Thought So!

Nest in Him?

This word “nest” popped out at me in the familiar Psalm 91, and I was surprised I had not noticed it before.  Look it up—do you see it?  I looked again—oh…it was “rest in the shadow of the Almighty”.  (Did I get you to look?)  Even with my Wal-Mart reading glasses, my aged eyes play tricks on me, and sometimes read words that aren’t there.

I thought about the two words, nest and rest.  Though we know the word “rest” in vs.1 refers to our safety, protection, and comfort in the Lord, I too often abbreviate the meaning, as in “OK, enough sitting around.  We’ve had our 5 minute rest—let’s get back to work” (a kind of “zoom in when you need it” idea).   My visual of “nesting”, though, was of a more permanent picture—a bird planning to stay put—making a home—a shelter under the shadow of His wing.

So, whether you read it as “resting” or “nesting”, it’s home.  Stay there.

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Thisappointments

Are you having a bad day (month, year)?  Were you just informed that a co-worker quit, and you have to assume their job as well?  Have you discovered a $200 mistake in your checkbook—in the bank’s favor?  Are out-of-town guests due in tonight and you just discovered that your basement would make a great wading pool?   And all this before you’ve even brushed your teeth? (Insert own broken plan here).

While running for the Kleenex, grab your Bible and read Psalm 84, especially vs.5-7.  On our journey to Zion, we stumble over many setbacks (set back so far you have to use binoculars to see them).  Plans are broken, and we couldn’t have done a better job if we had hit them with a hammer ourselves.

As we pass through our dry, desolate Valley of Baca, we must watch for the autumn rains (no, not flooding!) that create pools, springs, and growing things (this is good).  If we’ve set our hearts on this pilgrimage, we can go on from strength to strength (no need to stop and wallow in between).  Can a disappointment become a “thisappointment” allowed by the Lord, but with a blessing lurking nearby, just waiting for you to look around and find it? 

Whew!  For a minute there, I thought this Psalm was written only for optimists.  No, we can all “try this at home”.  As we spend time in His Word and train our hearts to yearn for “the courts of the Lord”, we will discover new ways to find God’s faithfulness.

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Come Quick, Lord!

Her to-do list was longer than a track of mud on a clean floor, and needed to be done in a week.  Things to do at home… things to do at church….things she hadn’t even thought of yet…and still make time to actually look at and speak to her family members.  Oops—better begin with devotions (she was slightly annoyed and embarrassed that this did not spring to mind as a first choice).  Then what came to mind was:

-maybe researching for the Bible study lesson could double as devotions

-wait—I’d better run and (empty the trash, iron, etc.) first—it’ll take just a minute…..

-well, just a quick peek at my in-box wouldn’t hurt…I wouldn’t actually have to sit down and answer e-mails yet… 

No, she thought…first, get my Bible.  Next, pick a chair in another room far away from the computer.  Finally, open my Bible for devotions, which today was Psalm 70.

First verse: “Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord.”   Okay, Lord, I needed that.  You understand that I am “poor and needy” (v. 5), and you have everything I require for right now here in Your Word.  You have set aside a little time and place where I may come and rejoice and be glad in You, and say “Let God be magnified.”  You are simply waiting for me to “make haste”. What if I miss it?

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