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Idol or not

Published by S.M. Wibberley on November 20, 2023

You, Lord God, have made us new creations in Christ, welcomed with joy into your presence where we are delighted in, rejoiced over, cherished 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.”

[In contrast to you, Lord God, 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 offering them 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.]

Praise you that you are the one True God, the True Vine, the True Savior, our True Lord. Help us to live like that!

 

May be an image of text that says 'The Idols We Worship 1 1500 B.C. 2013 A.D.'

 

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Dream On

Published by S.M. Wibberley on November 19, 2023

Did you ever wonder how effective your long term prayers are? Does God hear when we ask for miracles, seeing many come to Christ?

As our pastor said this morning, “How will they believe unless they hear?” And there are  more ways to hear than one.

One way to hear is to see how bad things are without Christ, a yearning for something better.

Another complementary way is to have a dream. Not many Americans have such an experience, but in the rest of the world where people pay attention to dreams.

“Here is some good news: answers to prayer, a demonstration of God using what is terrible for good, and giving people the input they need. Our God is wise!

A recent report from Gaza: More than 200 Muslim men in Gaza have embraced salvation after reportedly seeing Jesus in their dreams, said Christian professor Michael Licona, who got reports directly from those working in Gaza.

The report says, “God is working in the midst of war!  Over the past two days, we have ministered to hundreds of fathers who have lost most, if not all, of their children in the war. As we moved these men to safety, we fed them, washed their clothes, and began to read the Bible to them — sharing the way of peace through Jesus. Then, a big miracle happened. Last night, Jesus appeared to more than 200 of them in their dreams! They have come back to us to learn more from God’s Word and are asking how to follow Jesus.”

Let’s keep praying and sharing.

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God’s Gracious Patience

Published by S.M. Wibberley on November 18, 2023

Praise be to you, Lord God, 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 only condemnation and rejection, but you constantly give us forgiveness and acceptance;

–that we can do nothing without you, but can do all with you;

–that you are our Shepherd so we will not lack anything necessary;

–that we can offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving in all things instead of complaining;

–that we can keep on your full armor and effectively fight the devil rather than targeting people.

But in spite of our forgetfulness, you do not give up on us, Lord Jesus. You are gracefully, lovingly consistent in correcting, reminding, protecting and, when necessary, rebuking us. Help us to remember, to rest in, to respond to your loving provision, every day, all days.

May be an image of 2 people and text that says 'GOD'S PATIENCE IS PERFECT AND SUFFICIENT'

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Security

Published by S.M. Wibberley on November 17, 2023

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 go 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 may be, 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, carrying us through. You have a plan, you are faithful, you will carry it out.

The only element we must 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. “Trust in Him at all times, O people, pour out your hearts to Him, for He is our refuge.” Psalm 62:8

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.

May be an image of 1 person and dog

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Help at Dawn

Published by S.M. Wibberley on November 16, 2023

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 light years—each light year being 513 trillion miles! You filled it with stars, (Psalm 33:6) gathered them into galaxies and the arranged them into formations—and you know the name of each of these trillions of stars (Psalm 147:4); you know their number and you keep them in place.

As you can administrate all that, so you are certainly able to deal with the small 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: but 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, because you have made yourself our rock, our salvation and our high tower.

As a friend now faces forces beyond his control, forces that are attempting to divide and destroy, to defame and denigrate, we can trust you to carry him through,. To paraphrase what it says in Psalm 46, The Lord is in us, we will not fall, He will help us at break of day. We just have to wait, trusting Him through the longest, coldest part of the night before dawn. And He will come, so we can praise Him before we see His answer.

You, Lord are faithful and good, wise and powerful, an ever present hope in trouble. Thank you so much!

May be an image of tree, horizon, twilight and nature

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Which are you?

Published by S.M. Wibberley on November 15, 2023

Today is a bit different devotional. I don’t think I’ve mentioned this before, that, as on teacher pointed out, there are two  kinds of people on earth: the YOLOs and YLFs.

The YOLO are those who operate by the philosophy of “You Only Live Once,” so live it up. Entertainment, travel, riches, comfort and self-centeredness reign. A YOLO person doesn’t think very far ahead, mostly just to the next exciting thing. Some go from one party to the other, one thrill to the next. I would say that the majority of college students are YOLOs. If it feels good do it. Thinking is not a high value, feeling is. Suffering is viewed as bad, tragedy is greeted with “How could a good God allow this?”

The Word has something to say about this. “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.” Psalm 53:1

 

The YLF are those who reside in the truth that as a believer in and follower of Jesus, “You Live Forever.” The focus is not on pleasure, entertainment, self-centeredness, comfort or getting more and  more. Instead of “name it and claim it” worldview, the Words of Jesus show the way: “If any man would be my disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me.”  Follow Him because He knows where He is going when we don’t. A YLF focuses on what will last for eternity and is willing to leave behind what is going to end up on the garbage heap of time anyway.

The rewards Christ offers for following Him are at least as real as what HE gives us in this life. Suffering is seen as the opportunity to grow, mature and be more useful. As it says in 1 Peter 1:6-7 “…now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials SO THAT the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in PRAISE AND GLORY AND HONOR at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” This is what He promises to those who live for eternity.

The difference between a YOLO and a YLF can be summed up in Proverbs 17:24 “Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.” The fool looks at what is on the earth, the YLF looks to the One who gives wisdom and gets understanding of time and eternity.

Let’s reject the YOLO worldview and become YLFs adopting the worldview of Jesus.

May be an image of 1 person, horizon and road

 

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Revealing God

Published by S.M. Wibberley on November 15, 2023

Thank you so much, Lord, for the purpose you give us in life: which means revealing you to those around us. And how can we do that?

One way of revealing Yo to others is to share what we are learning as we read, study, memorize and meditate on Scripture. The insights and understandings He brings are far above human thinking and help us shift from a natural worldview to a biblical one.

For instance, in 1 Peter 1, where I am re-memorizing now, it says that trials come to us to test the genuineness of our faith. The question is, are we responding with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, trusting God, or do we complain, revealing the falseness of our faith? Every negative event is a test and a chance to reject our natural response, to trust and grow.

But there is a further reason for trials: if we respond with faith, then when Jesus is revealed at the end of time, we will be given praise, honor and glory by God Himself!

That’s a worldview shift–moving from the momentary, myopic, me-centered goal of being comfortable, to the wide, high and deep understanding of how this particular discomfort fits into God’s great scheme for ending history and ushering in an eternity where He will share His glory with those who have lived by faith here.

This is the call for us to fix our eyes on Jesus, who for the joy that was set before Him—the joy of redeeming all mankind, pleasing the Father, being glorified as the Savior, ending evil and ruling forever in righteousness–endured the cross, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:2).

Even in writing this, I am glorifying God, revealing to you, more of His powerful and pristine Character, helping you to worship Him more and better. May we be aware of the everyday opportunities to reveal God’s glory to those around us by praise, by offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving, by noting and sharing God sightings, and by sharing what we are learning at the feet of the Holy Spirit.

May we live out the purpose of our existence today, glorifying God in our lives!

May be an image of mountain-laurel and tree

 

 

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Purpose

Published by S.M. Wibberley on November 13, 2023

Praise be to you, Lord God, that you were there, waiting for me this morning, after watching over us all night. I praise you for your grace and goodness, your power and provision which you’ve prepared for me for today.

 

Thank you so much, Lord, for the purpose you give us in life: living for you, joining you in your great plans and giving you glory–which means revealing you to those around us. And how can we do that?

 

First of all, by being people of praise. As we respond to the events swirling around us by offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving in whatever comes, we reveal to others your Sovereignty and Love. We live the truth that you are in control, so whatever comes to us flows with your permission and purpose, from your wisdom and love.

As we trust you in the events of our days, you give us joy and peace and make our lives overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:13). Then, as you promised (2 Cor. 12:9)), your power will come and you will show us your salvation in the events that face us (Ps. 50:23). As we note your power and salvation and talk about them, we are revealing your faithfulness and power to those around us.

Which brings us to another way of giving you glory: seeing the “God-sightings” you bring into our lives daily (when you provide, protect and guide), and then when we share them with those around us.

Like yesterday while shopping, I had a question about an electrical item, but there was no store employee to help me. However, as I went around the corner, there was my neighbor who is an electrician, and he readily answered my question. God at work. God revealed.

Even seeing beautiful flowers like those below is a God sighting. Let’s look for them every day and see Him at work in our lives.

May be an image of balloon flower

 

 

May be an image of balloon flower

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A New Beginning

Published by S.M. Wibberley on November 12, 2023

Written on the first day of my retirement in 2015

My retirement coincides with my turning 70 this year. In the past, I’ve found that decadal milestones often bring changes in focus and responsibilities. I expect this to be a bigger one than previous “big O” years.

Hebrews 12:1-17 is my map. It certainly is a pleasure to walk with Jesus into the future, knowing that He has the course laid out for us, calling us to join Him in the adventure of the rest of our lives. I want to obey His command to lay aside every weight and sin that can so easily entangle, and to run with patience and perseverance the race He has set out before me.

It will require patience, for as we move into the future, I’m going to be losing things: strength, endurance, hearing and other physical abilities. Truly, old age is the process of losing things, but maturity is letting them go and using these losses to focus on what God has for us. I suspect that worship and intercessory prayer will become the primary focus, with discipleship and counseling being the second.

Whatever it is, I can take my cue from Jesus, fixing my eyes on Him who, “for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross (for me that’s old age), despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Truly, to know Him is to have hope, to have peace and joy as we trust in Him, so we can move into the future with His presence, provision and protection. I look forward to living this out on a new level!

May be an image of twilight, tree, body of water and horizon

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More on Psalm 15:4

Published by S.M. Wibberley on November 11, 2023

More thoughts on Psalm 15

Psalm 15:4 “who despises a vile man”

[You see all, so nothing is hidden from you; you know what is vile and rightly reject it. In righteousness you despise what is unrighteous, while somehow still loving every sinner and seeking to bring them, into your Forgiveness, into your Family, into your Kingdom.]

“but honors those who fear the LORD,”

[You are able to discern what really motivates a man: fear of people or fear of God (Psalm 34:11-14). And you will give glory and honor to those who walk in your ways because they love you and trust you.]

“who keeps his oath even when it hurts,”

[You are the One who always keeps your Word—you kept your Word to be a Savior who could only redeem through intense, personal, infinite suffering, and you, Lord Jesus, followed through by submitting yourself to anguish, pain and an unjust punishment of death. Praise you for your faithfulness.]

Psalm 15:5 “who lends his money without usury”

[You are generous and gracious, pouring out your riches on us without thought of profit.]

“and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.”

[You, LORD Jesus are absolutely just, you cannot be swayed by any bribe. No one can influence you to move against your children. And we believers can’t get you to change your mind with our “good works,” our fasting or self-denial; we can’t twist your cosmic arm, to “make” you answer our selfish prayers. Praise be to you for your unbending goodness and purity.

Lord, help us to live like you, to follow your example in each of these wonderful qualities and thereby bring honor to your name by showing your glory to all those around us.

 

 

 

 

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