Heavy Guard Detail

As a young child, my family and I did a lot of traveling. One of our funniest remembrances is going to visit a particular fort. While my mind doesn’t remember all the details, I DO remember my Dad rolling down his window and asking a gentleman where the fort was. The man kept saying, “You’re in the fort.” Apparently Dad wasn’t convinced because he kept re-asking the question, “Where’s the fort?” The man kept on saying “you’re in the fort.” By the time he convinced Dad, Mom and everyone else in the vehicle was rolling with laughter.

We thought the valuables in their fort would certainly be guarded with more care. They certainly didn’t have a very heavy “guard detail.” We were inside the fort and didn’t even realize it. It has been such an easy entrance the guard had to work at convincing my dad we were really there.

The more we grow in our Christian walk, the more we realize that the most valuable things in life are not temporal. It is so easy to get swept up in the mere existence of living and forget the absolute necessity of guarding our soul.

Picking up my Bible recently, I found myself in Proverbs 4. Verse 23 jumped out at me, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Guard our heart . . . so how do we do that?

Well, guards are usually set at doors of places for two reasons. Watch who comes in, and watch who goes out. That’s the way it is with our hearts. The avenues to get to our hearts are our minds, our ears, our eyes . . . so, we guard the avenues. We fill our minds with God’s Word, praise music, good thinking patterns. What are we doing? We are setting up a guard!

We choose to rejoice, choose NOT to worry or be anxious – but take “EVERYTHING by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving” – presenting our requests to God. What happens then? We have a guard! “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7

We ask the Lord of our lives to help us with “guarding.” In Psalm 141, David shows us how. He says, “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies.” (Psalm 141:3-4)

We certainly need to set up a better “guard detail” than they had at that fort! We don’t want any “sneak ins.” The living of our lives springs from our hearts. What is valued to us will be spoken out by our living, and in the living of our children and grandchildren.

Anything questionable – even hinting of sin – keep it out! Anything negative – hinting of tearing down another or negatively affecting – get it cleansed! Anything full of His Word, His love, His Power, embrace it mightily and let Him pour Himself back out through you.

Today – let’s guard our hearts!

By: Janene A. Dubbeld/FGG

Take it With You

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

Asking God

She was a very busy lady! Mother of three children, a minister’s wife, loving the Lord with all of her heart, and wanting make each second count for the Lord. She raced around, working very hard, doing it all for Jesus . . . And completely wearing herself out. Ever so gently the Lord began to speak to her heart, making her aware of a need she didn’t know she had.

“Did you ask me if this idea was OF me?” She was a creative person, and had a desire to use every talent she possessed for the Lord, however her “busyness” in His service was becoming a habit. Sometimes she began before she “inquired” if this was something HE really wanted her to do! His words “stopped her in her tracks.” If it wasn’t OF Him . . . How could it really be FOR Him? It was a lesson much needed and well learned. She couldn’t just race through life “doing everything” for God, until she took the time to sit at His feet and ask Him, “what would YOU have me do?”

The men of Israel in Joshua 9 were the leaders of the day. They were wonderful men of God. They had been used of the Lord and seen His miraculous intervention on behalf of His people again and again. Crossing the Jordan . . . Watching the walls of Jericho fall flat . . . They had done the “hard thing” and “routed out” the sin in the camp when Achan disobeyed the Lord.

Then the people of Gibeon showed up among them. These people had heard of the acts of the Living God, and they were afraid. They knew they couldn’t win over the Israelites in battle. Neither did they like the idea of defeat. So, they thought, schemed, and devised a plan of deceit. They made bread — and waited until it was moldy. They disguised themselves to look like they were from far away — when they were from close by.

The Israelite leaders did a lot of things right. They listened to their story. They checked all of their provisions. But the one thing that was most important — this time they overlooked. They did not ask the Lord what they should do. This resulted in a decision that wasn’t God given that cost them an unwanted price to pay.

We serve a God who is willing to help us. His ways are so much higher than ours! Our view is limited — His eyes see all. He knows the schemes of the enemy — and He is well able to protect us. We just have to take the time to ask Him on every decision — no matter how “big” or “small.” His wisdom is the Light we need today!

By: Janene A. Dubbeld

For God’s Glory

Take it with You

“The men of Israel sampled the provisions but did not inquire of the Lord.” Joshua 9:14



Wings

What does your mind go to when someone says, “wings?” The results are amazing! Some people think — Barbeque. Some think HOT BARBEQUE!

Other thought processes trace to organizations who have “wings” in their name. Still others think of eagles, or birds known for the broad span, beautiful feathers, or protective covering of their wings.

Imagery is a very useful tool in writing or speaking. Using something we can each relate to in illustrating a point is very helpful in not only getting the point across, but helping others to retain it’s valuable information.

In Bible days, birds were much more prevalent than Barbeque or “winged” organizations . . . And so the imagery of wings found in scripture usually brought to mind what they had seen in the nature around them. Wings held a connotation of protection. The word “wings” brought the image of a mother hen protecting her chicks from a storm. Or that of an eagle—mounting high above the earth around him — off into the blue sky above.

The Presence of God was often likened to “wings,” and the beautiful imagery still holds much encouragement for us today.

In Psalm 61:4 we read, “I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of your wings. The ultimate trust of our life has found a resting place. Sheltered safely under the Almighty wings of God.

Psalm 17:8 brings this request to the Lord, “Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings . . .” A hiding place when circumstances threaten to be “too much.” A place to hide — to be comforted and loved.

Boaz saw in Ruth that simple trust when he said, “The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” (Ruth 2:12)

Not only do we find wings to be our refuge and our shelter, but in Isaiah 40:31, we find an imagery of rising above. “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, they shall walk, and not faint.” (Is. 40:31)

“Mounting up” higher than the things of earth requires a waiting on God. As we “rest” in the shelter of His wings, waiting on Him for direction, guidance, clarity to the path, His strength becomes ours and we find ourselves mounting — up, up, and away from the cares and the burdens and pressures, into the mighty Presence of an Almighty God. And He . . . HE makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE!

By: Janene A. Dubbeld/FGG

Take it with You

“How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.” (Psalm 36:7)

Right Place at the Right Time

My oldest son was intently telling us about a friend of his who received a brand new, free car. It was rewarded to him by the college where he went to school for an accomplishment that didn’t seem to be all that “hard” really. It seemed like he was just “at the right place at the right time.”

Our family was headed out to sing for Jesus. We made preparations the evening before, loaded all seven of us into the van, and left in plenty of time. We were enjoying the beautiful day as we rode along, already singing together, anticipating what God was going to do . . . when Dad says, “Have you seen 43 yet?’ Upon closer investigation it was apparent; we were NOT “at the right place at the right time!” We had made a right instead of a left, and had quite a bit of back tracking to do. Around the twists and curves of the Blue Ridge Parkway we went . . . and, thankfully, we still made it to our destination in plenty of time.

The “right place at the right time.” What do those words mean for those of us who are disciples of Christ? When you take away all the froth and frill, the bottom line is our “right place” is keeping in step with the Holy Spirit. He has been given to us by the Father as a Guide, a Comforter, a Friend. It’s like all of time is a great big panoramic picture. God is the Master artist, taking His brush and the beauty of surrendered lives to continue His mural.

We have the awesome privilege to help Him complete this purpose. He has given us the gifts and abilities that, when surrendered back to Him, will help Him paint His world.

He is only hindered by unwillingness, or disobedience on our part. He will still fulfill His plan, but we hinder Him when we back away from what He has called us to do – or when we put our own plans and wishes above His.

When we know what He has called us to, doing it will put us “in the right place at the right time.” Moses was called to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. At first he saw all of his own inadequacies and failures, not sure that God had chosen the right man. God is God. He knew Moses inside and out. He knew his human frailty. As one writer put it, “How much eloquence would He (God) have needed to furnish him for his mission? The answer is, without God no amount of human eloquence would have availed; but with God the merest stammerer would have proved an efficient minister.”

We must not shrink back from where He is leading, or rush on ahead in eagerness of a fleshly spirit, but stay steady, keeping step with Him and fulfilling His will and purpose in our lives daily.

Let Him paint His mural through you! It’s an awesome life to live! Walking in His Spirit keeps us in “the right place, at the right time!”

By: Janene A. Dubbeld/FGG

Take it with You

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” (Galatians 5:16)

Psalm 91

She had silvery, white hair by the time I came to know her. Her shoulders stooped a bit, but that didn’t deter her from good, old fashioned, gardening and wonderful cooking. Home-made noodles . . . Mmmm, no one could make them quite like her. Church potlucks just weren’t complete without her large, stainless steel, kettle, sitting on the counter, sending off mouth watering aromas as it waited to warm your heart and satisfy your hunger.

It was extremely seldom for the Pastor to take any time off — this I know first hand since he was my dad. Our church didn’t boast a church “staff” so if their was a message to be preached, Dad did it. If someone needed visiting — Dad did it. Therefore, if Dad were gone on a Wednesday evening, he would often ask Mrs. Settles to have prayer meeting.

Now there was one thing that stood out about this lady even more than her homemade noodles. She knew God. She talked to Him — lots! She talked to Him because she loved Him. She talked to Him for family, for friends, for the lost . . . She knew God and He knew her.

After several years of being at the church, our family was preparing to be gone over a Wednesday. One of my young friends made a comment that they would probably hear Psalm 91 again! Evidently every time this dear saint “filled in” she would use Psalm 91.

As the years have gone by, this Psalm has become most precious to me. Many nights I read it before going to sleep. Sometimes my daughter reads it to me, or I read it to her. Recently we read it in family devotions. It’s one of those Psalms of which we can never get enough. It’s words hold such promises . . . Such faith-filled declarations! This was a secret Mrs. Settles had discovered. No wonder she used it nearly ever time!

In a devotional book, entitled, “Springs in the Valley,” I found a version of this Psalm that was new to me. I absolutely fell in love all over again with the meaning of this passage from God . It goes like this:

“He that goeth aside to sit quietly in the secret place with the Most High, will find him coming over so close that this man shall be lodging under the very shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1 free translation)

Don’t you just love that?!? Going aside and sitting quietly brings Him close! So close in fact that you will be “lodging” or living under the shadow of the Almighty! The very Almighty God!!! What a privilege! What a place to rest! What a place to live!

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)

Let’s determine to “live in Him” more than ever before, and let Him “live in us!” (John 14:1)

Take it with You

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."      Psalm 91:1