BIBLE PICK 'EMS - Never Alone

If you recall, these were my original thoughts about "Pick 'ems":

I know it probably isn't "spiritually PC" to randomly open the Bible and expect to find a meaningful verse – it opens the door to the whole "out of context" dilemma. (And...you might just find yourself in Leviticus!!) But, I decided that I wanted to do this, along with my regular reading through the Bible. The way I figured it, I wasn't *testing* God – in other words, "prove something to me, Lord" – I was *trusting* God – "show something to me, Lord." After all, don't we know that His Word is living, breathing, and powerful?!

So, I'm pickin' every day – letting you know what was going on with me that day – and then I'm going to sum up the *theme of the week* that I think God was impressing on my heart.

Hope you're as blessed as I've been!!

MONDAY - (doing demolition at the new house, feeling exhausted)  "The LORD gives his people strength.  The LORD blesses them with peace."  

(Psalm 29:11)

TUESDAY - (worried about how our home inspection was going to turn out)  "Then he [Jesus] asked them, 'Why are you afraid?  Do you still have no faith?'"  (Mark 4:40)

WEDNESDAY - (family meeting with my aging parents, discussing their future)  "But the LORD will redeem those who serve him.  No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned."  (Psalm 34:22)

THURSDAY - (trying to sort out all the very confusing paperwork of escrow)  "Then the LORD gave this message to Solomon: 'Concerning the Temple you are building, if you keep all my decrees and regulations and obey all my commands, I will fulfill through you the promise I made...'"  (1 Kings 6:12)

FRIDAY - (traveling again up to our new home, wondering about the uncertain future)  "'Then I, myself, will be a protective wall...around Jerusalem, says the LORD.  And I will be the glory inside the city!'" 

(Zechariah 2:5)

SATURDAY - (feeling lonely, scared about moving away from family)   "'Can anyone hide from me in a secret place?  Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?' says the LORD."  (Jeremiah 23:24)

The reality of moving is settling in.  And the very tiring work of packing and paperwork is heavy.  This was a week when I was quite consumed thinking about the future.

God's message this week was this truth: He NEVER leaves His loved ones alone, and He is already present in every moment of their future.

He goes before me...

What has God said to YOU this week?

"When in doubt, search God out!"

BIBLE PICK 'EMS - New Format!

Things are rather hectic in my neck of the woods lately.

So I've decided to *re-vamp* the look of "Bible Pick 'Ems"…make it a little "shorter and sweeter" for now…

If you recall, these were my original thoughts about "Pick 'ems":

I know it probably isn't "spiritually PC" to randomly open the Bible and expect to find a meaningful verse – it opens the door to the whole "out of context" dilemma. (And...you might just find yourself in Leviticus!!) But, I decided that I wanted to do this, along with my regular reading through the Bible. The way I figured it, I wasn't *testing* God – in other words, "prove something to me, Lord" – I was *trusting* God – "show something to me, Lord." After all, don't we know that His Word is living, breathing, and powerful?!

So, I'm pickin' every day – letting you know what was going on with me that day – and then I'm going to sum up the *theme of the week* that I think God was impressing on my heart.

Hope you're as blessed as I've been!!

MONDAY – (Feeling overwhelmed and tired...) "Then the Spirit came into me and set me on my feet." (Ezekiel 3:24) 

TUESDAY – (Problems, problems, problems...) "O our God, hear your servant's prayer!  Listen as I plead…O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair…We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.  O Lord, hear…O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay…" (Daniel 9:17-19)

WEDNESDAY – (Feeling alone...are You there, God?) "But I will reveal my name to my people, and they will come to know its power.  Then at last they will recognize that I am the one who speaks to them."  (Isaiah 52:6) 

THURSDAY – (After living in my home for 28 years, I'm really panicky and sad to leave...) "The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words.  I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends!  His mercies never cease.  Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning."  (Lamentations 3:19-23) 

FRIDAY – (Wondering if I'm really doing the right thing...) "Then I heard the LORD asking, 'Whom should I send as a messenger to this people?  Who will go for us?' I said, 'Here I am.  Send me.' And he said, 'Yes, go…'" (Isaiah 6:8-9)  

SATURDAY – (In spite of all that's going on, and all the things I'm feeling, I know God is near...) "I will praise the LORD at all times.  I will constantly speak his praises…let all who are helpless take heart…I prayed to the LORD and he answered me.  He freed me from all of my fears…In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all of my troubles.  For the angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him."  

(Psalm 34:1-2, 4, 6-7)

Well…ahem…I think God was speaking directly to my heart about moving.  The emotions I have felt this week have been complex and difficult.  

But through it all, I keep praying, and God keeps answering me.

His Word speaks...

I do well to listen.

What has God said to YOU this week?

"When in doubt, search God out!"

BIBLE PICK 'EMS - A Mother's Day Poem

A MOTHER

She carries you for nine months,

Then cares for you

Forever...

She watches out for you

when you are young,

Then watches over you

for a lifetime...

She holds you closely in her arms

for a while,

Then tightly in her heart

Always...

She is there through every change,

Then never changes 

herself...

She teaches you about life,

Then lets you leave home...

and live -

A mother is

every gift of God

wrapped up in one person -

Joy, Peace

Patience, Kindness, Goodness

Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control

And most of all...

Love.

Though I am no longer a child,

I will always be 

My mother's child

And that is comfort personified -

My mother is

A safe place to be

A soft place to fall

A refuge in every storm...

She calms the winds of life

And helps smooth

the paths

I have chosen to walk.

I have never questioned 

Her love

or her faithfulness,

My faith in her

has never faltered...

She is the sun

that rises every morning,

And the promise

of a new day.

She is

The keeper of secrets,

The spark

to my dreams,

The footsteps

that walk beside me -

She is the one

on the sidelines

who whispers quietly,

with hands

folded in prayer

and

tears in her eyes,

"Go...go...go,

I'm here."

She is 

The quiet heartbeat

that keeps time

with my own...

My mother is

My best friend,

The beacon

of my life...

My mother is home...

© Sharon Jean Kirby

May 10, 2007

I LOVE YOU, MOM!

"Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.  And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.  Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.  Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.  Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

Thank you, Mom, for leading me to Jesus when I was young.

"Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it." (Proverbs 22:6)

And thank you, Mom, for always showing me how to follow Him.

**********

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all of you wonderful moms out there!!

**********

"When in doubt, search God out!"

ISAIAH - Sentry Duty

Gloom and doom…

Sometimes the books of prophecy in the Old Testament can be difficult reading. It feels like they contain an endless litany of unheeded warnings, followed by devastating judgments.

And yet, there is always an unmistakable undercurrent of forgiveness, comfort, and hope.

God’s message is clear: There are consequences for rebelling against Me. Please don't do it. But if you return to Me, I will forgive you and restore you.

Today's  "Bible Pick 'Ems" comes from the book of Isaiah.

I'd like to start with a little background information on the book of Isaiah.

Prophets stood with the priests as God's special representatives. The prophet's role was to speak for God, confronting the people with His commands and promises – pointing out their rebellion. 

Needless to say, true prophets were not very popular!!

But they continued to faithfully proclaim the truth.

The book of Isaiah is the first of the writings of the prophets in the Bible – and Isaiah is generally considered to be the greatest prophet. His purpose was to call the nation of Judah back to God. But his prophecies also tell of God's salvation through His coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Our "pick 'em" verses are found in Isaiah 21:5-7, 11-12:

“But quick! Grab your shields and prepare for battle. You are being attacked! Meanwhile, the Lord said to me, 'Put a watchman on the city wall. Let him shout out what he sees…Let the watchman be fully alert.'

Someone…keeps calling to me, 'Watchman, how much longer until morning? When will the night be over?' The watchman replies, 'Morning is coming…'"

These verses can be applied directly to the very real threat of Judah's enemies during Isaiah's lifetime. God was warning the people to return to Him, to remain alert and on guard, to prepare for battle. But, sadly, His warnings went unheeded.

But, these verses also apply to us today.

How so?

We also have enemies outside our "city walls." They are ready to "attack" and we must "prepare for battle." We are called to be "fully alert."

We, too, must be watchmen…

Because we have a blessed *MORNING* that is coming!

Our glorious Savior is going to return!

"So you, too must keep watch! For you don't know what day your Lord is coming…You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected." (Matthew 24:42-44)

"You must be ready all the time…" (Luke 12:40)

"For you know quite well that the day of the Lord's return will come unexpectedly; like a thief in the night…So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and clearheaded." (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 6)

Not all people will join us in our watch.

We will hear people saying, "How much longer until morning?"

Some may say it with longing, others will mock.

"Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last day scoffers will come…They will say, 'What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again?'" (2 Peter 3:3, 4)

Do not listen.

God is calling us to be watchmen.

To grab our shields and prepare for battle.

To shout the truth.

To be fully alert.

And most of all, to keep looking to the horizon, and believing with all our hearts -

"MORNING IS COMING…"

Are you remembering to stay alert?  How can you be a better *watchman* - how do you hold on to hope?

"When in doubt, search God out!"