Back in January I went on an “audio binge.” I downloaded books and listened to them almost any time that I was not at work, church, or asleep. I listened to books while driving, walking, cooking, eating, working around the house, etc. When I was not listening to books, I was reading them. Sometimes I would listen to the radio or to CD’s, but the bottom line is that I was feeding something into my brain continuously. Although I did do my regular Bible reading and study, the audio and other books I’m referring to were not necessarily religious in nature. I must admit I was also kind of proud to be intentionally stimulating my mind and accumulating knowledge.

I love to read, so books are kind of my thing.  Maybe they are your thing, too. Or maybe you are one of those people who tend to wear headphones or earbuds so you can listen to music or talk radio all the time. Many of us will turn on the television whether there is anything on of value or not, just to get the stimulation or have something to do.

When I finally ran through my backlog of books, I took a break from the audio and began to realize what I had been missing.  I had been missing out on the sounds of life all around me. And I had been missing out on the voice of God. I began to realize that the devil was probably behind my binge “reading.” The devil took something perfectly good—books—and made them into a compulsion that separated me from God. I still had my relationship with God; however, just like my husband was having trouble getting my attention when I was absorbed in my books, so was God having trouble getting my attention.

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10a (NIV)

I used to think this verse meant to slow down, to take time to pray and listen to God. However, I now know that it also means to quiet my mind, to refrain from the constant input of external words, music, and sounds so as to give myself space and time to hear, to think, to meditate on God’s Word. I am enjoying this quiet time with God. I’m thankful that He rescued me from the constant input of audio books because they had actually been wearing on me. Now that I’m taking this time away from audio books, I feel such refreshment in my soul because I am allowing myself to be renewed by the Holy Spirit.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism contains this dialog:

• Question: “What is the chief end of Man?”
• Answer: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”

St. Augustine said, “Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.”

I pray that you will take time and make space to enjoy God, find rest in Him, and hear what He wants to tell you.

Blessings,

Judy

A few years ago, my husband and I took our five older grandkids on a road trip to Chattanooga.  I decided we needed a traveling song, so we learned and sang Chris Tomlin’s “Whom Shall I Fear” song.  They liked it so much that we still sing it.  Audrey likes for me to sing it to her before she goes to bed because she tends to be scared of the dark. The chorus goes like this:

I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind

The God of angel armies
Is always by my side.

The one who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine

The God of angel armies
Is always by my side.

Chris Tomlin’s song references the “God of angel armies.” The Message uses the term “God-Of-The-Angel-Armies” as the translation of the Hebrew phrase “Jehovah Sabaoth,” which is a common name for God in the Bible.  It is translated as “LORD of Hosts” in the KJV and “LORD Almighty” in the NIV.  (See translations of 1 Samuel 17:45-47 about David and Goliath, for example.) Easton’s Bible Dictionary says “It may designate Jehovah as either (1) God of the armies of earth, or (2) God of the armies of the stars, or (3) God of the unseen armies of angels; or perhaps it may include all these ideas.”

Can you just picture this? How many times do we casually use the term “heavenly hosts” without really thinking about the magnitude and power that it conveys?

When I hear this song and the reference to “God of Angel Armies,” I call to mind the story in 2 Kings, Chapter 6: 15-17.  The Arameans were at war with Israel, and the King of Aram was trying to capture the King of Israel.  The people of Israel were getting discouraged.

¹⁵“When the servant of the man of God (Elisha) got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?’ the servant asked.

¹⁶ ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’

¹⁷ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

I get thrills when I picture this!  This is a biblical event that I can call to mind when I feel overwhelmed by the enemy.  When I think I have no other options, I should realize that God and His angel armies are all around me.  Even though I cannot see them, I should realize that God is always protecting me, and if I will let him, He will fight my battles for me, no matter how seemingly impossible.

Whom shall I fear?  No one!

Who is always by my side?  The God of Angel Armies!!

Blessings,

Judy

I have really enjoyed Mary’s Sleep Tips, haven’t you? (This is part of the Mission’s Wellness Program.)  I admit, I’m a pretty good sleeper.  However, when I can’t go right to sleep I become very vexed.  Sometimes I just can’t shut my mind down, and sometimes I just don’t feel sleepy (even though I might have dozing in my chair before actually going to bedJ).

I thought I would share with you some things that seem to work for me when I am lying in bed not able to go to sleep:

1. Rather than feeling frustrated, I thank God for the extra time I have to spend with Him.
2. I ask the Holy Spirit to help me with whatever I am anxious about, and try to listen for His counsel.
3. I ask God to please help me go to sleep and to sleep well.
4. I list all the things I have to be thankful for, large and small.
5. I recite (to myself) the Scriptures I am currently trying to memorize and meditate on them.
6. I go over the books of the Bible.

Sometimes these work and I do go on to sleep.  Occasionally, I end up spending hours on the six items above.  When that happens, rather than feeling like I have wasted a night I instead feel like I have had a fruitful and blessed time with the LORD.

I’ll add one more thing to Mary’s Sleep Tip that was posted last Thursday.  If you are anxious about anything, please remember that I am here for you.  You can email, text, call, or come by (appointment or drop-in).  I am a confidential resource for you, and I am always pleased to be able to listen, to pray with you, and perhaps offer counsel if appropriate.  My office hours are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and alternating Wednesdays (typically the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month) and I am on both campuses as needed.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

Blessings,

Judy

 “I know that my Redeemer lives!” We just celebrated Easter, exulting in the fact that Jesus rose from the dead and lives at the right hand of God.  He is our living Lord!! This is the good news of the Gospel, but maybe in the reality of your actual life, this good news doesn’t always seem to be enough?

Do you know about the Job of the Bible? Job experienced terrible physical pain, absolute financial ruin, and the tragic deaths of all of his children at the hand of Satan. I honestly have never known anyone who has had it worse than Job; he lost everything except for his wife and a few “friends.”  And for the first half of the book about him, Job in utter misery cursed the day of his birth, complained about his problems, and wished for death; in fact, he said he wished he had never been born. This is a picture of someone who is completely hopeless (he said his spirit was broken).  Perhaps you can identify with Job, at least at some level.  To add to Job’s problems, his friends tried to “counsel” him and just made it worse.  Maybe you can even identify with that.

However, about halfway through the book, Job arrives at this wonderful statement of faith: “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”  (Job 19:25-27)

When Job acknowledged his trust in God and proclaimed the sovereignty of God, his life changed.  In the end, Job’s fortunes were restored.  Not all of us start out rich, and even if we trust in God we may not end up with earthly riches.  But when we trust in God and acknowledge that our Redeemer lives and that He holds our future in his hands, we will have the life that God intends for us, and it will be worth living. The words of this song by Matt Maher speak to this truth.  Read this (click on the link to hear it).

Because He Lives (Amen)

I believe in the Son
I believe in the risen One
I believe I overcome
By the power of His blood

I was dead in the grave
I was covered in sin and shame
I heard mercy call my name
He rolled the stone away

Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
Every fear is gone
I know He holds my life my future in His hands

Amen, Amen
I’m alive, I’m alive
Because He lives

Amen, Amen
Let my song join the one that never ends
Because He lives
Because He lives

I pray that you will know the perfect peace that comes from really knowing your living Savior and trusting in Him.  Amen.

Blessings,

Judy