S.M. Wibberley’s Blog

Update on Barbara, doing much better, after being totally un able to do anything last night, today she is able to eat and actually walked a bit. We may be able to take her home, tomorrow. We are thankful. Again today’s devotional is good for me.
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I praise you for your wonderful Word, Lord, and the powerful way you use it in our lives. During a very trying time in my life, I wrote the following.

Psalm 62:5, “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;”
[This is a command, not a suggestion. In 62:1 the same truth is given as a statement “My soul finds rest in God alone,” telling us where rest is possible. Then here we are called upon to make a choice to find our rest in You, Lord.

We need to turn away from what we naturally pursue for rest–getting what we want, resolution of situations and tensions, positive reactions of people, or removal of conflict.

The fact is that each of these solutions is fleeting and superficial, so quickly replaced by other stresses. But finding our rest in you, Lord God, is the true solution, one that is deep, powerful and eternal. Help us to willfully find our rest in you alone.]

Update on Barbara. The doctors are doing their job and have found that, in addition to Parkinson’s, her thyroid is not doing well and she has a urinary infection and very low body temperature. In the words of the nurse, “She is very sick!”

They have moved her to an area that  is one step below ICU to give her closer attention. Today’s devotional is very applicable for me,  Trusting in God, resting in His goodness.

Psalm 33:22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,”

[Praise you that your love never fails, that your consistency never fades, that you character never changes. Praise you for your promise that your love will rest upon us now, today, in every moment of need, and on into forever!]

“even as we put our hope in you.”

[Again you remind us that this is a partnership: you provide all, you wait for our participation, our choosing to hope in you. May our daily decision be to hope in you and may that hope ever be evidenced by persistent praise in our hearts, minds, souls and mouths.

To you be glory forever and ever, Lord Jesus, King of Glory, Lord of lords, Shepherd of power and God of love. I bow before you now in awe and respect, I rise up in submission and obedience to your, your Word, your Spirit, your Truth. Glorify yourself in my life today.

Today’s devotional is especially appropriate for me as I’ve spent the last two days with Barbara,  first in the emergency room and then in the hospital. She really went downhill on Friday, so I decided to take her to the ER in hopes that we could get a neurologist to prescribe her the appropriate medicine for her Parkinson’s. They decided to keep her in the hospital and this morning the neurologist came and agree with my request. So now she is on those meds and I hope we will see some improvement soon. Thank you for your prayers,

 

Psalm 33:21 “In him our hearts rejoice, ”

[You alone are the source of our joy, Lord Jesus. All that is good comes from you, from your gracious heart and grace-filled hands. To know you, to live with you, to be your child, to serve in your power–this is far more than enough for rejoicing, no matter what our circumstances may be.]

“for we trust in his holy name.”

[Yes, our joy flows because you make it possible for us to trust in you Lord Jesus, whose name means “Savior.” You have opened the way so we can know your Name in all its power and purity, its love and light, its faithfulness and forgiveness. You are worthy of trust and submission and obedience. No matter how things look to us; we can trust and praise you in every circumstance.

And along with praise, I ask, Lord, that you would bring healing to Barbara so she can come home on Monday,

Psalm 33:20 “We wait in hope for the LORD;”

[Instead of trying to save ourselves in our feeble strength, it is much wiser to pray and wait for you to act, Lord, and then join you in it.

Sometimes we wait for a long time, but you are faithful and will act at the right time, just as you did with Joseph. You kept him in prison until he had learned all that was necessary. Then at the right moment you brought him out, ready for the great work for which you had prepared him.

In you there is hope, a certainty of provision at the right time, the hope of love moved by wisdom and power to bring about what is best.]

“he is our help and our shield.”

[Your mighty, majestic power moves in love to support us in our weakness. You consistently pour out grace, wisdom, insight, peace, joy and rest upon us. Out of your superb strength you move to shield us from the attacks of the enemy, from all that would harm us spiritually.  You hold your hand of power over us to ward off the evil one and evil men. Only you are our true help and shield.]

You are the God who is beyond our dreams, beyond our hopes, beyond our understanding. You are Great and Powerful, Glorious and Perfect, Gracious and Pure. You are the fulfillment of every longing of our hearts and far more. Glory and honor certainly belong to you alone! May they flow from my life to you today.]

Psalm 33:19 “But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him…to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.”

[Here is the true picture. You, Lord Jesus, are the only One who can deliver us from death. In the greatest way you have delivered us from eternal separation from you, by your own death and resurrection. We are saved and safe now for eternity!

And you also  save us every day. How many times have you saved me from near accidents, including potential head-on crashes–and how you protected us in the one head-on crash we did have. You are at work in seen and unseen ways, delivering us from death daily.

On another level, you are the One who keeps us alive by supplying our daily bread, often in great abundance. You see our need and provide it. You are the Source of all, you are the Provider of all that is necessary and far more.

And I am glad to say that the Lord has been providing for us today. First, Barbara is doing better today, able to walk and dress herself.  And we were  told about a gym that specializes in helping Parkinson’s patients. We went today and were very encouraged with the information, perspective and enthusiasm we met. We start tomorrow for two sessions a week. Also an friend from the past called to encourage us. She got Parkinson’s at 40, and now 12 years later is doing well. The Lord is answering! Thank you for your prayers.

 

Psalm 33:19 “But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him…to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.”

King Jehoshaphat demonstrated this for us in 2 Chronicles 20 when he was suddenly confronted by a massive invading army. He chose to fear you rather than the enemy and demonstrated this by immediately coming to you for help and guidance rather than turning first to his generals. He proclaimed a fast and called all of Judah to prayer with h

He then demonstrated his trust of you by sending a choir out before his army to sing praises to you. And as the choir began to sing, you caused the enemy soldiers to turn on each other and the whole attacking army was destroyed.

You saved Jehoshaphat and his people by

–your power

–poured out in response to praise

–generated by trust

–flowing from fearing you.]

Lord help us to find our hope in you, to fear you rather than whatever threatens us. Help us to actively trust you by coming to you first in any challenge, and by offering praise to your name instead of complaining and living in fear, hopelessness and despair.

May we walk in the light of the truth that, “The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining on ever more brightly until the full light of day” (Prov. 4:18).

 

 

Psalm 33:19 “But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him…to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.”

[Here is the true picture. You, Lord Jesus, are the only One who can deliver us from death. In the greatest way you have delivered us from eternal separation from you, by your own death and resurrection. We are saved and safe now for eternity!

And you save us every day. How many times have you saved me from near accidents, including potential head-on crashes–and how you protected us in the one head-on crash we did have. You are at work in seen and unseen ways, delivering us from death daily.

On another level, you are the One who keeps us alive by supplying our daily bread, often in great abundance. You see our need and provide it. You are the Source of all, you are the Provider of all that is necessary and far more.

Help us to remember you perfect provision, your proposed plans and your positive protection, especially now as we face challenges with Barbara’s illness. We thank you for what are doing and will do, for you are good.

Psalm 33:18 “But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,”

[It is wise to choose to fear and reverence You, Lord, rather than people. This means to stand in awe of your wisdom, to care deeply what you think about each thing, and to live in submission to your Truth rather than culture or personal preference. Fearing you leads us to choose what is right, rather than just what is comfortable.

Our hope must be in your gracious and good heart of love, not in people, or circumstances or our own efforts. We must choose to come to you in each situation, to seek your help, to rest in and trust in you. Then you will act on our behalf. You call us to an active partnership role, to live in responses of faith.

This is a timely challenge for me as my wife has been tentatively diagnosed with Parkinson’s. In just two weeks she has plunged from being  pretty much self-caring to needing help with everything: dressing, bathroom, talking and walking. We will see a physical therapist on Monday who specializes in helping patients with Parkinson’s disease. We are also waiting for an appointment with a neurologist so she can be prescribed the necessary meds that will slow the downward slide. Please pray with us for an appointment soon.

This is the time for a big shift in our lives, letting go of many things I will no longer be able to do, for my focus is to be caring for Barbara. And I do this willingly, offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving., for God has a plan in this.

What a wonderful security to be in the hands of our wonderful God, with whom we can live the truth that Knowing Jesus is Enough for Joy no matter what the circumstance.

Psalm 33:17 “A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.”

[In David’s days a horse was the strongest weapon available in battle, the most powerful military means, but it was not enough to deliver. The rider needed help from God, or he was doomed.

So it is with us: technology, machines and weapons are available, but they are just tools, useless without you, Lord. You are the Victor, as stated in Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord Almighty.”

You alone, Lord, are the Ruler, the Decider, the Helper of all who turn to you. “My salvation and my honor depend on God. He is my mighty rock and my refuge” (Ps. 62:7). “Blessed is the man who trusts in Him.” (Ps. 34:8). In every circumstance we must turn first to you: “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles” (Ps. 34:6).] And we have experienced this many times over many years.

Lord, forgive me for first looking for help in the wrong places: my own efforts, people, professionals, possessions, money and machines. Help me instead to call out first of all to you. Then use any means you desire to deliver me in such a way that you get the glory and that all around me will see that it is your work, not that of mere men. Thank you now for how you will answer this prayer for us weak ones, in all that is to come.

Psalm 33:16 “No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.”

[Large armies and great power are not the deciding factor–God is, as shown in many Old Testament stories.

–I think of the huge multinational army that came against King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20. He turned to God for help and God caused the enemy soldiers to turn on one another and destroy themselves.

–I think of the great army of Assyria that came against King Hezekiah and how the Lord put to death 185,000 of them in one night by a plague and saved Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:36).

–I Think of David versus Goliath, of Daniel versus the lions.

–Then there is Paul, attacked and beaten by a large mob of Jews at the temple, but God sent the Roman commander to save him. In each case the deciding factor is not might or size, but God.

So it is with us, Lord, we are weak and vulnerable to the powerful forces around us—Satanic, political, financial and physical. Think of how the poor Christians in Syria have had to flee from one conflict after another. But in the midst of such trouble, they–and we–can and must turn to you for help, rather than looking to the puny powers of this world.]