Ok, I get it!

Have you ever had the feeling that God was trying to tell you something? I’ve had that feeling lately.

My scripture readings over the last few days have started to develop a common theme. I’ve been reading Psalms 59-62, and I’ve been struck by the concept that God is our refuge. My last blog entry talked about God being our refuge during the storms of life. Then today I was talking to my sister-in-law who’s in charge of women’s ministries at her church in Texas. I asked her what they have going on right now and she said they’re working on a women’s retreat about refuge.

Ok, I get it! I think God wants to show me something!

To really get a handle on the fact that God wants to be our place of refuge, let’s do something together. Print off the following verses and circle every time a word relating to “refuge” is mentioned. The psalmist lists various words for refuge such as “fortress,” “rock,” “shield,” etc.

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Psalm 18:2

“O my Strength, I watch for You;
You, O God, are my fortress.”
Psalm 59:9

“But I will sing of your strength,
In the morning I will sing of your love;
For you are my fortress,
My refuge in times of trouble.
O my Strength, I sing praise to You;
You, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.”
Psalm 59:16-17

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
My hope comes from Him,
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will not be shaken,
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your hearts to Him,
For God is our refuge.”
Psalm 62:5-8

Now make a list of each word you found as synonym for refuge.

Here is the list I came up with: rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, horn & strength. Do we have the same list? These words attest to a powerful God, don’t they? There’s more to discover about God and His desire to be our refuge, so let’s learn more about it together. Stay posted, and maybe we can say, “Ok, I get it” together!

Prayer: Lord, what do you have to show us through Your Word today? We read that You want to be our refuge because we see You’ve mentioned it over and over in Scripture. Please show each one of us how to apply this concept to our lives as we dig into these Bible verses.

Scripture: See above verses!

Divine Assignments

This morning the kids and I were reading a devotional about divine assignments. (Not the 007 type, but pretty close!) There are many examples of divine assignments in the Bible. Mary’s was to give birth to the Messiah. It’s hard to top that one! Moses had the divine assignment of freeing the Israelites from slavery. These were clearly tasks ordained by God!

We started thinking about how we could be involved with God’s divine assignments. What types of divine assignments can a stay-at-home mom and two grade-school age kids, or any of us for that matter, encounter in our daily lives?

The kids had some great ideas. They could help someone at school who is hurting. They could be extra kind and include someone in their class who is not always included. My ideas were to encourage a friend or write a blog entry that could draw someone closer to Christ. We all prayed that God would show us His divine assignment for today and then the kids left for school.

I didn’t have long to wait for mine to be revealed. Soon after the kids left, a friend called. She has been going through a rough time lately and I knew my divine assignment was to encourage her. The Scripture passages I’ve been reading lately fit in perfectly with the issues she’s dealing with right now, so I shared what the Lord had shown me.

The important part of my divine assignment was that I had the tools to help my friend. There have been times in my life when I have not been in the Word and would not have been able to help her. I was thankful that I’d been reading the Bible and that God could use what He’s been showing me to help someone else.

Another friend of mine is often presented with divine assignments at her workplace. Co-workers and even clients come to her for advice and wisdom because they know her knowledge comes from the Lord. Some of her divine assignments are unexpected and take time out of her busy day, but I know that the Lord has placed her at her job so that He can use her to encourage others around her.

All of us have divine assignments. We just have to look for them and take advantage of them when they arise. If you don’t feel like you have any divine assignments, then pray that God will give you one. Read the Word daily so you have the right tools to complete the assignment. I can’t wait to find out about the divine assignments my kids had today!

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want You to give me divine assignments. I know I need to be in Your Word and in prayer so that I will see the assignments when You present them. I want to be ready and waiting when an assignment arises and I want to be used by You.

Searching for Refuge

This summer my mom and I took the kids up to Minnesota’s captivating North Shore. It rained most of the time, but we still enjoyed breathtaking views of the beautiful rocky shoreline. The rain continued through our entire trip home. As we reached my mom’s house to drop her off, the rain’s intensity increased and so did my desire for the kids and I to reach our own home and our own beds.

A few minutes after leaving mom’s house the weather turned ugly. I have never driven through such a horrible storm as I did that day. I could not see even one foot in front of me as the driving rain poured down and then it began to hail. When I saw lightning flash three times on the road in front of me, I knew the kids and I needed to pray, literally, for our lives.

I searched for a place on the side of the road to pull over. I longed for some driveway or another side road where we could take refuge. If we stayed on the road and pulled over, we risked the chance of someone coming behind us and hitting us. If we turned around to go back to my parent’s house, we risked the chance of someone coming from the other direction and hitting us. It was one of the scariest moments of my life.

“We’re going to turn around. Pray!” I told the kids. With a desperate prayer, I swung the car around and started the scary journey back to my parent’s home. After fifteen long minutes that felt like hours, we arrived at our place of refuge. It felt so good to be safe in a warm, dry place.

I was reminded of this story today as I read in Psalms. Quite a few verses in the book of Psalms talk about God as our refuge.

Psalm 57:1 “…for in You my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”
Psalm 59:16-17 “For You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.”
Psalm 61: 3 “For You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.”

These are just a few verses that I’ve read lately, so I’m sure there are plenty more about God being our refuge. That day in the midst of a physical storm in my life, God was there, guiding my car to a safe place of refuge. When you or I are experiencing an emotional storm, He is also there. The Bible says we can take refuge in the shadow of His wings.

No matter what kind of storm you’re going through in life, take refuge in God. He wants to put His arms around you and embrace you. He wants you to take refuge in the shadow of His wings until the storm has passed. Like me on that horrible night, you may have to go through the storm first, but take heart in knowing He will be right beside you until the disaster has passed.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 57, 59 & 61

Prayer: Lord, we do not enjoy going through storms, whether they’re physical or emotional. However, we know storms are part of life here on earth. Thank you for being such a loving and caring God. Thank you for promising to be our refuge until the storm has passed. Thank you for coming along side us as we encounter storms in our lives. We will trust in You.

Silent Step Could Mean Big Changes

This year is one of those “bonus” school years for me because both of my kids are in the same school. This unique “bonus” happens once every three years. It’s an ideal situation because I only have to keep track of what is going on at one school instead of two!

Unfortunately, the upper elementary school where both kids attend doesn’t seem to need as many parent volunteers as the primary school did. While I miss being involved in their classrooms, I’ve found out I can still volunteer in other areas. Now I’m on the call list to help with the school’s quarterly testing. It’s not the same as being in their classes, which made me a little sad. However, the job did come with the title, “Volunteer Test Proctor.” Who in their right mind would turn down a job with such a prestigious name?

As I proctored some tests yesterday, I realized that there was a higher purpose to being a Volunteer Test Proctor. (I really enjoy using that title.) I decided I would use the testing time to pray for each one of the students in my computer lab by name. As I walked around the room, I prayed that God would protect them, that they would have a good school year, and most importantly, I prayed that they would seek God and know Him on a personal level.

When they finished their test, I told each one of them that they’d done a good job and to have a good day. I tried to compliment them on something they were wearing (it happened to be crazy hat day so it was pretty easy to start up conversations) or ask them about the book they’d brought to read after their test. I don’t know what each child’s home life is like, so I tried to be a bright spot in their day.

I Timothy 2:1-4 says, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone … God our Savior wants all men to be saved.” Maybe you don’t have a school setting available to you, but you could go around your office and pray for each co-worker by name. At the check-out line, you can silently pray for the clerk. As you drive out of your neighborhood, you can pray over one house a day and ask God to be present in that home.

There are many unique ways to pray for people every day. Silent prayers can make a huge difference, even if the person you’re praying for is a stranger. Start today by finding someone you can bless through anonymous prayer. You may never know the outcome of that prayer, but we don’t have to know the end result for prayer to be effective. We can trust in God’s Word that says He wants all men to be saved. Your intercession can make all the difference in the world.

Scripture: I Timothy 2:1-4

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you allow us to help change the world through prayers. Please help us to take notice of the people around us who need prayer. Thank you that You want all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. We want to take the time to pray for others, even if we’ve never met them and will never see them again. Thank you for the power of prayer.

Dating Again

Back in March, I started doing something I called “50 First Dates.” (Check the March archives for the “50 First Dates” entry.) I felt God calling me to spend the first part of my day with Him, so I decided to commit to spending 50 mornings in a row with Him. Those “dates” became some of the sweetest experiences I’ve ever had with God. I felt close so to Him, and I was really growing in my faith.

After the 50 days were done, I became lax on how diligently I was spending the first part of my day with God. I’d miss one here or there then I’d miss a couple days in a row. As time went on, I could tell my relationship with God was getting weaker. I wasn’t keeping Him as a priority in my day. I’d justify not spending time with Him in the morning by telling myself I’d spend time with Him later. Sometimes later never came.

A friend and I decided to hold each other accountable to spending time early in the morning with God. We called it giving God our “first and best” to God. However, we realized that the first moment we wake up in the morning may not actually be the “best” time to spend with God. (If you’ve read my blog then you’re acutely aware I am not a morning person!)

We decided that we would change it to giving the first part of the day to God, either first thing when we woke up or right after the kids left for school -- but no later than that!

Today was a new beginning. Of course I started after the kids went to school. I’m looking forward to 49 more dates with God. After that, I’ll start 50 more dates until I hit 365. I realized I can’t afford to stop the dates or even to postpone the dates. I want that close fellowship with my Savior.

After the kids left for school, I read James 4:8 which says, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” It’s so simple. If we spend time with God, He will come near to us. I am clinging to that promise in James and I’m looking forward to what God wants to show me.

Scripture: James 4:8

Prayer: Lord, what are we missing on the days we choose not to spend time with You? Why would we choose not to spend time in close fellowship with the Creator of the universe? We are sorry for all of the times we don’t put You first in our day. Thank you for the promise in Your Word that if we come near to You, You will come near to us. Thank you for the gift of a relationship with You. We promise not to take it for granted.

Panic Mode

On Monday of last week I have to admit I was freaking out. You see, my husband and I are going to Florida in two months and we need someone to watch our kids. All of a sudden on Monday I started to panic. I needed to find six nights of childcare and for some reason, I needed to do it on that Monday.

Do you ever have days like that – days where something that really isn’t an emergency all of a sudden seems extremely important? That’s how it was for me last Monday. I was feeling a sense of urgency to find a temporary home for my kids and I worked myself up into panic mode.

I tried not to sound as desperate as I felt when I sent out an e-mail to a few friends. I was hoping that if each of them could take my kids for a night or two, then maybe things would work out.

Soon I got a phone call from a friend saying that my kids could stay with her family for the whole week. A couple of hours later I got an e-mail from another friend who had already arranged her work schedule and she also offered to take my kids for the entire week. At this point I was speechless (not a common thing for me)!

While I was still reeling from my friends’ very generous offers, I headed over to the school for parent orientation night. I saw another friend I had contacted earlier that day. She asked me if I had read my e-mails tonight. I told her I hadn’t. She said, “You may want to read them. I sent you one that details why our family should get to watch your kids for the whole week.”

Again, I was speechless and amazed. My first thought was, “God is so good.” I was overwhelmed by the knowledge that the God who created the universe cares about me so much that he found childcare for me. Now that’s a caring God!

As I sat through the orientation, I don’t remember hearing much about what the teacher said. (Sorry Mr. Tweten!) My heart was so full of love and thankfulness that I couldn’t focus very well on what was going on around me. I can’t remember a time where I felt so loved by my friends. I have some of the greatest friends in the world, and that evening I was reminded of that fact.

It’s funny how just that morning I was in panic/freak out mode. Then God, in His infinite love and mercy, decided to bless me – and not just bless me, but bless the socks off me! All I could do was stand in awe of Him and fall more deeply in love with Him.

Scripture: Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Prayer: God, You fill my cup and not just to the top, but overflowing! Thank you for friends who lift me up and encourage me by their selfless actions. God, You bless me beyond measure.

The Foolish Man with a Talking Donkey

When you picture a donkey, what is the first word that comes to mind? Ok, you probably shouldn’t say that word out loud, but I’m guessing it wasn’t the word “smart.” I can think of a lot of animals that I would consider smarter than a donkey. When I see bees spreading pollen or hear about a dog that saved someone’s life, it reminds me of how smart some animals are. However, when I think about donkeys, “smart” isn’t the first word that comes to mind!

There’s a story in Numbers 22 about a man named Balaam and his donkey. The story begins one morning as Balaam and his donkey set out for Moab. However, God did not want him to go on this journey, so He sent an angel to stand in the middle of the road. Balaam could not see the angel, but his donkey could! The Bible says the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a sword drawn. The donkey (which the Bible says was female – could it be this is why it was so smart?) turned off the road into a field. Balaam was mad at his transportation for going off the path and he beat the donkey.

As they continued to travel they ended up in a path between two vineyards with walls on both sides. Again the angel of the Lord stood in their way and this time the donkey saw the angel and pressed against a wall, crushing Balaam’s foot. Balaam beat her again.

Amidst the strange happenings of the day, Balaam continued on his journey and the angel again tried to block his path. When the donkey saw the angel for the third time, she laid down underneath Balaam. She may have been thinking, “Enough is enough! Maybe there’s a reason this angel keeps blocking our path!” Balaam again got mad and beat her.

To make a strange day even more absurd, the donkey spoke to Balaam and asked, “What have I done to make you beat me three times?”

Even stranger yet, Balaam answered her, like it’s an every-day occurrence to talk to your donkey! “You have made a fool out of me! If I had a sword, I’d kill you right now!” he answered.

“Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” (it’s hard to even type this because, really, donkeys don’t talk!) asked the donkey.

“No,” replied Balaam.

Then Balaam’s eyes were opened and he saw the angel of the Lord. The puzzling events of the day must have fit together as he realized that God was using his donkey to halt his journey.

Balaam wasn’t supposed to go on the journey, but he did so against God’s will. Then when God used his donkey to try and stop him, he beat his donkey because he “felt like a fool.” Balaam’s pride took over and how he looked was more important to him than what God was trying to tell him. He was willing to kill his method of transportation to save face.

Is that how we react when someone hurts us or offends us? I see it in my kids when someone says something that hurts them. They feel bad or foolish, so they lash out with words or actions that are worse than what was done to them. It’s such a pride thing!

I know I’ve said things to others out of anger or hurt feelings and I’ve regretted it later. If someone makes me feel foolish, my natural reaction is to want them to feel foolish, too. It’s not right. I should just turn away and I shouldn’t lash out. Sometimes that’s easier said than done. However, I don’t want God to have to follow me around and use taking animals to get me to see the light in this area. I want to learn how to deal correctly with situations when I’m wronged!

It’s ok to acknowledge that someone has hurt us or wronged us, but it’s not ok to get back at them. We may need to talk to that person and let them know what they said was hurtful, but it should always be done in a loving manner. When we’re in the midst of the situation, it’s better to hold our tongue than to say something we regret later. If only Balaam would’ve taken the hint and turned around, he would have skipped the whole part about feeling foolish and he would have have spared his donkey a lot of pain!

Prayer: Lord, people are going to say or do things that hurt me – it’s a fact of life. When they do, please help me keep my pride in check. Guide my reaction so that I do not respond out of anger or frustration. Help me to stand up for myself in a Godly way and to show grace and love to others … even those who say hurtful things.

Scripture: Numbers 22