Bible Passage for the Week

Psalm 91:4 - "He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and a buckler."

Sometimes there are crazy things thrown at us.  We have to face things that we don't really want to.  We have to deal with the good, bad, and ugly.  No matter what we have to face, or what we have to deal with we can take refuge in our Lord!  This verse paints a comforting picture.  We have a safe place to be under the "wings" of our Lord.  His refuge and faithfulness surrounds us like a mother bird surrounds her babies with her wings.  Take comfort in knowing our Lord has us covered!

Cheryl

Bible Passage for the Week

Hebrews 12:28 - "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe."

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we have so much to be grateful for.  This verse truly shares that.  Thank you Lord for the unshakable Kingdom you have provided for us!

Cheryl

Bible Passage for the Week

Psalm 146:3 - "Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save you."

Remember where your trust should lie - your trust should be in the Lord as He is the one who can save you.  He is the one who has paid the price for each and everyone of us.  There is no prince, president, king or man on earth that can fulfill what Jesus has done for us!

Cheryl

Our Guardian

The saying – a picture is worth a thousand words – can speak to this picture.  I’ll try not to use a thousand words but there is just something about this picture.  This picture presents a very commanding look by what some could say is just an adorable animal.  However, there is so much more to a Llama than its “beauty”.   Llamas are protectors.  They guard flocks of sheep or herds of goats from the predators that roam around waiting to attack.  The llama, who lives with his flock or herd, keeps his eye out for anything that does not belong or could harm his flock.  He is always on guard and if something threatens his flock he is off and running.  You see when a llama feels there is a threat he runs at that threat.  He stares down the animal that is threatening his flock and will spit if the threat continues.  If the animal does not back off and makes his way towards the flock, the llama will knock the animal down and stomp it with its knees.  The animal will either run off or be stomped to death.

While taking this photo, it was very interesting to watch the llama.  I was off to the side taking photos, and he always kept his eye on me.  At the same time, there was a great deal of activity surrounding his pen and he also kept an eye on that.  He paraded around his pen making sure all was well and his demeanor changed when someone would get too close to his pen.  He became stiffer in his walk and made his way over to the “threat”.  If the “threat” did not back away or chose to climb on the fence he would stomp his front feet.  If that didn’t work, the spit flew.  The “threat” got first hand exposure to his line of defense and it worked; the “threat” backed off. 

The llama in this picture brings to mind the verse I shared a couple of weeks ago from 2 Chronicles 16:9.  “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him.”  I have this visual of the Lord with a commanding stand and watching out for me.  He is watching to and fro amongst all the activity that surrounds me and misses nothing.  He is my protector!  It is also noted in Psalm 34:7 that “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.”  Not only is He constantly watching out for us He is encamped around us.

I need a protector!  I need the Lord’s strength and might to surround me; to encompass me as the “threats” of world are around me.  “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2

Cheryl            

Bible Passage for the Week

John 15:5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

The strength we can pull from this verse is comforting.  Take a moment to consider how a branch survives.  The branch must stay connected to the vine.  If it does not stay connected the branch will wither away.  Well, Christ is the vine and a branch connected to that vine will thrive!  Abide in the Lord, stay connected to the Vine and thrive in Him!

Cheryl  

Bible Passage for the Week

My apologies for being late!

Philippians 1:3-4 - "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy."

Is there someone in your life that you are thankful for?  Make sure you let them know as well as pray for them.  Let God know you are so thankful for the people He puts in your lives. 

Cheryl

Does God Ask Too Much?

Deuteronomy 6:6-9

“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts on your house and on your gates.”

 

Do you ever think sometimes God asks too much of us?  Take Deuteronomy 6:6-9 for instance.  God is asking us to take the commands He has given us and put them on our hearts.  Teach them diligently.  Talk of them when you are sitting.  Talk of them when you walking.  Talk of them when you lie down and when you rise.  Bind these commands on your hand.  Put these commands between your eyes.  Write them on the doorposts of your house and at your gates.  Good grief!  Is there ever a time to step away from it – to just be? 

The answer is no.  God commanded these very things for a reason.  In fact, He commanded them multiple times.  If you take a look at Deuteronomy 11, or Proverbs 3:3, or Proverbs 6:21, or Proverbs 7:3 they all talk about binding God’s word and commands.  So it must be something we should take to heart.

There is another section of scripture that talks about the devil lurking.  1 Peter 5:8 notes, “Be sober-minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  The devil would love to devour you.  He wants to take you away from the Savior.  However, if you are putting the Lord’s commands on your heart; teaching them diligently; talking of them when you are sitting, walking, or lying down the devil has no space to “get in”.  You see, filling your time with Christ and being in His word fills you with all you need.  He will give you His guidance, His peace, His promises and the devil doesn’t fit anywhere in that equation!  “The Lord is faithful.  He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Each week there is a bible passage to ponder on this blog.  This is one way to fill yourself with His word and pass it along to others.  Whether there are children in your house or not we are all teachers of His word.  We can demonstrate to others; we can share with others; we can fill our lives with Christ!  Christ has conquered the evil one and we have victory through Him!  “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:57

Cheryl  Durheim