Handfuls of Blessings

I was reading in the book of Ruth today and was especially blessed by something I came across in chapter 2.  Ruth has moved back to the holy land with her mother-in-law, Naomi, and gives herself in loving devotion to meet their daily needs.  Ruth goes to the fields every day to glean a little left-over wheat which the reapers have left lying on the ground.  The day comes when God directs the attention of Boaz [one of Naomi's relatives] to take notice of Ruth and begin showing kindness to her.  Boaz instructs the reapers of the field to leave ‘handfuls’ of wheat behind that Ruth might pick up and take home.  Suddenly, Ruth and Naomi have more than enough to meet their needs!

I like to think of God as someone who delights in bringing to us ‘handfuls of blessings’.  It is so wonderful to realize that God knows our needs, our situations in life, and how best to bring us what we need.  Today, God wants me to see Him as the abundant provider of all my needs, and the One who delights in strewing across my path ‘handfuls of blessings’.

“My God shall supply all of your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”   Philippians 4:19

Sitting Under A Juniper Tree

Have you ever found yourself ’sitting under a juniper tree’?  I guess all of us have, at one time or another.  The mighty prophet of God, Elijah, even had a time in his life when he found himself ’sitting under a juniper tree’.  In 1 Kings 19:4 we read, “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, ‘It is enough, now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers’.”  God had just won a great victory over the prophets of Baal and had vindicated his own prophet, Elijah, and had shown to the nation of Israel that he was God’s messenger.  It was an astounding victory that turned the hearts of the people back to God!

However, it wasn’t long after the shouting died down that another voice was heard.  It was the voice of Jezebel, the wicked wife of King Ahab.  She was so angry at the victory that Elijah had won by God’s power that she put ‘a price’ on Elijah’s head and called for his death.  Elijah–emotionally, physically, and spiritually drained from all of the events of the previous several days–upon hearing of Jezebel’s threat turns and runs.  Totally worn out, he finds a place under a juniper tree and cries out to God in despair.  For Elijah the juniper tree represented a place of fear, loneliness, and despair.  He was not ready for any more battles, instead, he wanted to give up!  The wicked Queen had thrown fear into his heart and for a moment Elijah lost sight of God, and the resources that were his by faith.  Elijah said, ’I am ready to die.’ 

Before we become too hard on Elijah, we must all admit that there have been times in our lives when we found ourselves ’sitting under the juniper tree’, instead of out on the battlefield for God.  Maybe we have been hurt.  Maybe the way has become tough for us and we have turned back in fear.  Maybe we experienced some losses, or bitter disappointments, that have taken the wind out of us, and we feel frustrated and defeated.  Whatever it might be, we have all at different times in our lives found ourselves ’sitting under a juniper tree.’

I am writing this today, because I want God to be my strength in those hard times in life so that I don’t slink away and crawl under some rock, and just wish for life to pass by!  I pray that God will be my Rock, my defense, my Hope!  I want Him to be the healer of my soul when I have been hurt, or am suffering from some discouragement that would drag me down.  My soul has been lifted up many times this week by meditating on the 23rd Psalm this past week and reminding myself every day that ‘the Lord IS my shepherd.’  It is so encouraging to me to be reminded that: He cares for me, loves me, believes in me, and promises to guide me in His perfect will.  This does not always mean that life will be easy, or that circumstances will always go our way.  We do know, however, as believers in Christ that ‘all things WILL work for our GOOD.’  I am blessed and comforted by that!

If you find yourself ’sitting under a juniper tree’ today, lift your eyes and look into the face of your Heavenly Father who cares more for you than anyone else in this whole world!  GET OUT from under that tree–of loneliness, fear, anger, despair, and defeat.  God promises to fight our battles for us!   Let’s let Him do that!

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present HELP in time of trouble.”     Psalm 46:1

Father’s Day

Today has been a great Father’s Day for me!  I am so thankful for my wonderful wife and two great sons [and a great daughter-in-law].  We enjoyed a wonderful morning of worship, a nice lunch at a mexican restaurant and enjoyed the evening by watching the Yankees beat the Mets.  I received calls and cards that meant so much to me.  I felt so affirmed today!

“Lord, thank You for the blessings you bring to our lives.”

Always

I have been meditating on Jesus’ words given to us in Matthew 28:20, “Lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age.”  I have been especially blessed by His emphasis, ”always.”   It’s not just that He promises His presence to be with us…but ‘always’ with us.  This is so encouraging when you are going through difficult times and needing His presence to cheer you on.  I am taking great encouragement in that word ‘always’ today!  I am so thankful that He knows all about our circumstances, our struggles, and our needs.

“Thank you, Lord, that you are ALWAYS with us no matter what!”

  

Computer Jargon

The last several days I have been thinking about my spiritual walk with Christ in terms of computer language.  On my personal computer, if there is something that will be beneficial to me, and I want to easily access it in the future, all I have to do is ‘download’ it to my computer.  All the information is stored and is available for my use.  Everytime I spend time in God’s Word I am ‘downloading’ His truth into my life.  The way I will grow spiritually, and become more like Christ, is to be continually ‘downloading’ God’s Word into my life.  Paul says in Colossians 3 that we are to “let the word of Christ richly dwell within us.”  

As Christ’s Word is integrated into my life through obedience and personal application, I will see ‘life-change’ take place.  Paul tells me in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  This renewing of our minds comes through the Word of God as it brings God’s truth and wisdom to our lives.  In Romans 10:17 Paul says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ.”   As I am spending time in God’s Word, and letting God’s Word feed me, and instruct me, and change me….I will be growing to be more like Christ.

I have noticed from time to time, that when I go to my computer there will be a small window that will tell me that new information has been added to my computer and it has been ‘updated’.   Every day my life needs to be ‘updated’ with God’s truth.  Jesus told us to pray this way, “Give us this day our daily bread.”   God wants me in His Word every day!   I need His truth to guide and direct my life.   I not only need it, I am hungry for it, and want to make it a vital part of every day!

“Lord, thank you that your desire for me is to become more like Your Son, Jesus Christ!”

The Old Flu Bug

I’ve been struggling the last two days with a bad cold.  My sinuses are completely stopped up, I have a sore throat, and I feel miserable.  Apart from that…..I feel great!  HA!  The weather here has been in the low 90s, with high humidity.  Things are really dry and we’re hoping for some rain in the next couple of days.  Today, Mary Lou and I looked through two homes.  They were both very nice and we’re hoping to put an offer on one of them tomorrow.  We are very excited about owning our own home again.  Jon and Michelle will be heading out tomorrow for Indiana with all of their belongings. Pray for them as they make the long travel here from Arizona.  We are so glad they will be here working with us.  Pray for me that I’ll be over this cold by Sunday.  I want to be my best when I declare God’s Word.

“The Lord is my stength and my salvation….”   Psalm 27