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Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.
Seventh grade—my first year in junior high school, and we were assigned to memorize one of the inspirational poems found in our literature book. After much analysis, I chose a very famous poem, “Invictus,” written by William Ernest Henley Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.1 To a thirteen-year-old, not being raised in a family who understood or taught biblical truth, this poem was inspirational: “I’m not going to let anything get me down—not even my parents’ constant quarreling that could result in divorce! No circumstance will make me give in, nor will I suffer fear from what I face in life.” These words became my verbal mantra, though my actions really didn’t follow along! What I didn’t understand was this. From the age of twelve, William Henley suffered from tuberculosis of the bone, a terribly painful disease that attacks joints, causing not only stiffness but abscesses that eventually caused Henley to lose a leg. Being an affirmed atheist, he then had only one place to turn to in how to handle life—himself.2 He could choose to become a victim of life’s circumstances or make the choice to boldly face his future. This is what he chose to do, as demonstrated by the words in this poem. He states that he will be “master of his fate and captain of his soul.” Now, as a Christian adult, I feel great sadness as I better understand the words written in “Invictus.” Henley did not thank the one and only true God for creating his soul, but gave credit to gods, entities either unknown or those to whom pagans have worshiped throughout the ages. Henley therefore had no source to rely upon for truth, but only himself. He therefore declared that he was the master of his fate and captain of his soul. In truth, no man is ever master of his fate—that “destiny, lot, portion, or doom meaning a predetermined state or end. Fate implies an inevitable and usually an adverse outcome."3 Proclaiming "I am the master of my fate" is like stating I can control the weather or a volcano’s eruption. We never are masters of the testings life throws at us--those many curve balls, for if this were true, I know I certainly would never let anything adverse enter my life! On the other hand, God is just the opposite! He allows trials and testings in our lives to produce endurance: "We do know that God allows testings to build our endurance and character. "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." James 1:2-4 Henley also wrote that he was the captain of his soul. He did appear to recognize that the soul could be as strong and solid as rock or as shiftless as sand. He seemed to comprehend that as the captain of a ship has to steer through storms, so would he have to steer his soul throughout life; but did he understand what the soul is? Did he understand, as George McDonald wrote, that the soul is that which makes the person? "We don't have a soul. We are a soul. We have a body..."?4 And did he learn through Scripture how the soul is fed...how our souls are either lost or saved through the redeeming blood of Christ, not through our own effort? In being an avowed atheist, the answer is "no." So what was Henley actually master over and captain of, and how are we the same? The only correct answer is our choices—those responses we make to the blessings, trials, and testings that face us in life. Will we say yea or nay to the information and circumstances presented to us, especially to that all-important eternal decision each must ask: "Will I choose to believe God's Word promising a redeemer to save me from my sin?" Will I choose to believe that it was Jesus' sacrificial blood upon the cross that redeemed me? Will I choose to accept Him as my personal Lord, Savior, and Master? Will I therefore choose to submit myself to Him, allowing Him to become the authority and director over my life, surrendering to His will and living in obedience to His commands? Will I allow Him to be my Master and Captain? As Henley did not, I chose to say yea to Jesus, and I pray you have done so, too! With that decision, I'm sure that you, as well as I, have begun to see fruit from that choice blossom in our lives. For instance, let's look at a common human problem-- FEAR. When we accept Jesus as Lord of our lives, we need never fear life or fate. Our all-knowing Father knows what will happen each moment of our lives, and He will never leave us or forsake us: “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” Psalm 139:16 “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8 Our lives become built upon trust in our awesome and incomprehensible God, our Master, who knows all and sees all; with Jesus as our Savior, we grow in love for our Father in heaven and for one another. We become more and more perfected in the love of Christ: “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.” 1 John 4:17 What a joy it is to know that because of our Father’s love for us, we are given strength not to fear life, but to live life, not in our own power, but in the power of the Holy Spirit! We never have to fear the need of being master of our lives! As a counterpoint to “Invictus,” an early twentieth century poet , Dorothea Day, at first a humanist attracted to Henley’s views but later becoming a Christian, wrote the meaningful poem “Conquered.” As you read it, join with me in the joy it brings to our hearts! “Conquered” Out of the light that dazzles me, Bright as the sun from pole to pole, I thank the God I know to be, For Christ - the Conqueror of my soul. Since His the sway of circumstance, I would not wince nor cry aloud. Under the rule which men call chance, My head, with joy, is humbly bowed. Beyond this place of sin and tears, That Life with Him and His the Aid, That, spite the menace of the years, Keeps, and will keep me unafraid. I have no fear though straight the gate: He cleared from punishment the scroll. Christ is the Master of my fate! Christ is the Captain of my soul! 5 VERSES: Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” James 1:21 "So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls." Leviticus 17:11 "For the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible." PRAYER: Dear Father, what a joy it is to understand I do not need to rely upon my fallible self in journeying through life but can rely on You and Your Holy Spirit to guide me. What a joy it is to know that You are my Master, my Perfect Shepherd—one who only has the best in mind for my future days, and that with You as my Master, I need not fear life. Thank You for being my God; thank You that when I submitted my life to Christ, He took “the wheel,” for I only make a mess of things when I try to drive myself. I say “yea” to you, Jesus…I am Yours forever. Amen. SONG: “Jesus Take the Wheel” by Carrie Underwood She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati on a snow white Christmas Eve Going home to see her mama and her daddy with the baby in the backseat Fifty miles to go, and she was running low on faith and gasoline It'd been a long hard year She had a lot on her mind, and she didn't pay attention She was going way too fast Before she knew it she was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass She saw both their lives flash before her eyes She didn't even have time to cry She was so scared She threw her hands up in the air Jesus, take the wheel Take it from my hands 'Cause I can't do this on my own I'm letting go So give me one more chance And save me from this road I'm on Jesus, take the wheel It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder And the car came to a stop She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat sleeping like a rock And for the first time in a long time She bowed her head to pray She said, "I'm sorry for the way I've been living my life I know I've got to change So from now on tonight Jesus, take the wheel Take it from my hands 'Cause I can't do this on my own I'm letting go So give me one more chance And save me from this road I'm on." Oh, Jesus, take the wheel Oh, I'm letting go So give me one more chance Save me from this road I'm on From this road I'm on From this road I'm on Jesus, take the wheel Oh, take it, take it from me Oh, why, oh 6 Artist: Carrie Underwood Album: Double Cream: The Best of Cream of Country DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! 1. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/51642/invictus 2. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=tuberculosis+of+the+bone 3. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=what+fate+implies 4. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/889692-we-don-t-have-a-soul-we-are-a-soul-we5. 5. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/conquered-by-christ 6. http://www.songlyrics.com/carrie-underwood/jesus-take-the-wheel-lyrics/ Psalm 8 “O Lord, our Lord, Your Majestic Name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to tell of Your strength, silencing Your enemies and all who oppose You. When I look at the night sky and see the work of Your fingers—the moon and the stars You set in place—what are mere mortals that You should think about them, human beings that You should care for them? Yet You made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything You made, putting all things under their authority, the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!”
Today begins a week where we, hopefully, will focus on thankfulness—thankfulness for being born in a country where, in spite of all its problems, we are free to worship God openly; thankfulness for an abundance of food and water; for shelter; for friends; and for family, both biological and those Christians God has brought into our lives who are now family, many times becoming closer than blood relatives. This is a time to focus upward and upon all the good things God has brought into our lives—for at least a moment to move beyond the painful circumstances we may have endured this year, knowing God’s plan for each life is perfect. For my family, it means thanking God for taking our son’s sweet Missy home at such a young age, knowing our Father is forever kind and compassionate--that He removed this precious woman from great pain into total healing and peace. For this we give thanks. So this week let us give thanks to our heavenly Father, the Alpha and Omega, praising His name for what He is doing in our lives. Let us focus each day on at least a few of the following verses which remind us how great our Father is and why we should give Him thanks for the past year He has so graciously given us: “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7 NLT Ask: Are my roots growing down into Christ? Is my life being built upon Him? If so, am I praising God Father with thankfulness? “But, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:18b-20 NLT Ask: Am I allowing the Holy Spirit to fill me so that I may praise the Father and give Him thanks with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs? “Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 NASB Ask: Do I look for the end result of trials? Do I understand that God uses these times to develop my faith and endurance? Do I then give thanks to God and praise Him for what He is doing in my life, changing me to become more like Christ? “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6 NLT Ask: What is hard for me today? How can I turn my worries into prayers, knowing God asks me to be thankful in all things? “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change life shifting shadows.” James 1:17 NLT Ask: Each day, do I remember to thank God for who He is, for being unchangeable, and for loving me always with a love that surpasses all understanding? “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 ESV Ask: Do I regularly thank God for being with me and strengthening me each day? Do I thank Him for upholding me in all situations? “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His faithfulness is everlasting.” 1 Chronicles 16:34 NLT Ask: Have I ever made a list of all the good things God has done for me? (Thanksgiving provides a great time to write all this down and read your blessings at the dinner table!) “He gives strength to the weary, and to the one who lacks might He increases power.” Isaiah 40:29 NLT Ask: Have I thanked my Father for giving me the strength to carry on when I feel I no longer can in this life? Can I look back and see His hand leading me through the valleys and storms of my journey? “It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, Most High; to declare Your goodness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night.” Psalm 92:1-2 NLT Ask: When I wake up in the morning, do I thank God for giving me a new day; and before I sleep, do I recount the blessings that His faithfulness has brought me during the day? “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and He would have given you living water.’” John 4:10 NLT Ask: Have I truly praised the Lord lately for giving me His living water of everlasting life? “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:8 ESV Ask: Do I sometimes forget that I must not worry about having the provisions I need for life, understanding that Jesus will always be with me through every circumstance? Do I realize that when I love money and am not content with what I have, I am relying only upon myself for provision and not the promises of God? “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:16-17 NLT Ask: Do others see me as a representative of Christ because I am continually giving Him thanks and praise for how He has filled my life with His Spirit? “My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.” Psalm 73:26 Ask: Do I let my heart resound praises to my Father for the truths of this verse? “Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.” 1 Chronicles 29:13 NASB Ask: Do I, as David did, exalt God and thank Him for His greatness, power, and victory over evil, recognizing He, our Majestic King, is to be exalted above all? “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In His hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land.” Psalm 95:1-5 ESV Ask: Have I recently read this psalm and meditated upon its truth and beauty? “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion…” Psalm 103:1-4 NIV Ask: Do I think about being crowned with love and compassion as proven by Jesus’ forgiving me of all my sins? “Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 KJV (“Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.” NLT) Ask: Do I express to God thankfulness for having His Holy Spirit live within me? Am I, in any way, by action or word, preventing the Holy Spirit from working fully in me for the glory of God? “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.” Zachariah 9:9 NLT Ask: Am I thankful that God prophesized Jesus’ coming and that we should and can rejoice in the fact that every prophecy of God is fulfilled? “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7 NIV Ask: Do I overflow with thankfulness that I am able to be rooted in Jesus Christ if I choose to spend time with Him, studying His Word and praying to imitate Him? “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” Psalm 28:7 Ask: Can I picture myself dancing around the house, bursting with songs of thanksgiving to the Lord because He is trustworthy and my warrior against evil? (Perhaps this year is a good year for me to do so?!) “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.” Psalm 123:1 KJV (“I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven.” NLT) Ask: Have I envisioned God seated upon His throne, my all-worthy, all-compassionate, all merciful, and Almighty Father? Have I thanked Him for who He is--the King and Master of everything that is? ”Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24 NKJ (“I tell you the truth, those who listen to My message and believe in God who sent Me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” NLT) Ask: Have I with all my heart, each day, thanked God the Father for sending Jesus to remove any and all condemnation from me, purifying me so that I may spend eternity with Him in heaven? “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.” 2 Thessalonians 1-3 NIV Ask: Do I remember to give God thanks for my brothers and sisters in Christ and for how they have influenced me in my walk with Him? Am I thankful that the love between us not only is growing but is being openly displayed, glorifying God and demonstrating to others that we are Christ’s disciples? “Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth.” Psalm 108:5 NLT Ask: How many times weekly do I study God’s creation and note His glory shining over all? True, the earth is now groaning because of sin, but how much more, then, can I envision heaven and God’s glory there? May I always remember to thank and exalt You Lord for who You are! “Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:11-12 Ask: Have I considered that my generosity to others results in their seeing God in action, resulting in their joyfully thanking their Father in heaven for His provision? “Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.” Psalm 97:8 KJV (“Jerusalem has heard and rejoiced, and all the towns of Judah are glad because of Your justice, O Lord!”) Ask: Why should I rejoice? As we close out our week, let us reflect on Verses 1-8 of Psalm 97 NLT: “The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice! Let the farthest coastlands be glad. Dark clouds surround Him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. Fire spreads ahead of Him and burns up all His foes. His lightning flashes out across the world. The earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim His righteousness; every nation sees His glory. Those who worship idols are disgraced—all who brag about their worthless gods—for every god must bow to Him. Jerusalem has heard and rejoiced, and all the towns of Judah are glad because of Your justice, O Lord. For you, O Lord, are supreme over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.” PRAYER: Dear Father, this week is a reminder of what I should be doing every day of my life—meditating upon who You are, what You have sacrificed to bring me to Yourself, and being grateful for all of this. Let me never forget that You have blessed my life beyond measure. I thank You with all my heart for loving me so very much and claiming me as Your own. To You, and You only, be all honor, glory, and praise! DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! Genesis 2:15-17 “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
Imagine the thought and preparation that comes before any artistic masterpiece is created. Now pick any masterpiece you know of and picture it being mutilated. Sad but true, many masterpieces of artwork throughout the years have been vandalized, some by rebellious people who wish to make their points of view known or others as a result of accident, alcohol, or possible mental illness. Included in the list of these paintings are Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan by Ilya Repin, Le Rêve, by Picasso, Argenteuil Basin with a Single Sailboat by Monet, and Nightwatch by Rembrandt van Rijn.1 While some paintings such as the Mona Lisa have been protected throughout the years, many times by a glass covering, the other paintings listed above were not so fortunate. For instance, out of Rembrandt’s 600 paintings, Nightwatch is a highlight, using light and shade to create a textured, three dimensional effect depicting the officers and men of the Amersterdam Kloveniers Militia.2 Measuring an astounding 12.5 feet by 15 feet and weighing 743 pounds, it has become a Dutch national treasure.3 Nightwatch was first slashed in 1975 with a bread knife by an unemployed school teacher, Wilhelmus de Rijk. Later, in 1990, a mentally ill man threw acid on the painting. Fortunately, the painting was able to be restored, but it now is in need further restoration as there is a slight white haze where the painting had been cut.5 Yes, when something is a masterpiece and has been vandalized, we all wish for its restoration. Restoration—it becomes a beautiful word in my mind as it leads me to think of our God. Consider with me for a minute God before He created all from nothing. Can you imagine the thought He put into His planning? Can you picture the output of energy that had to take place? Can you picture the beauty of each created planet, star, animal, plant, person? The uniqueness, with each creation being a masterpiece, made in perfection? I am picturing great excitement and joy as God began creating. “Let there be….” And there was! Let’s travel back through history to the garden where we find Adam and Eve, the highest of God’s creation among the animals and creatures of the earth, the only ones made in His image. Were they not masterpieces? Indeed they were! But listen to this conversation between the Almighty and our initial parents: “ ‘Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?’ The man replied, ‘It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.’ Then the Lord God asked the woman, ‘What have you done?’" And thus it was that sin was born from man’s rebellion, which came to be known as The Fall, and with The Fall came, though slowly at first, death and decay. God’s perfect creation was vandalized by man himself, and everything has groaned ever since. HOWEVER…God loved and continues to love His masterpieces—you, I, and the very earth we live on too much to allow the results of man's vandalsim to go on! So He, being all-knowing—even before creation began—had restoration in mind. Remember always that God is love, and love simply will not let something pass away—it will do everything within its power to restore! In order to restore mankind to Himself, man’s sin--that damaging self-inflicted vandalism—had to be removed. So God did something drastic; He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die on our behalf as He took our sins upon Himself, thereby offering us the choice of restoration. What is that choice? Accept Christ as Savior and be fully restored as a child and heir of God—or choose not to, and be destined to life without His goodness, hope, love, or joy. There is the true depiction of light versus shade—the light of living in God’s presence versus that of living in the ultimate darkness of life without Him! Restoration—a new, purified life in Christ and, one day, a new and perfect earth. Peace will reign and “the wolf and the lamb will feed together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. But the snakes will eat dust. In those days no one will be hurt or destroyed on My holy mountain. I, the Lord, have spoken!”” Isaiah 65:25 Isn’t it glorious to realize we need not fear the times we live in, in spite of the vandalism taking place in our country and throughout the world? Doesn't it give hope to know that when we do, even now, vandalize ourselves by sinning, God restores us through confession? We have an incomprehensible great and awesome God. He is the definition and reconciliation and restoration. Praise be to His holy name now and forever! 1. https://shop.ariustechnology.com/blogs/news/vandalism-of-art 2. https://www.rembrandthuis.nl/en/meet-rembrandt/rembrandt-the-artist/most-important-work/the-night-watch/ 3. https://shop.ariustechnology.com/blogs/news/vandalism-of-art 4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_Watch VERSES: Genesis 3:14-15 “Then the Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.’ ” 1 Peter 5:10 “In His kindness God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation.” I John 5:4 “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.” PRAYER: Dear Father, how can I possibly find the words to show how grateful—how thankful—I am that YOU ARE GOD! If You were not YOU, if You were not LOVE itself, I, as all others, would be doomed to darkness—a place completely devoid of light—and an eternity of life without Your goodness and peace. So thank You, Father, that You continued pursuing me throughout my twenties and even into my early thirties until You could restore me to You through the saving grace of Jesus; and Father, thank You that one day, as I live eternally with You, I will be the masterpiece You originally planned for me to be—pure and without sin. I cannot repeat enough times, “Father, You are so, so, so very, very GOOD!” Amen. DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
“Hidden Treasure”--Anonymous ‘Twas long ago I read the story sweet-- ‘Of how the German mothers, o’er the sea, Wind in, throughout the yarn their girlies knit, Some trinkets small, and tiny shining coins, That when the little fingers weary grow, And fain would lay aside the tiresome task, From out the ball will drop the hidden gift, To please and urge them on in search for more, And so, I think, The Father kind above Winds in and out the skein of life we weave, Through all the years, bright tokens of His love, That when we grow weary and long for rest They help to cheer and urge us on for more; And far adown within the ball we find, When all the threads of life at last are spun, The grandest gift of all—eternal life.”1 I must admit that I’ve never looked at my life as a skein of yarn, but when I now do, I can clearly see how God has woven tokens of His love into it to encourage me not to waiver from the path He has laid before me. My Father does this in His own timing and in His own way. We all know that in life, we will be faced with a multitude of trials: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” James 1:2-4 James' words do not state if troubles come, but when troubles come (they are guaranteed), we are to consider them opportunities for joy. These trials develop within us strength and endurance to help us become the people God wants us to be, and we learn to focus on the joy set before us--the grandest gift of all--eternal life. If we but look during those times of our deep, hard struggles, we can discern God’s loving hand as He drops into our lives tokens, hidden until needed, that encourage us along our journey. What possibly could they be? Yours will differ from mine, but I would encourage you to look back and recount those episodes that have lifted your hearts during times of darkness. Here are a few from my life:
1. Leaves of Gold, edited by Clyde Francis Lytle, 1948, Coslett Pubishing Company. VERSES: Acts 13:2 “One day as these men (prophets and teachers at Antioch) were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.” John 1:16 “From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” Isaiah 41:20 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand.” Numbers 6:24-26 “ ‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace.’ “ PRAYER: Thank you, Father, for blessing me with trinkets—tokens—gifts—not before or after I need them, but when I need them. With each of these, You help me rise from possible despair into the joy of understanding who You are and how good You are, no matter what circumstances may indicate. You are the great I AM—the all-knowing, all-loving, all merciful, kind, and caring God who has chosen me in my wretchedness to be saved through faith in Your Son, Jesus. Please fill me daily with Your Holy Spirit so I may worship you with a clean heart, being thankful for all You’ve given to save me. Amen. DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! |
Author Candice Mary Thomas writes about loving God and loving people! Coming to Christ at age 32 and now in her 70's, Candice knows what a difference it makes living with or without Christ as one's personal Savior. Archives
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