A Little Help From my Friends

The Bible is full of promises. I love them all except this one: in this life you will have trouble. As much as I’d like to have a pass on the pain and trouble, I can’t deny, now being on the other side, it was purifying for my spirit and built up my character.

There is a town (or city) in Norway called Hell. Perhaps Joyce has been there on one of her trips to Norway but it remains on my list of places to visit because when I’m feeling like I’m going through hell on earth, then I can remember the time I went to Hell and returned because of the great mercy of our Lord. This week on Kingdom Bloggers, we’re documenting times when we’ve been at rope’s end and the journey to travel back.

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Every one of us has a before and after moment; some have several, less explosive moments but nevertheless, there are moments and experiences which change us. I’ve had one; it arrived on the scene with an explosion and it took a while to clean up the pieces. I measure everything in my life by whether it was before or after.

In previous posts, I’ve alluded to the trouble in my marriage, which began in the 2^nd year. The Trouble, with a capital ‘T’, is a knife that sliced my life like a Ron Popeil Veg-o-Matic (it sliced, it diced and there was more). If you are looking for dirt and details, you won’t hear it from my mouth (the details are part of my Man’s testimony), but I was affected –like a tsunami on the coastline after an earthquake in the ocean.

But like a women in child labour, the pain seems to minimize in light of the glorious gift the labouring produced. I wouldn’t change anything because through it, I moved from knowing about God to knowing God.

It’s true to say God sustained me, however it’s insulting and dishonouring to friends (and some family) to say it only only God because he used them to help me. They were “Jesus with skin on” to me during the worst times. It’s one thing to know Jesus is with you, but sometimes you need a physical hug, sometimes you need someone to say, out loud, “I know the pain is great and I’m going to sit here with you.”

I’m a strong advocate for marriage and I am against divorce but the road to recovery is not a straight line and physical separation from your spouse can be a stepping stone towards wholeness (for each person and for the marriage). I was separated for a season from my Man. During those months, I stayed with a friend (I wrote about her here – in my first KB post). She cared for me, loved me and prayed for me. I gathered strength in the presence of God, who lingered in her home.

And then, when it was over, it was over. Looking back, it didn’t seem as abrupt but knowing what I know now about spiritual warfare: the war was finished but there was still rebuilding work to be done. This could be done without the threat of bombs and assaults.

Nobody is a rock or an island, contrary to the wisdom of Simon & Garfunkel. I faced my hell, but got through it with a little help from my friends.

dumb lamb

I’m supposed to write about my favorite Psalm but I woke up at 3:00a.m. with this in my head…

Oh no, not again…where am I?

If I don’t get lost at least once a day it means I never left…which really, if I knew what was good for me, I wouldn’t—leave the fold that is.

 

But, I’m just a dumb lamb.

 

That’s why I’m glad, The Lord is my Shepherd.

My sense of adventure is keen. But my sense of direction is nil. So, my curiosity takes my eyes off the flock and into the field—to that soft fluffy thing blowing free in the wind. I step out on my own, to the great unknown. It looks so inviting blowing soft and carefree

 

I wander on over just so I can see

As I get closer, just up under that tree

I notice it’s the tail of a lion; and he’s looking at me

Oh, how do I always get myself into such a mess?  

Surely I’ll be lamb chops before my next breath

 

But what’s that I hear, but my Shepherd’s tone

He whistles with a sling and a stone

The lion’s no match in this ring

 For my Shepherd is the Lion King

         

He carries me on strong shoulders

Makes me lie down in green pastures

My dreams are fearful, for that lion I still do see

So, He sings songs of healing, and restores my soul to me

 

He leads me down the path I should go

And even deaths shadow I do not fear

Because my Shepherd is oh so near

His rod and staff—they comfort me

 

He even prepares a meal

In the midst of my enemy

And as long as I stay on His trail

Goodness and mercy will prevail

 

And with Him in his castle,

I will live happily ever after.

 

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Like I said, I’m supposed to write about my favorite Psalm—but, hmmm, I wonder which one I should choose. Maybe this one, what do you think?

 

Psalm 23

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

The Lord the Shepherd of His People

A Psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

His Love Endures Forever

Naming my favorite psalm is like being asked to name my favorite food--I like so many different things, even Brussels sprouts. The psalms are the first place I go to in the Bible for comfort food. The psalms of David are especially good stews to chew on, because of the richness his thoughts toward God and his honesty about the complexities of life and faith. David and the other psalmists keep it real.

Psalm 118, since I must pick one for this blog, is like a good Shepherd’s Pie or an Irish boiled dinner (I have to throw at least one St. Patrick’s Day reference in here!). This psalm covers a lot of the ground in my walk with God, and starts with the very thing I am more and more reminded that I lack in my daily life: thankfulness. Then, the comforting and awesome knowledge that God is good, and His love goes to “infinity and beyond!”

Psalm 118 reminds me of the first day I asked for forgiveness and that “he answered me by setting me free” (v. 5). It reminds me that I am not alone--ever! “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid...he is my helper” (v. 6). If my priorities are messed up, I receive a quick jolt of reality with verses 8 and 9. When I am tempted to stray or placed in a difficult situation, verses 13-14 encourage me with God’s strength and care. I am again reminded, “He is my salvation” (v. 14).

I don’t have to doubt my future, according to verse 17: “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.” Psalm 118 prophesies about Jesus, the author of salvation: “ The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes” (v. 23).

Verse 24 contains the little ditty we sing in church, say to one another, and preach to ourselves: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Verse 25 is a short prayer that reveals the tension we live in: “O Lord, save us; O Lord, grant us success.” I need saving from my own version of success. But, I am blessed whenever I go out “in the name of the Lord” (v. 26).

Psalm 118 closes with the tasty morsels (or Irish pint, depending on your preference) from its beginning: who the Lord is (God), His creation and power, His being worthy of thanks and glory, His forever love, and His goodness (v.28-29).

I was reminded by a friend yesterday by a prayer traditionally attributed to St. Patrick (but probably not written until 300 years after he ministered in Ireland), and this portion of his beautiful words sums up Psalm 118’s message:

“I arise today 〜 Through God’s strength to pilot me, God’s might to uphold me, 
God’s wisdom to guide me, 
God’s eye to look before me, 
God’s ear to hear me, 
God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me, God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me, God’s hosts to save me 
〜 From snares of the devil, from temptations of vices, from every one who desires me ill, Afar and near 〜 Alone or in a multitude."

Psalm 46 always brings me great comfort...

Picking a favorite Psalm was actually a difficult task for me. There are so many that I often refer back to given the situation I might be facing.

From the famous passage in Psalm 23 that I learned at a very early age to the plea for forgiveness in Psalm 51 that I so desperately needed later in my life, the inspired writings of David are among the greatest works of literature in all of human history.

When I stopped to meditate and ponder which passage I would write about today, my thoughts kept going back to the single verse in both the Old and New Testament that provide me with the most peace and joy I could ever imagine.

Be still, and know that I am God.

I literally got chills typing those all-powerful words. Everything else that ever was or ever will be falls under that declaration.

We often put ourselves in a position of far too much importance within the scale of the Almighty. Don't get me wrong. I'm eternally appreciative that the God of all things thought enough of me, or you, to come and bring His message of love right to us. To take on a burden of sin completely the opposite of His character so that I might have the privilege to live forever in His presence.  The concept is far beyond my feeble, limited mind...but I love Him so much...for caring so much. That just doesn't require a great deal of cerebral effort.

In the overall scope of things, people are but a tiny speck in the grandiose that is both the Alpha and Omega. While thousands of years seem daunting on our scale, that time is but a single blink of an eye to our Creator. Even that analogy doesn't come close to doing justice to the magnitude of eternity. Everything that is, was or ever will be exist within the scope of God.

What a comforting thought that God loves us so much He takes the time to show His love through His word and through His Spirit. He is God. I am so not worthy. He offers to be my refuge. My strength in any types of trouble.

How foolish to take such an offer lightly, or even worse, not at all...

Psalm 17 Totally Paraphrased

This week on Kingdom Bloggers, we were all asked to write about our favorite Psalm. I had something written this morning about Psalm 17 and went to send it in and my computer crashed and it was lost.

It is almost 3p.m. and my husband finally got it going.

I am frustrated to say the least and so for some comic relief, I decided to write the following.

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You heard O Lord my righteous plea.

You listened to my pathetic plea. It came from quivering lips.

May my vindication come from You, when my husband asks “what did you do?”

When he probed me for an answer, I felt I was being examined… You never condemned me.

But Lord, You said “You didn’t do anything my child…sometimes computers act crazy”

I kept myself from the ways of the violent and didn’t punch him in the nose.

As I stepped into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee, I made sure that my mouth didn’t slip up with words I might’ve regretted

I know that You will answer me and my mumbling and grumblings. You will remind me to be patient.

You made me safe from my enemy (the computer), as I take a time out. (You also made the computer safe from me, so I wouldn’t smash it)

Keep me as the apple of your eye. (That makes me think I should have a snack of an apple. It would be good for me right now too.)

Hide me, as a mother bird would her babies,  as I wonder if it IS my fault the computer messed up.

All the old negative tapes, in my head, are attacking me now…saying “you always mess up the computer and you’ll never know what you are doing”.

The enemy knows all my weak points and is taking advantage of me.

But NO LORD!...I WILL confront them and bring them down with Your help. You died to save me from guilt and condemnation.

You still my heart, as I’ve gained perspective. I CAN do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.

I look into the room and I see my husband’s face. It says that I will be satisfied with my computer’s restoration.

But Lord, no matter what”…I await the day that I will be totally content in Your Presence and at peace seeing You face to face. There aren’t any computer rooms that I might be assigned to in heaven, are there?

Linda Maynard

  

Called to be His Royal Bride by Jenna Vick Silliman

The train arrived in the Redwood City train station at 5:50 a.m. In a rush, as usual, and wearing a dress, nylons and heels, I climbed the three steps of the passenger car with my purse, my lunch sack, and my Bible. Men in black suits, with white shirts and ties, filled the seats all around me. They read the San Francisco Chronicle and I read my Bible.

For one year I commuted to my insurance office job in the city. I was twenty years old and my dad got me the job. I typed information on insurance forms all day—one of the most boring jobs you could ever have—but I grew a lot spiritually that year.

I was not happy at home. My dad had just gone through his second divorce and my three younger siblings and I were not good friends at this point. Most of my friends had gone away to college so I was floundering about who I was and what to do with myself. I didn’t have anyone to talk to—no one except the Lord Jesus that is.

My favorite was Psalms. My heart resonated with the poetic King David crying out to the living God. Each morning I read a page or two of the New Testament, a bit of the Old Testament, and a Psalm.

One day, it was a summer day, the Lord spoke to me through Psalm 45. I was stunned. Could it be true? Could the God of all creation speak to little ol’ me? Yes! There was NO denying it. This particular passage in Psalm 45, verses 10 to 17, jumped off the page and spoke directly to me.

In my New American Standard Bible the heading says “A Song Celebrating the King’s Marriage…A Song of Love.” This is the passage that spoke to me: “Listen, O daughter, give attention and incline your ear; Forget your people and your father’s house: Then the King will desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, bow down to Him. And the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; The rich among the people will entreat your favor. The King’s daughter is all glorious within. Her clothing is interwoven with gold. She will be led to the King in embroidered work; The virgins, her pure companions who follow her, will be brought to Thee. They will be led forth with gladness and rejoicing; They will enter into the King’s palace. In place of Thy fathers will be Thy sons; Thou shalt make them princes in all the earth. I will cause Thy name to be remembered in all generations; therefore the peoples will give Thee thanks forever and ever.

My King Jesus spoke to me about being ready as a part of His royal bride, His chosen princess. Just as He called Peter to leave his nets and follow Him, He called me to leave my family and follow Him, day by day. The divine romance between my Lord and I began on the train that summer’s day. Reading now in my old Bible I see I marked down the date, “July 13, 1978.”

Shortly after that, I did leave my family. I rented an upstairs bedroom, for a hundred dollars a month, from a Christian family in a house called The Birch House—right down the street from the train station. Within a few short years I was married and began a family of my own—after twenty-three years of marriage we had one daughter and seven sons! The Lord truly has made them princes, and one princess, in all the earth for they belong to Him too, and they live all over the world. One son lives in Germany, my daughter is in Chicago, and another son is in Redding, California.

The Lord has given me spiritual children as well. I am privileged to help lead a youth group for our church, Deep River. I love those kids like they are my own! I take them with me folk dancing at the Sons of Norway every Sunday night too. We have such a good time together. I tell them I am the biggest kid--after all, I am the tallest at 5’ 8”. Hahaha! I have enjoyed their company in my travels to hear speakers, go shopping, and once we drove to California together to go to Bethel Church for the Open Heavens Conference.

One of the highlights of my Bethel experience was receiving a prophetic word in the healing rooms on Saturday morning. I was stunned to receive Psalm 45—again emphasizing my identity as a part of His beloved royal bride. Whoohoo!

I am good friends with my pastor’s oldest daughter, Camille, age 15. She and I are both the oldest of our siblings, we share a love of dance and colorful, twirly skirts for dancing, and she is also a teacher/leader type, a writer, and a devoted follower of King Jesus. We both love the colors purple and turquoise. One day last summer she told me she was going to paint her bedroom these colors and then paint a rose and a Scripture verse. When I saw her gorgeous art work I shrieked. She inscribed Psalm 45 on her wall!!! I realized another part of Psalm 45 has come true. The Lord has given me these awesome “pure companions.”

For over thirty years I have kept going back to my favorite Psalm, Psalm 45. I also, spiritually, continue to be led forth with gladness and rejoicing to enter into the King’s palace—His very presence! The Lord Jesus loves me and desires my company!

AHA-AHA

The Psalms are good medicine.  They are soothing and inspiring.  They speak to the deepest levels of our lives.  I am not sure I have a favorite.  However, I do have one that I have returned to many, many times in my life.  It's Psalm 70.

I've had a lot of turmoil in my life.  I have had a lot of times when it seemed the whole world was coming crashing down on me.  The first time I used this Psalm as medicine was in Hannibal Missouri.  I've written some about Hannibal on my blog (you can read the beginning of that series on my blog here)- but I've shared with only a few select people the true horrors of Hannibal.  There were destructive people in our lives that I still have a hard time forgiving.  There were days I thought my family would disintegrate.  There were days I thought I'd be alone raising six children.  There were days I despaired for the well being of our youngest child.  All I can say is however horrible you think it was, it was worse.

During that time, every night I'd get out my Bible and read Psalm 70 aloud.  Every night I'd declare "May those who say to me AHA-AHA turn back because of shame."  And with tears streaming down my face I'd cry out to God - Come Quickly!... Do not delay.

In 1997 I returned to this passage for another year long daily recitation and declaration of my needs.  False accusations, a career crumbling, more family issues that most people deal with in a life time within a few short months - death, fire, illness, etc. all while evil people plotted my ruin because I prayed every day.  Sounds dramatic? It's true.  All I knew to do is come back to Psalm 70.  May those who say to me AHA-AHA...

God didn't seem to come fast enough during these two crisis periods of my life, but He did come... and He delivered me.  Those who sought my ruin are a distance (although painful) memory.  They didn't win.  God did.

Which Psalm is Your Favourite?

There are 150 psalms; some praise, some laments – no matter what you are feeling, at least one will fit every life situation and emotion. Can you pick your favourite? This week on Kingdom Bloggers, the writers are doing exactly that – we’re narrowing down the options to write about our favourite, the “go-to Psalm”. Which one would you choose?

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I spent a lot of time in the Psalms during a particularly tough season in my life. All of the Scriptures helped me through but the Psalms were my way to vent and express myself when no one picked up my 4am calls (I don’t blame them). Many Psalms are near and dear and I return to my favourites often but without a doubt, I can easily say Psalm 37 is my favourite.

It’s a longer than many, and I haven’t memorized it as I have with some of the others but it speaks life to me when I feel cut off and want to retaliate, and to seek justice for myself. Multiple times David, the Psalmist, exhorts, “Wait, don’t fret, be still.” It’s so hard to do. My soul and my flesh want to strike back at the one who is hurting me, or opposing me, but David writes, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him...do not fret – it only leads to evil.”

My favourite verses are 5-6, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: he will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” This promise provide so much peace for me – justice of your cause like the noonday sun, only commit to the Lord.

It also brought me comfort when I left women’s leadership. The Lord directed me to step down a few years ago and I knew when I left women’s ministry would [momentarily] be out of commission. I longed to obey the Lord’s word to me but I felt responsible for the women I had been leading – where would they go?

In my questions, I returned to my favourite Psalm and verse 25 spoke to me, “I was young and now I am [less young, but not old] yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” I was a spiritual mother to them (even though most of the women were older than me). There was a lot of growth during the time I lead the women, particularly in a faithful few, myself included.

We finished women’s ministry on a very high note, which stirred hunger in many of the women. Although we were not continuing with a program, God was going to continue to give them bread [of life]. They would be okay. Yes, they were upset, surprised, confused and worried about what would happen to them but I relayed to them what the Lord spoke to my heart through this beautiful Psalm.

There is so much promise and assurance in this Psalm without minimizing the threats that come at us. It’s lovely and comforting at the same time.

Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace. ~verse 37

The Quick and The Dead

Simply profound is how I describe it. That sounds like a contradiction, I know, and in a way it is. The way up is down, small is great, give to gain, die to live, life from death—are only some of the teachings within.

It could be titled The Quick and The Dead.

One book, with sixty-six within, contains everything for life and death and the pursuit of happiness, yet it’s smaller than one of the bills on Capitol Hill.

Proverbs, Mark and James are the ones I like the most. I suppose because they’re short and sweet—well, not all that sweet because they cut out the flowers and just hand you the meat. They’re concise; short and snappy. I like that.

How do you study the Bible, I’ve been asked. Well, I study it kind of like the book its self: Simple, profound and concise; short and snappy.

I start—or at least I try to start, sometimes I forget—with prayer. Asking the Author to explain His book always makes it clearer. And then I start reading at the beginning, of both, the Old and New Testaments; Genesis and Matthew. I also read a chapter in Proverbs that coincides with whatever day of the month it is. For example: If I am starting today, I’ll read Genesis 1; Matthew 1; Proverbs 11 (because today is the 11^th day of the month). I’ll read at least one chapter in each, per day; One OT, one NT, one Proverb. When I get to the end I simply start over. Of course, since the New Testament is shorter, I finish it before the Old, so I read through it more often. And since Proverbs has 31 chapters, if there aren’t 31 days in that particular month, I simply read the rest of the book on the last day of the month—that way I start with Proverbs 1 on day one of the new month. 

So there you have it: How I study my Bible.

Simple and yet profound because many times I find my readings complement each other perfectly even though it wasn’t scripted or orchestrated in any way—at least not by me. I believe the reason for this is because we aren’t talking simply about a book but, The Living Breathing Word Of God, which is “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 )The quick and the dead; you’ve seen the movie. Quick means; alive. This book is alive.

Even though man has tried to destroy it through murder, laws, burnings and ridicule—it still lives. Although scholars have tried to explain it away; scientists have attempted to prove it away—no one can make it go away. It’s still a best seller today. And the more advanced modern day technology becomes, the more we see that this book is True—every single word of it. It’s a living breathing miracle right before our very eyes.  And not one jot or tiddle—one dot of an, i, or cross of a, t—will pass without being fulfilled just like it’s written in this book we call The Bible. And that’s why I read the Bible.  

The most important question of all is answered in this book, too. And that is: How to get your name in another book called; The Lamb’s Book Of Life. This is the book where all the names of those who will enter heaven are written. It’s like a guest book for a party, in this case, a wedding party. If you’re on the list, you get in—if not, you don’t. Everyone is invited, but the sad thing is, many won’t accept the invitation to get their name on the list—kind of like RSVP.  

This is for real and I pray you accept His invitation, and get your name on the list if you haven’t already done so, you better hurry because once the whistle blows; the bell rings; the trumpet sounds—it’s too late, and that could be today.

Let me know if you need help, I’ll be happy to talk to the Host with you about getting in. He will be glad to add your name, as a matter of fact that’s why he wrote the book we’ve been talking about—it’s really His Story, a simply profound love story, to you.  

"Word" Studies

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105.

When my son was 12, I forced him to read Sense and Sensibility. I can’t remember exactly why I did this--was it some kind of perverse punishment? Was I betting him that he would end up loving Jane Austen if he just gave her books a try? He being a compliant chap, he read it. I remember hearing the moans and groans as he read it, and was about to chide him for whining, when he said to me, “These women are driving me crazy!”

Ah, success! To a former English teacher, those words were music to my ears, because they meant he was responding to the characters and the plot, not just reading words on a page. We could then have a meaningful conversation about why the actions of Marianne and Eleanor drove my son to lunacy. Unfortunately, and not surprisingly, he never picked up Jane Austen again (except to bestow Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters as recent gifts--revenge, perhaps?).

The Bible begs for response. It is the best and greatest story ever told. Its characters and plot plunge the reader into a hotbed of creation, love, betrayal, murder, intrigue, sex, sacrifice, prophecy, miracles, all the while unfolding God’s perfect plan to save this crazy planet of peoples through His Son Jesus Christ.

Growing up, I had this notion that the Old Testament (OT) was really old, and that the New Testament was really new, and that they were distinct from each other and unrelated. No one explained to me how fundamental the one was to the other until much later. In seminary, I took a class called, “The Messiah in the Old Testament.” I had always had a love for the Old Testament stories and writings, but this professor opened my eyes to how Jesus can be seen all the way back in Genesis, and throughout the OT.

Studying did not dry up my faith; it only deepened it, and also deepened my response to what I believe is the Word of God. I like group Bible studies--they are useful in not only building an understanding of the Bible, but also in building fellowship. But, I so appreciate having learned in seminary how to use all sorts of tools in my individual approach to studying God’s Word: commentaries, concordances, Logos software, online tools like Biblegateway.com and books on theology.

Sometimes I just crack open my Bible because I am thirsty and hungry: I need the “Living Water” (John 4:10; Rev. 7:17) and the “Bread of Life” (John 6:35) to fill my soul like comfort food. Sometimes when I am convicted or disheartened or confused, I study the Word to sharpen my mind like health food.

I think attitude can dictate response: my forcing Austen on an unwilling reader may have inspired a bad attitude (just give her--and me!--another chance, son!). If I believe I won’t find help or strength from God in reading His Word, I probably won’t. But, if I ask the Holy Spirit to help me as I read the Bible, He will! And He will help you, too (1 Cor. 2:14).