Under His Wings

by Peggy Brown

I decided to accept Sue’s challenge to choose a verse for the year! My verse is:

Psalm 91:4 “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

Since I love birds, the analogy of being covered with feathers and being under the wings of a bird creates quite a mental picture for me. When a mother bird is sitting on a nest it’s usually after she has fed the wriggling, cheeping, naked babies. They are well hidden and ready to settle down. When they become still, you would never even know that there were baby birds in the nest! There is not a beak, a feather or a toe sticking out! They are safe and secure.

I think of myself as the baby bird…sometimes wriggling and making lots of noise, waiting for my needs to be met (sometimes oblivious to any danger that may be lurking nearby), sometimes figuratively naked…vulnerable in some way. But under God’s feathers I am nourished, cared for and protected. Under His wings I can settle down and take shelter!

The part about His faithfulness being my shield and rampart is so cool! The definition of rampart is “A broad elevation or mound of earth raised as a fortification around a place and usually capped with a stone or earth parapet”. I picture an old fashioned castle with a high mound of earth surrounding it giving the people on the inside a safe view of what’s happening on the outside, also giving them protection should they be attacked. God’s faithfulness is what protects me and shelters me when I am facing trouble or danger.

There will be times during this year when my heart is vulnerable, and my soul is hungry. There will be times this year when I am in danger of walking into sin. There will be times this year when I will need the comfort that no earthly friend can provide. My goal for this year is to let this verse saturate my mind so thoroughly, to have it so firmly in my heart (Ps. 119:105), that when those time comes, my first thought will be to take shelter in the comfort and protection of His feathers and His shield!

I have to share another old hymn with you! The title is “Under His Wings”.

"Under His wings I am safely abiding, Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me, He has redeemed me, and I am His child.

Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow! How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing, There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.

Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment! There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;

Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me, Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.

Under His wings, under His wings, who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide, Safely abide forever."

Lord, You are my protection and my shelter. I tend to forget that when life gets difficult. I purpose to hide Your word in my heart this year so that it isn’t so easy to forget Your promises. Help me to be faithful! Amen

Scripture reading for the week of Feb. 10, 2009 - John 15:8-17

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are smy friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another. “ ESV

“When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.” New Living Translation

Unreached

by Kate Hasson

I cannot tell the name of the place my parents will be living for the next three months but I can tell you it is far away, within the 10/40 window, and is a land of NO Christian freedom, a land of people who are unreached with the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah. They will be leaving on this Sunday, and returning May 31^st. They will be missing the birth of my third daughter, their fourth grandchild.

My heart is aching to think of how long they will be gone for. They have always, ALWAYS been there for me, and now, in a very real way, they won’t be. I’ll miss being with my mom every week, the comfort of her love and support. I’ll miss my dad’s counsel and wisdom and the joy and security of his presence. I’ll be nervous for their safety and health.

Yet here is what my Savior says,

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose is, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:37-39

Again, He says,

“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33

Mom and Dad are eager and excited to go because the whole reason of this adventure isn’t for their own physical pleasure, it isn’t what they’ve earned now that they are empty-nesters, it isn’t retirement (should there even be such a thing?). They are thrilled to go to a land of want because they are bringing the Good News. As difficult and scary as it may be, bringing Jesus to a land that thirsts for His living water is what will bring them ultimate pleasure. They are giving up routine and physical comfort for the forever salvation of others whom they don’t even know, yet whom God has already called and has loved with an everlasting love.

They have come to see that the American dream of family, health, home, academics, church, security, and religious safety does NOT save. Life doesn’t exist for us to accomplish these good things. Life exists for us to enjoy God and bring others to enjoy Him too!

I cannot shrink back in fear for my kids wellbeing, or my living situation, or even the safety of my own life and let time pass by until I have everything in order or until I feel ready or until my kids are grown, or until I finish... I must, we all must, everyone who professes Christ as Savior must set aside the good, for the greater Good.

He’s coming; He’s coming in the blink of an eye. Are there more unreached? Has everyone heard?

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for your obedience to go. For your transformed passion for the unreached, for expressing the joy Christ has given you for the salvation of His people, and for not hiding back in fear because you’re going against the flow of the American church. It’s frightening and encouraging to see you put your lives totally and completely into His hands and it causes me and I’m sure others to want to do the same. May He bless the labor of your hands. We’re praying for you. Please pray for us.

Do You Know the Backstory?

by Missy Grant

“I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel…” Phil 4:2-3

Do you know the backstory……? In Philippians 4:2, Paul “urges Euodia and Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.” Philippians 4 is rich….oh, so rich, but I just want you to focus on verse 2 today. Why did Paul call them by name? Have you ever asked yourself that question? The backstory to Philippians 4 is that Paul is sitting in prison writing to his beloved in Philippi. He church planted there more than 11 years prior to the writing of his letter. He has received word that there was division within the body and two of his beloved co-laborers in Christ were at the center of it. How do we know they were beloved co-laborers….his word tells us that in verse 3. Unity of the body is very, very important to our Lord and therefore, important to Paul. These two women who had labored with him were now experiencing a difference of opinion or direction in ministry. We really don’t know the issue other than it was causing anxiety within the body. That we do know because in verse 6 Paul instructs the recipients of his letter to not be anxious.

Paul calling his co-laborers by name is very revealing and our focus today. There are a few possibilities as to the why of that. It is possible that these women were so prominent in their respective ministries that many would have known whom Paul was speaking to, so why not call them by name? I think that is a true possibility, but what strikes me more is the need to be specific in giving our anxiety to the Lord. I think his use of specifics was intentional and provided a foundation for the rest of the chapter.

Paul could have easily said, “I urge you to live in harmony in the Lord”, but his language was not that general. We can pray very generally to our Lord, but I believe there are times he wants the specifics. He hears our words and knows our thoughts, but there is something to being specific in our prayers.

What are you anxious about today? I want you to write down 4 or 5 things that you are anxious about. BE SPECIFIC – don’t just write down finances – write down, “I am anxious over the thought that I do not have enough money to pay rent tomorrow, or enough money to pay for……” What else are you anxious over? Worry over the health and safety of a loved one, illness, relationship issues, loneliness, educational choices…..BE SPECIFIC.

Now…Paul gives you instruction in verse 6 in what to do with your anxiety.

Give this a try… Lord, your word says to not be anxious for anything, but in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD.”(emphasis mine) Lord, this is what I am anxious about (read your list)…… Lord, my anxiety brings division within me - it separates soul and spirit. Your word instructs me to bring my anxieties to you and your peace will be with me. Thank you Lord, for redeeming that which is of you. You defeated at the cross the one who seeks to create anxiety – may we recognize Your power in victory and experience the freedom we have in “doing all things in Christ who strengthens me.” We praise you, Lord. Amen

God's Good Plan

by Debbi Weeks

I’ve really been “into” World War II lately. After reading, Things We Couldn’t Say, by Diet Eman, (see September 3, 2008 post) I have been fascinated by that slice of history. We recently saw two movies based on true stories of World War II, Valkyrie and Defiance. Valkyrie is based on the 15^th assassination attempt by the Nazi’s of Hitler. Defiance is based on a group of Jewish people who escape to live in the forest during the German occupation of Belorussia. Both are astounding stories and I was amazed at the courage of the people depicted in the films.

I couldn’t help but question why God had not allowed the assassination attempt to be successful (or the previous 14 attempts for that matter!). Although Hitler committed suicide just seven months after the attempt that was depicted in Valkyrie, I still couldn’t help but wonder how many lives would have been saved had the SS been disbanded sooner.

There were points in each of these films that I questioned why God didn’t act differently. From that small sliver of one piece of the world, at that one particular moment in history, it didn’t make sense to my little finite mind. Why didn’t God allow something that looked like it would have brought so much good? I wrestled with this question for a little while and then the Spirit reminded me of what I know of God. Isaiah 55:8 and 9 came to mind: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”

I needed to be reminded that God sees the entire world in that moment in time, as well as every moment in time, on an eternal continuum from the beginning to the end. He is the author and the orchestrator of it all. He knows the impact of one set of circumstances on every other set of circumstances. That small slice in time that I saw was just that—a very small slice. And the circumstances that were depicted were just a small part of all that was going on at that time and really, an even smaller part of eternity’s circumstances. Finite me must trust the infinite God. His ways are not my ways. No, His ways are far higher and though I don’t always understand, I can trust and praise Him for His sovereign plan.

Father God, thank You that You are infinite and that You have a plan that is far beyond what our mere finite minds can comprehend.

Please forgive me for questioning your sovereign plan.

Thank You for showing me that what I see is just one small slice of an incredibly big eternity.

Lord, please help me to trust Your plan for yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Stay Put

by Sue Donaldson

Four weeks ago, I suggested you ask God for your theme verse for 2009. Did you come up with one? (Did you forget to ask? There’s still time – it’s only February.)

Lisa Leonard—of jewelry making fame—recently featured a new design for January: a simple square pendant in which you choose your “word for the year.”

Here’s an excerpt:

“Courage. Dream. Inspire. Breathe. Family. Play. Peace. What will your ‘word of the year’ be?” Check out details at: lisaleonardonline.com

One I came across stood apart from all the others – here it is

“ABIDE”

Most likely a Christian ordered it, don’t you think? It’s not a word an unbeliever bandies about most days. I loved it for its beauty, simplicity, and strong reminder~ I want to abide in Jesus, day-in-and-day-out, not just this year.

The comprehensive passage is John 15. Jesus uses the word abide 9 times in 11 verses (John 15:1-11) –which includes vines and branches and fruit and things that burn—I’ll have my choice of theme verses.

Abide means to “remain” – “dwell” – “stay.” I’ll add “stay put.” And, 4 times he says, “Abide in Me.” It doesn’t help to just stay put – it’s where I place my stay.

I know this passage speaks to my responsibility to stay where I need to be. But, today I’m smiling and grinning and a little teary-eyed just thinking about staying close to my Lord. He’s invited me (and you, too, of course.) And that makes me feel great.

How do you abide?

How do you know you’re in that place, close to His heart?

What brings you there and keeps you there?

What’s your favorite part about it?

Is there a song or phrase that helps you “stay put” in Jesus?

Why don’t you share it—we could all use the reminders (and, I just may need another Lisa Leonard necklace!)

Father,

Thank you for inviting us to abide in You. There’s no other place I’d rather be. Love, Sue

Scripture reading for the week of Feb. 2 - John 15:1-7

^“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

NASB

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. but if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!”

New Living Translation

"Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me.

"I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.”

The Message