triangle in the east and the Big Dipper points unfailingly to the North Star. The horizon is touched with the fingers of dawn, a golden line against the black of night. A frost lies on the grass; I can’t see it yet, but feel it in the crispness of the morning darkness.

Thank you, Lord, for your greatness, revealed in the glory of this morning. I praise you for your beautiful, pristine character. Like this dawn of darkness and light, brightness of stars and promise of the day, your attributes are perfectly balanced. In you there are both justice and mercy, judgment and love, hatred for sin and love for sinners. You are fully sovereign while bestowing the gift of responsibility on your creatures.

I praise you for your rich display of your being in your Word, showing us that you are eternal, without beginning or end; you are wise and joyful, powerful and kind, mighty and loving, and majestic while paying attention to minute detail. You are all knowing while forgiving and choosing to forget sin. You are wonderful beyond conception, and for that I am glad—for that proves you are God, completely separate and outside your creation—no human being could ever think up a Creator like you!

This fall season’s display of beauty also reminds me of your character, Lord. The trees are clothed in brilliant colors and fiery glory. Some have three colors at once–red, yellow and green—reminding me both of your triuneness and of your love for variety. This is echoed in maples of bright yellow standing next to pines of soft green and oaks of crisp brown. Everywhere there is diversity, a contrast and compliment of colors. This is truly a reflection of your character, where the diversity doesn’t divide but produces a richer beauty, a deeper grace and a more astounding complexity within a powerful unity.

You, Lord God, are the ultimate in every aspect: beauty and wisdom with power, along with judgment and love. I praise you, Lord God for how wonderful you are, worthy of our worship, deserving of our adoration, meriting our obedience.

May we dwell today in the light of your beauty, in the grace of your unified diversity and in awe of your monumental and majestic greatness. To you be honor and glory in all.

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Psalm 9:10

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 30, 2015

Psalm 9:10 “Those who know your name will trust in you,”

[Your name, Lord, communicates your commitment to constant and complete provision, to protection and a place in your Kingdom.

Your name, Elohim, means the strong and faithful One, and you have shown your power in creation and your faithfulness in providing salvation through Christ.

Your name, Adonai, means the powerful Authority who has the right to demand obedience, and along with that promises complete provision of all we need to live for and obey you.

Your name Yahweh, means the holy One who is utterly independent of your creation and utterly committed to caring for it. You are the Hater of sin, the Judge of evil and the Lover of your sinful creatures.

You are the great I AM, with no beginning and no end, ever existent, ever powerful, ever present.  You are absolutely, utterly, completely, eternally trustable; to not trust in you is a great sin, denigrating your mighty, majestic, magnificent Name.]

“for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.”

[The record speaks: you have come to the rescue of all who have called upon you: Adam, Able, Abraham, Moses, the Children of Israel (many, many, times), the Judges of Israel, David, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, the Apostles, Paul–and us.

As we seek you, call out to you, you are faithful to answer. As it says in Psalm 34:4-8, “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.  The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.  Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

So let us take refuge in the Almighty One who will never forsake us and helps those who take refuge in Him.]

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Psalm 9:11

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 29, 2015
Psalm 9:11 “Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.”
[You, Lord God, are worthy of praise and more: to you belong worship, exaltation, honor, glory and thanksgiving for all that you have done. You have provided the possibility of forgiveness for all people, you have redeemed and rescued your children, you have released your saints from the dominion of darkness and ushered us into the Kingdom of Light, the Kingdom of your Son whom you love.
In Him we are forgiven, cleansed, transformed, adopted, commissioned to special service, equipped to join you, dearly loved, doted on and delighted in..
You have glorified your name in millions of instances of doing good to your enemies, being gracious to your rebellious children, being kind to all people, being holy in the face of evil, being patient in the face of rejection and being purposeful in bringing history to a conclusion which will eliminate evil and restore the perfection of pre-fall creation.
In the light of all this, we must worship you, we must exalt you, we must praise you, for there is no other possible response for those who know your name. May you be honored in our lives today, may obedience flow, may praises multiply, may trust reign, may glory rise to you each moment, for you are worthy, O Triune, Glorious and Eternal LORD!
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Psalm 9:9

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 28, 2015

Psalm 9:9 “The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,”

[Praise you, Yahweh, the great I AM, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who is aware of each of the oppressed and calls every one of us to yourself for refuge.

People are oppressed first and foremost by the devil as he keeps them enslaved by fear of death, by desire and deception, by division and distraction.  And he oppresses through evil people, evil persuasions, evil purposes.  Then we are also oppressed by our own negative nature where selfishness, pride, lust and greed successfully seek to rule us.

But you, Lord Jesus, have opened a door out of this miserable mess of darkness and despair into the Kingdom of Light where you are our personal refuge and strength so we may give you ever increasing glory.]

The Lord is “a stronghold in times of trouble.”

[In you we are safe from the attacks of the enemy, in you we find comfort, rest, salvation and protection.  In you we find love, grace, goodness and help.  In you we find forgiveness, pardon, cleansing and transformation. In you there is loving chastening, firm correction and certainty of rebuke when needed.  In you there is deliverance from deception, lust, selfishness and independence. You are our protector from all troubles, sooner or later, as long as we dwell in your shelter.

As it says in Psalm 91:1-4 “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” ]

Lord, help me to willfully take shelter in you today, my mighty rock and my refuge.

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Running Free

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 27, 2015
“I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” Psalm 119:32
 
Praise be to you, my Lord and my God, for you have set my heart free, free from the rule of Satan, free from the power of self, free from the chains of sin—as your child I can actually make choices now because you have brought me out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light.
 
“The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble” (Pro. 4:19). You have set me free from a life of fumbling and stumbling in the dark, bringing me out into a life of light. You, Lord Jesus, are the light of life and have caused the light of salvation to shine deeply into my heart. You have invited me to walk on the path of the righteous, illuminated by your Word, bringing me ever more into the full light of your day. Now in your grace I can choose the shining way of Truth revealed by your Word and your Spirit.
 
You are setting my heart free from fear, from bondage to selfishness, from lust, from anger, frustration and negative thinking. You have set my feet free from the shackles of Satan that led me to shuffle down the path of sin, to choose what is destructive, to react with violent, knee jerk negatives.
 
Now I can run free in the path of goodness, my feet unbound, my legs strengthened by your Spirit, my eyes opened by the light of your Word, my soul ready to soar.
In providing this broad and beautiful freedom, you are moving me mightily towards living like Asaph who, after repenting of his selfishness and self-pity, could say, “Whom have I in heaven but you and earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:25,26).
 
Eternal praise be to you, O Lord, for you have truly, powerfully, continually, eternally set my heart free! Help me, Lord, to run freely in the paths of your commandments, in the light of your Truth, in the joy of your presence, that I may give you glory today. Amen
 
–An excerpt from the devotional book EDIFIED!
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Running Free

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 27, 2015
“I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” Psalm 119:32
 
Praise be to you, my Lord and my God, for you have set my heart free, free from the rule of Satan, free from the power of self, free from the chains of sin—as your child I can actually make choices now because you have brought me out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light.
 
“The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble” (Pro. 4:19). You have set me free from a life of fumbling and stumbling in the dark, bringing me out into a life of light. You, Lord Jesus, are the light of life and have caused the light of salvation to shine deeply into my heart. You have invited me to walk on the path of the righteous, illuminated by your Word, bringing me ever more into the full light of your day. Now in your grace I can choose the shining way of Truth revealed by your Word and your Spirit.
 
You are setting my heart free from fear, from bondage to selfishness, from lust, from anger, frustration and negative thinking. You have set my feet free from the shackles of Satan that led me to shuffle down the path of sin, to choose what is destructive, to react with violent, knee jerk negatives.
 
Now I can run free in the path of goodness, my feet unbound, my legs strengthened by your Spirit, my eyes opened by the light of your Word, my soul ready to soar.
In providing this broad and beautiful freedom, you are moving me mightily towards living like Asaph who, after repenting of his selfishness and self-pity, could say, “Whom have I in heaven but you and earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:25,26).
 
Eternal praise be to you, O Lord, for you have truly, powerfully, continually, eternally set my heart free! Help me, Lord, to run freely in the paths of your commandments, in the light of your Truth, in the joy of your presence, that I may give you glory today. Amen
 
–An excerpt from the devotional book EDIFIED!
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Psalm 9:5-8

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 26, 2015

Psalm 9:5 “You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.”
Psalm 9:6 “Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy, you have uprooted their cities; even the memory of them has perished.”

[It is your intent to eliminate sin, to cleanse the universe of rebellion, so you justly punish wickedness and those who refuse the forgiveness and cleansing you offer. You first rebuke and give opportunity for repentance, just as you did with all the nations in the promised land—Rahab being the example of what could have happened with each one of them if they had responded with faith—and when they refused to come to you, they remained under judgment and were destroyed. You are just, you are consistent, you are righteous.]

Psalm 9:7 “The LORD reigns forever;” [Praise be to you, the eternal One who has no beginning and no end. You are able to follow through on your promises, your plans, your purposes because you never tire, never flag, never fade. You are the eternal I AM, ever pure, ever holy, ever triune.]

“he has established his throne for judgment. Psalm 9:8 He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice.”

[Praise you that in you alone there is true justice and righteousness. They are found nowhere else in this world. We long for them, but fear them at the same time, for we know innately that we are subject to judgment and are found wanting in ourselves.

Praise you for your great mercy towards us, that in Christ we stand cleansed, forgiven, transformed, adopted and dearly loved. We bow before you now, O Lord, exalting your name, your Word, your grace, your goodness. You certainly are worthy of love, of obedience, of thanksgiving, of praise, of worship. We rise up to enter this day as your children, desirous of living a life worthy of you and of pleasing you in every way. May your Spirit fill us and overflow from us into the lives of those around us, bringing you more and more honor.]

Edifying Services's photo.
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From the devotional book EDIFIED!

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 25, 2015
From the devotional book EDIFIED!
 
As your Word says, “My God is my rock in whom I take refuge. He is my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Ps. 18:2b). So, whether I am firmly in a protecting schedule, or my life is chaotic, you are there, Lord God: solid, sure, always loving, kind and firm. You are my Light, my Love, my Life.
 
So I turn my eyes to you and praise you, Lord God: my Triune, Eternal, Personal and Holy God—utterly other, entirely independent, simply sinless and incomprehensibly complex. You created me, chose me, cleansed me, claimed me as your child, commissioned me to special service, and I stand before you dearly loved, delighted in, deeply cared for, doted on and dependent on you.
 
What a wonder! For what I actually deserve as a sinner is
condemnation, punishment, eternal separation, failure, suffering, death and hell.
 
To live in the light of your presence, to walk in the shining paths of your righteousness, to bask in the radiance of your love, to be able to see by the brilliant illumination of your Word—these are the privileges of the children of God and we praise and thank you for them.
 
I praise you now for what your power and grace will do in and through me today, in spite of how I may feel and fail. May all be for your glory. Help me to focus on you, draw my stability, wisdom, strength and understanding from you. May I honor you in all I do today.
 
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From my worship journal

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 24, 2015

From my worship journal.

Praise be to you, Lord God, that yours is a full-orbed character. On one side you are love while at the same time you hate what is evil. I praise you for your hatred for sin, your anger at injustice and your wrath against sinners who refuse to repent because,   your justice makes restoration possible; your wrath against sin makes salvation possible; hell makes a sinless heaven possible.

I Praise you, Lord Jesus, that you took the wrath of the Father fully upon yourself so that all who choose to believe might be  saved in your goodness, sheltered in your love, protected in your grace and transformed in your power.

Thank you that you have given us life from your suffering, love from your heart and light from your Truth. Praise you for qualifying us to enter your Kingdom, for adopting us into your family and giving us purpose, meaning, hope, a sure future along with joy, peace and power to live a godly life.

But thank you most of all for giving us a rich, real and righteous relationship with you. Thank you for loving us unconditionally, wholeheartedly, eternally. That is to be the focus of our lives: You!
And in this wonderful relationship with you, you give us all we need: forgiveness, cleansing, acceptance, affirmation, attention, love and grace. I am thankful for these, but they are not the focus: you are.

I worship you as the Lord of love, the Giver of good and the God of grace. To you be glory and honor in all my life today. Amen.

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Psalm 9:2

Published by S.M. Wibberley on October 23, 2015

Psalm 9:2 “I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”

[Yes, I will rejoice in you, Lord, for you are wonderfully worthy, graciously good, powerfully persistent, righteously just, lovingly strong and readily forgiving. Praise is your due, praise is our privilege. How can I not praise you in and for all things—pleasant or painful, nice or negative—when you are so magnificent in your pristine, perfect triune character? Glory be to you now, today and forever, for you are worthy!]

Psalm 9:3-4 “My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you. For you have upheld my right and my cause;”

[Praise be to you, O warrior God, who fights for your children. You fight against Satan, sin, selfishness and sinners who attack your children. Such help is not our right but a powerful privilege. I am not right, but your Word is right. I praise you that out of your grace you fight for me, for us, for your Word, for all that is right.

This is echoed in Psalm. 37:5-6, “commit my way to the Lord, I will trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass, He shall bring forth my righteousness as the light and my judgment as the noon day sun.” He who delights in and meditates on your word “will prosper in whatever he does.” (Ps. 1:3).

So, I can rest in what you will do in the pressing debates before me concerning how to biblically proceed with our work, for you are faithful. Things may not work out the way I desire, but I know that you will do what is right.

“you have sat on your throne, judging righteously.”

[We may be unsure, have only part of the information, be prejudiced by our preferences and hang ups, but you have none of these restrictions. You, Heavenly Father, see all perfectly, you have every detail of information, you even understand our motives and intents. You know Truth totally and you will judge in full righteousness. Thank you that security is not in my faulty understanding and standards determining outcomes, but it is in the fact that your perfect understanding and righteous standards will prevail in the end.

Praise be to you, Lord God, for your goodness and graciousness, your greatness and glory. I praise you today, bowing before you, accepting whole-heartedly whatever results you bring out of the conflicts around me.]

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