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Psalm 14:2

Published by S.M. Wibberley on June 15, 2022
Psalm 14:2 “The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.”
[This means, Lord, that you look into the heart of every single person, you weigh their thoughts, you are concerned for them. Only an infinite God could be in such close contact with 6 billion people all at the same time! And in doing so, you love all of them, wanting each to come to you, giving each multiple chances to enter your Family, your Kingdom, your Eternity with you. You are a wonder!]
Psalm 14:3 “All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
[This is the sad truth: not one single person in the whole world, in the whole of history since the Fall, has ever sought you out on their own. Not one naturally followed you in the right way. We all turned away from you, we were all corrupt. And as sinners, any good that we did was tainted with selfishness, pride and deceit, but we futilely tried to convince ourselves we are good.
What a hopeless situation! In ourselves we are unable to alter it. But praise you, Lord Jesus, that you have entered history, paid the great price making it possible for us to be released from the trap of the enemy and our own wickedness. Then we could come into your Kingdom of Light and Life and Love! Like in this picture below, you bring life and beauty out of what is dead and decaying.
May we be ever thankful for your unwarranted grace, undeserved goodness and unending love. May my life, being focused on you, reflect your love and light to all around me today.]
May be an image of flower and nature
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Psalm 14:1

Published by S.M. Wibberley on June 14, 2022

Palm 14:1 “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”

[This is a clear definition of a fool: one with no spiritual discernment or interest, who rejects truth in favor of his own unfounded opinion.

The statement “there is no God” is so far from reality, so entirely limited to this tiny earth, this moment; it is a view that it is a sorry position, void of hope, truth, goodness, meaning and a future. I pity the person who believes this, as he is caught in his own delusion and ends up in the darkness of a meaningless, hopeless existence.]

“They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.”

[We are all by nature fools, making ourselves our own god until we meet Jesus, the true and living God. In our natural selves there is no good, no ability to do true good, for all we do is corrupted by our selfishness.

This is reality, this is why we desperately need you, Lord Jesus, you who are goodness itself and desire to give all people a new heart filled with righteousness, joy and peace so we can do the good works you have prepared for us (Eph. 2:10).]

“…the path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining on ever more brightly until full light of day.” Proverbs 4:18. Let us walk in that light today!

May be an image of lake, tree, nature and sky





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Psalm 13:6

Published by S.M. Wibberley on June 13, 2022
 
Psalm 13:6 “I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.”
[At this point David still did not have an answer, he was still in danger, but this is a declaration of his trust in God to answer and save–based on his past experience of God’s help.
We also can sing now in praise and thanksgiving to you, Lord, before you act in our troubles, knowing that you will come and work things out, to rescue and save, to empower and carry us through–just as you have helped us in the past, always acting out of your pristine character and your powerful faithfulness to your Word.
It is in this certainty that, while still in trouble, we can sing in praise for the help you will bring. Help us to persistently praise you in every difficulty, Lord God, before we see any answers, resting and reveling in your full faithfulness. May you thereby be glorified before the people and the spiritual powers around us today. Amen
May be an image of body of water, nature and tree
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Psalm 13:3-5

Published by S.M. Wibberley on June 12, 2022
The Gift of God’s Faithfulness
Psalm 13:3 “Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;”
[Thank you that we can cry to you in our desperation, as David did here, O Lord. We can always appeal to you, knowing that your faithfulness will flow into our lives like a stream forever. As it says in Psalm 86:7 “In the day of my trouble I will call upon you: for you WILL answer me.”]
Psalm 13:4 “my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’ and my foes will rejoice when I fall.”
[Even if we fall, we can stand again, firm in your faithful power, with you as our persistent Shield and Defender. I praise you, Lord Jesus, that you are our unshakable Rock, our faithful Fortress, our high Tower, our almighty Shepherd who can never to be defeated.]
Psalm 13:5 “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.”
[Yes, I look away to you, Lord, and look down the long history of your unfailing love where you–in faithfulness–answered, acted, protected, and guided your people: Abraham, Joseph, David, Daniel, Jesus and Paul. And so you will do with us today. You have a plan and will faithfully carry us through!]
May be an image of cloud, twilight, tree and nature
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(Untitled)

Published by S.M. Wibberley on June 10, 2022
Psalm 13:1,2 “How long, O LORD?” “How long will my enemy triumph over me?”
[At times the enemy does triumph over us—evil leaders arise in nations (such as ISIS), bad decisions are made by government or mission leaders, churches fall apart, families dissolve in bitterness, hard-working people can suddenly become homeless.
None of these, Lord, are your desired, overall will, but you allow them for greater reasons. For unbelievers, it is to nudge them towards belief (many have come to Christ in the Middle East because of ISIS). For believers, it is an opportunity for trust, growth, glorifying you and earning rewards.
As it says in 1 Pet. 1:6-7, “Now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith…may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
So we can know, no matter what Lord, that you are always there: you are at work for good, moving deeply, quietly, powerfully, patiently, waiting for the right moment to remove the pressure. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” In your goodness we can rest. Help us to do so today.]
May be an image of flower and nature
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Psalm 13:1,2

Published by S.M. Wibberley on June 9, 2022
The Gift of God’s Goodness
Psalm 13:1,2 “How long, O LORD?”
[There will be times when God seems distant, when He is not answering our prayers on our timetable (like right now in my life), when things are going awry with no help in sight. We pray and wait, but nothing seems to happen. There is no hint of His goodness in the mists and darkness of our lives.
Yet His goodness is still shining over the barrier of our darkness and seeming barrenness. He is at work behind the scenes, working out His greater plans, as He was in the difficulties of Joseph, Daniel and Jesus.]
As David once wrote, “Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?” But in the end God came through.
[There are dark valleys in life, ones we must pass through. These may be sickness, unemployment, relationship problems, depression (like the deep one my dear wife was going through as I wrote this in 2014), the death of a loved one, or fears sparked by governmental chaos and failure, by wars, pandemics or great disasters.
But we can know that you, Lord, in your goodness, have designed or allowed each one to mature us, to give opportunity to bring glory to you through faith, and to demonstrate your power to the world, sweeping all who are willing into your Kingdom.
As we know and believe this–even though at times our hearts fail us if we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by disappointment and the immediate circumstances surrounding us–we can choose to look up and have hope in the midst of despair; we can have light in the midst of darkness; we can have joy in the midst of turmoil. Why? Because you are good and we know that you have a plan for good and will faithfully carry it out.
May be an image of flower and nature
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Psalm 12:7

Published by S.M. Wibberley on June 8, 2022
Psalm 12:7 “O LORD, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people [oppressors and liars] forever.”
[Praise you for this certainty, Lord, both now and in eternity. And a major means of protecting us is your Word as you warn us, guide us and set us free of our natural worldview. “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
For a time, we may have to suffer the negative effects of liars (those who deny you, your Word and your values) who appear to win. But their seeming successes cannot affect the core of our stability–our relationship with you, nurtured through your Word.
You, Lord God, are our peace and joy, our hope and rest which last forever, for they are bound up in you and your eternal and unchanging character, revealed to us through your Word.
Your Word tells us that all we own, all that we value here on earth is expendable and temporary. Knowing this we can let it all go, releasing it all to you. Then we can hold on to what is eternal–which is primarily our relationship with you, nurtured by your Word, from whence flows all goodness. Then, with your given grace and strength, we can rise above all the difficulties, problems and losses of this world, remembering that you, Lord, are all that really counts.]
To you be glory this day, Lord, in all I have to do and say. May I spot and reject lying and selfishness in myself as well as in others and conform instead to your pure and positive Word.
May you, the Holy and Eternal One, our Great God and Glorious King, be lifted up and exalted before the world today in my thoughts, motives, words, actions and attitudes. Amen.
May be an image of belladonna lily and nature
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The Gift of Pain

Published by S.M. Wibberley on June 7, 2022
The Gift of Pain
 
A short post. Just got discharged from the hospital this afternoon after a small inpatient operation which was painful. The pain, however was good as it alerted me to the problem and got me to the ER where I could offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving during the looong hour I had to wait.
 
But God had a plan. Part of it was for opportunities to share from the Word with some of the staff.
 
Now, other than residual pain and the need to move slowly for a while, I am fine. Barbara handled the whole thing well, for which I am thankful. Prayers for speedy recovery appreciated.
 
Picture: in my hospital “uniform”
May be an image of 1 person, beard, eyeglasses and indoor
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The Flawless Word

Published by S.M. Wibberley on June 5, 2022
The Gift of God’s Flawless Word
Psalm 12:6 “And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.”
[Praise you, Lord God, the King of Glory, the Creator of only good, for you are Truth itself; therefore, your words are flawless and pure as newly opened flowers, for you cannot lie. You have revealed your words to your prophets, had them written down and preserved through the ages, bringing them to us as a bright light in deep darkness.
With your words you protect us, guide, teach, correct, rebuke, comfort and encourage us. As you are flawless, so are your words. Therefore they are worthy of trust, of praise, and honor through obedience.
 
As it says in Pslam 33:5-9 “For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.” We can be sure that He will always do the right thing.
 
“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” The power of His Word is incredible, monumental and marvelous.
 
Therefore, “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.”
 
In Him we are secure, in Him we can trust, in Him we are safe for His Word is true, powerful and good. Let us therefore cultivate an attitude of gratitude for all He is and Speaks.
May be an image of flower and nature
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More Autobio

Published by S.M. Wibberley on June 4, 2022
On March 12, the authorities again came to our house while I was at school and left a message for me to come to their headquarters.
 
When I got home from teaching, we gathered up any papers the authorities might consider incriminating (even though they weren’t) and put them into a brief case. I told Barbara to take it and go to someone else’s house just in case they came to search ours. Then I went to the headquarters.
 
I was surprised to see my coworker Jules there, too. The authorities took down our identity information and then led us out to a van and drove to my house. I was not concerned about this since we’d already made our preparations.
 
However, when we arrived and went in, I was shocked and then angry to find that Barbara was still there! She remained calm, however, and after letting us in, while the authorities were busy looking through the apartment, she picked up the brief case and walked out. And no one stopped or questioned her! I was relieved. A three-star God sighting.
 
After going to Jules house for the same routine, we returned to the headquarters where they put us in a large cell. Again we were surprised: there was my disciple Orin!
 
For most of us who were rounded up that day, this was the first time to be taken into custody and be put in a cell. There was a lot of uncertainty, and therefore fear. Since we all knew what could happen, we were apprehensive.
 
The fellow who placed us in the cell pointed to a man standing in the middle of the room. “Do not talk with him; he is to stand there for twenty-four hours so he will come to himself and tell us what he knows!”
 
I thought to myself, “Is that just a command, or are you really telling us what will happen to us if we don’t give you the information you expect to get from us?”
As the evening wore on, they brought in more believers, including Elly and my former student, Sam. The women were kept on the outside of the cell bars and were given chairs to sit on.
 
Our cell was sparsely furnished: just one park bench. If they kept us for the night, we would obviously have to sleep on the cement floor.
 
Sam and I had had an appointment for a discipleship lesson that evening, so we sat on the park bench and did our study right there. We were not allowed any personal possessions like a Bible, but this didn’t hamper us at all. Sam’s assignment had been to memorize half a chapter in the NT and we just did our lesson out of memory on that chapter.
 
Around 10 pm I decided to lay down and get what sleep I could. I had never slept directly on a cement floor before, and I was not surprised at how uncomfortable it was. This was accentuated by not having any pillow.
 
I also discovered that lying on my side was the most uncomfortable position, because the seam of my blue jeans cut into my leg.
 
After a while the Lord gave me the idea to take off my shoes, put them together and use them for a pillow. Then, lying on my back and putting my arm over my eyes to shut out the bright lights, I was finally able to fall asleep.
 
Picture: my “shoe pillow”
May be an image of footwear
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