Day 244 At Home with God

 

9/1/2025 

 "I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and 

in His word I do hope."

Psalm 130:5

 

Yesterday's message has been on my mind, along with many other thoughts I've been milling over for a couple of weeks. According to the pastor, Andrew Murray once said, "The man or woman who doesn't schedule prayer probably never prays at all." What he was trying to emphasize through the use of this sentiment by Murray, one of my favorite authors, is that we need to be intentional about making time to meet with God every day. It's not enough to throw out a few prayers here and there or to say that we pray all day, as the scriptures say we are to "pray without ceasing." It's about meeting God in the secret place where we not only bring our needs to Him, but He talks to us. The pastor was also saying that when he meets with the Lord that Holy Spirit never speaks to him about the sins of others, He talks to him about His sins. I've noticed that Christians are the first to run to the news or to the prayer line to "share for prayer purposes" when a fellow Christian falls from grace. Why is that? I really don't understand it. I've heard the cliche that "Christians are the only ones who shoot their wounded," and I believe it! I also don't like hearing criticism about another believer. The scriptures are clear about it. Each day I try to examine my heart, guard my heart, mind, and keep my mouth shut. We have to do better.

A couple of weeks ago I read a devotional about the motives of our hearts, or maybe Holy Spirit was talking to me in our quiet time together. My mind is always on overload, it seems, but as I try to bring balance into my life, I began to ask myself the question "Why?!" Why am I doing the things that I do, why am I involved in the things I am doing or attempting to do. Over the months I have been stepping back from things, because I felt it was time, and because I needed to know if I was doing this for the right reason without any self-motives. I'm a quiet person, but I do speak out in my way, and I want to ensure that I do things His way, not mine. When I pray, using the Word of God as my guide, praying His Words back to Him, reminding Him, I do so in simplicity, because I really believe what He said and speak it as truth. I don't know all the answers, but I know that He does, and all He has asked of me is to trust Him. There are times that I feel "less than" others, but then I have to check my motives. If I am asking Abba to move on behalf of another, what does it matter what anyone else thinks or says? I am talking to Him, not anyone else or so anyone can hear. Prayer is communicating with our Father, just as if I am talking to a friend, because to me, He is my Friend. So it should come naturally. And when He corrects me, it is because He loves me, and He wants the very best for me.

Last night I was listening to Jesus Image, and Michael has been teaching from Psalm 91, another of my favorites. It seems as if I have many portions of scripture that are favorites, old friends, steady companions, those I have memorized and made my own. 

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (verse 1)

This verse explains that the child of God who makes his home - dwells or lives - in the secret place of God, drawing close to Him, as Jesus spoke about in John 15 - abiding in Him, His word abiding in us, then we abide in safety - in His shadow, the Presence of God. When the children of Israel were journeying through the wilderness, God would lead them by the cloud by day and the fire by night. When they stopped in the evening, His glory rested in the tabernacle. They were guided and protected by the Spirit of God. When we accept Christ as Savior and Lord, Holy Spirit makes His home in us, our bodies are His temple. But this verse speaks of having those special times, set apart, to meet with Him and fellowship in secret. The Bible says to go into our rooms or wherever we pray, close the door, and meet in secret. This is where we learn to hear His voice, receive instruction and correction, and so much more. Daniel prayed like this three times a day, and he is an example of dwelling and abiding in the secret place with God. "Secrecy precedes abiding.

I challenge anyone reading this post to take the time to read over this psalm and think about each word is saying, and the order in which the words are spoken. Throughout scripture we are told by God that if we do things one way, which is His way, then He will do what He said He'd do. Jesus taught the same way, so don't just read His Words, mediate on His words and make them come alive in your heart. Learn to separate yourself for a certain amount of time each day to meet with God alone in secret, and learn to truly know Him. He's waiting for you!

Day 243 Greater Things

 

8/31/2025 

 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and 

courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the

LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

 

My older son told me once, in response to my query about how his life was going, that he was irritated, bored, and full of wanderlust. I never dreamed that he'd take off work, book a flight to Japan, stay in a scary side of town, and spend his time wandering through gardens. In fact, he didn't share the plan until he was already there! But this is the way he is, rather reclusive, perhaps even monastic! With him I am never quite certain. I think he got the wandering bug from me, but mine probably is much different from his. Whereas he enjoys civilization, I enjoy jungles. He enjoys hotels, and I prefer tents with mosquito nets! He prefers driving or riding, and I enjoy hiking or walking using a machete to forge my way. He prefers restaurants or at least foods he can identify, when I don't really care about eating, and if I do eat something, it'd be a banana or a bag of nuts or nut bar. I'm just speculating as he's changed a lot since he left home for college back in 1992, heading off to the big city of Boston. He secured a nice scholarship for his prestigious university, but he still had to earn his spending money. Although we were by no means well off, but barely making it, our children always had nice clothes with noted labels, or at least he preferred the labels. But once he left home his taste soon changed from high end to a buck a bag bargains at Good Will. I sewed on many labels for him, but they were sports-related rather than designer. He always did like patches, and he earned a few in Royal Rangers and Cub Scouts. Now he's into his own funky art and fostering cats of all species. He used to be a dog person, like me, and he even had a white mouse name Rodentia once. Things change! and so do people.

When I woke up this morning these thoughts were not primary in my mind. I think the day brought things to mind again, and the photo I shared reminded me of myself. No, this morning I felt so grateful, and I began by praising Abba for another day and restful night, but then my thoughts somehow drifted back again to days in New Mexico. I had been dreaming before I woke up, and although I can't remember what I was dreaming, I remembered that last night when Daniel's cat, Mia, wanted to cuddle, I told her "later." I began to think about the neighbor's dog, Kenya, whom I dearly loved. She had gotten, thin, a little mangy, and seemed to dread each step, except when she came to visit me. No matter how thin she became, or how slow, she always perked up a bit when she and I would chat. She was more a friend to me than most humans, because she actually listened to what I was saying, in her own way. One morning, as I was rushing to go to an appointment with a patient, she came over and wanted to visit a little. I loved on her a bit, but I was running late, so I told her I'd see her later. Later never came. The neighbors didn't want to break the news to me, but she'd been to see them too, before they rushed off to work and school, then she'd gone under her favorite bush between the two homes, and she passed into eternity. That's been so many years ago, but I miss her so much. She stole my heart from day one. A beautiful Alaskan Malamute. I can still see her, smiling. Oh, how I miss her, and I miss my neighbors who always made sure that this ole lady had another dog to love, or two or more, and they watched over me, and they were my friends. We still keep in touch, on the kid's birthdays, but I know they care about me, and they know that I love them. The kids are almost grown, Michael and Gen, but to me, they will always be children, kind and compassionate.

The verse from Pastor Jack's devotional today is found in 1 John 5:4-5: "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" In scripture we are reminded that faith comes by hearing, and hearing, by the word of God (Romans 10:17), herein lies the exhortation to know the word of God and en-graft it onto our hearts. As Jesus is warning His disciples of things that are to come in John 16, in verse 33 He concludes by saying: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." I can't tell you how many I've heard pastors and teachers warn us that the closer we walk we the Lord, the greater the attacks. Now, whereas that is not exciting news, as who wants be persecuted, ill, or face any number of distresses in our lives, yet it is welcoming news to me to know that I make the devil mad, so he has to change his tactics. I much prefer suffering for the cause of Christ, than drifting through life without a care, only to lose out on an eternity of many wonders and adventures with Jesus.

So as Joshua prepares to enter the Promised Land, he has to be told three times to be strong and courageous, and Joshua was a mighty warrior dressed for battle. He also had a visitation by the Angel of the Lord, as I described previously. The Captain of the Armies of Heaven doesn't allow any grass to grown under His feet. Yes, He's in Heaven alright, seated beside Father God at His right hand, victorious over death, hell, and the grave, making intercession for us here on earth, while we are waiting for His return. But, Holy Spirit is right here dwelling within us, in touch with Father and Son, and I believe the Angel of the Lord, or as I was told, the Captain of the Armies of Heaven, is Jesus walking on this earth today. I won't argue the issue, as I've seen Him, face to face. So do not become discouraged, but be bold and courageous as you live Your earthly life for Him. And although I've said this before, and I no doubt will repeat it until I take my last breath or shout my last "Hallelujah!" don't ever allow anyone to tell you that you can't attain the goals you desire in life or that you are too old. Recently, I learned of a man 75 returning to college to complete his Master's degree. Whereas the person sharing the news with me laughed, because he was "old," I rejoiced, because this is what he wanted to do. He wanted to finish what he started. And that's my motivation on any given day - to finish what I start. Next time, or soon, we'll talk about the gifts and calling of God. But, another time. I'll also share about a heathen King named Cyrus, and how God called this king to do great things before he was even born! It's late now, so see ya later, if later comes.