Under His Wings

Show me the wonders of your great love,
    you who save by your right hand
    those who take refuge in you from their foes.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
    hide me in the shadow of your wings
from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
    from my mortal enemies who surround me.
Psalm 17:7-9 NRSV

Like a mother bird protects her young ones under her wings; the Lord protects us. Under His wings we live under His care. But, when we step out and try to live our lives without Him, we are exposing ourselves to dangers without protection. 

Of course, we will be attacked even when we are living in the shelter of the Most High God. But, then we will be able to continue on in the confidence of knowing that God is with us and He is for us. He will protect us and guide us in His Way. God, in His great love for us, is our refuge and strength.

May God help us to desire to live in the shadow of His wings and to trust Him through all of our days.

God's Peace - Pr. J

With Wings Like Eagles

Even youths will faint and be weary,
    and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
    they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:30-31 NRSV

We all get weary from time to time. Physical weariness can sometimes actually be quite satisfying when it comes from a long, hard day of work. However, I have not found emotional, mental, or spiritual weariness to ever be satisfying. It is a struggle for many to overcome this type of weariness that often brings depression. It is not overcome alone. We must wait on the Lord and trust Him to renew our strength. He will send His Spirit upon you so that you might once again soar like the eagle through the trials of the day.  

 

In Christ, we shall run and not be weary.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Lord Renews Our Strength



On Eagle's Wings

Life brings us a lot of challenges. There are days when I wonder how I will manage to be in so many places at one time. There are so many people in need; so many who suffer; so many who are alone and lonely. How can we help them all? I make a lot of lists. If I don't, by the time I get home, I realize that I have not gotten to someone I had intended to get to.

It can seem overwhelming at times. Lists help to keep me on focus. But, more importantly rising early to study God's word and to spend time in prayer is essential if I want to be prepared to meet the day and any challenges the day might bring. I find strength in God's word and in his presence. I need to be able to talk to him and listen to Him and trust Him.

Isaiah reminds us that we are to wait and to trust in the Lord. He will give us the strength to meet the challenges.

"Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
    and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary,
    and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,    they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31 NRS 

We all grow weary at times. Trust in and lean on the One who does not for His strength never fails Him or us.

God's Peace - Judy 

Malachi 4 - Rising Sun

Years ago, I was helping a group of teen-agers form a church youth group. It was their idea to start meeting regularly as a group and they wanted to have a name for the group. There were quite a few suggestions, which I do not recall. But, there was one suggestion that I will always remember. One teen-age boy suggested they should call themselves "The Rising Sun." My mind immediately went to "The House of the Rising Sun," a song, by the 60's band, The Animals, whose lyrics are not exactly fitting for a church youth group. The other "Rising Sun" that came to mind was Japan.

So, I asked him why he thought that would be a good name. I was surprised when his response took us directly to Malachi, chapter four. He actually knew book, chapter, and verse.

"But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves." Malachi 4:2

That a Jr. High youth would even know this verse, I found quite astounding! Who taught this child? It certainly wasn't me! How many adults have read this verse and then actually remember it if they have read it? It is certainly not one of those verses that I had committed to memory. But, he had. I spoke with him not long ago via a chat box on the internet. He is happily married and happily a father. And, to my delight he is still studying his Bible and actually knows about and what some of our great theologians of the past (and present) taught. God has put His Spirit in that young man (everyone seems young to me lately). The "Rising Sun," "The Sun of Righteousness," has shone upon him. Thanks be to God!

May the sun of righteousness rise with healing in its wings and shine upon all of you.

God's Peace - Pr. J. 

Isaiah 40 - You Worship A What? A Piece Of Wood?

One of my favorite scriptures....  It includes the scripture that predicts, the forerunner of Jesus, John the Baptist's coming:

"A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the deserta highway for our God"" (Isa 40:3 NIV)

As well as a reminder that the LORD will tend His flock like a tender shepherd and the verses that the favorite hymn "On Eagle's Wings" comes from.

"Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not be faint." (Isa 40:28-31)

The LORD is the everlasting God. As I was reading this chapter anew this morning, it struck me how we have this awesome God who created and cares for all things. He is God! Yet, much of humankind prefers to make their own gods.

 ^"With whom, then, will you compare God?
To what image will you liken him?
As for an idol, a metalworker casts it,
and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
and fashions silver chains for it.
A person too poor to present such an offering
selects wood that will not rot;
they look for a skilled workerto set up an idol that will not topple." (Isa 40:18:20)

It is quite unimaginable to me to consider building (creating) a god to worship and neglecting to worship of the One true God who created us. Why in the world would anyone worship an image made of metal or wood made by their own hands. No matter how well it is made, it is still an inanimate object and can do nothing for you. If you have to create it, it is certainly no god! It can do nothing for you!

Worship then the One who can. The One who gives strength to the weary. The One who created you, who created all the world and all that is in it. Worship the one who can and will not only give you strength when you are weary, but peace when you are troubled.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Isaiah 31 - The LORD Alone Saves

Again, we hear that those who trust in Egypt rather than God for their salvation from the Assyrians will fall.

But the Egyptians are mere mortals and not God;
their horses are flesh and not spirit.
When the Lord stretches out his hand,
those who help will stumble,
those who are helped will fall;
all will perish together. (Isa 31:3 NIV)

All of the shepherds in the world will not be able to save God's people from the roaring lion (Assyria). There is only One who can save them. That is the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. Assyria will indeed fall, just as all who come against God's faithful people will fall. They will not fall by any plan of man, but because that is the lot of those who continue to refuse God's will.

How about you? How about your community? Is it the LORD's will that you are concerned about or is it man's will? Be aware! Do not encourage or enable those who choose their own way over the LORD's Way. I say it again:  there is only one way.  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  (John 14:6)

Return to the One you have so greatly revolted against. Reject the idols of silver and gold your sinful hands have made. (Isa 31:6-7) Return to the LORD and dwell under the shelter of His wings. (Psalm 61:4)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Psalm 91 - Shelter of the Most High

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty!" (Psalm 91:1 NIV)  One of my favorite Psalms!

I think I pray at least one of these verses almost every day and it's not always the same one.  God is our refuge and fortress.  We can find refuge and rest, under His wings, no matter what kind of storms ravage around us.

The enemy may attack, but we have no need of fear, for a thousand will fall at His side, by His right hand ten thousand will fall. Ten thousand will fall...  This part of Psalm 91, I confess I pray quite frequently.  That the enemy will not be able to come near or conquer, but by the hand of God, the enemy will be stopped in their tracks.  And... the enemy is.

What comfort it is to know that all who call on His name are afforded the love and protection of the Most High, our Almighty God, the most magnificent that ever was, is, and ever shall be.  We are His!  Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 57 - Advent Watch

"Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth." (Psalm 57:5 NIV)

Can you imagine what it will be like to witness the full glory of God over all the earth?  Every knee will definitely bow!  There are days when I think and pray, let it be now, O LORD!  Let it be today! 

So much chaos in this world, so much division, so many disasters.  The church on earth is busy working toward peace.  It is busy working for unity.  But, the only real and lasting peace and unity that will come for all of God's people is the peace that comes when the LORD returns for His Church.

We are reminded, during Advent, to wait and watch for that day.  But, in the meantime, when we face troubling times, we take refuge under the shadow of His wings.  (vs 1)

God's Peace - Pr. J