My Hiding Place

 “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” Psalm 32:7 (NIV)

 

 “Come find us, Grandma! Bet you can’t find us!” the voices giggled and then were immediately silent. I stood at the back door of my daughter’s house and looked around the yard.

 

Not in the playhouse. Not behind the shed. No one in the loft of the swing set. I scanned once more and then I saw it: a small chunk of dirt at the top of the huge dirt pile that my son-in-law had deposited by the fence was evidently knocked loose by an unseen force and tumbled to the ground.

 

I pulled back the green lid from the sandbox that had been pulled over the dirt pile to find a rather large hole and two dirty little faces grinning at me. “How do you like our hiding place?” they asked me together. “I love it!” I replied. “Tell me how you did it.”

 

 Ella and Jude explained that they had used two small buckets and a shovel to dig a hole wide enough for them both to fit in and then pulled the lid to their sandbox up the side of the “mountain” to cover the hole.

 

“You know why we did that? It’s ‘cause of that crazy dog that keeps coming around. We know we can hide in there and we are safe from that dog!” explained Ella. “And bad guys! Don’t forget the bad guys!” Jude chimed in. “They can’t find us in our hiding place!”

 

I love Psalm 32:7. The Lord is my hiding place. I know without a doubt that I am safe with Him and that He will protect me. He delivers me from “crazy dogs” and “bad guys” every single day of my life.

 

What is your hiding place? Where do you take refuge when the tough times slam into your life? Some will hide in their careers or their wealth; others will choose drugs, including alcohol. Still others will hide behind an outward appearance of indifference to whatever is going on around them.

 

These hiding places may seem to help for a while but they are just temporary and will only protect from the “dogs” and “bad guys” for a short time.

 

On the other hand, a permanent hiding place, with the Creator of the Universe, will provide a refuge for us to heal, receive His mercy, and be strengthened for what lies ahead.

Don Moen wrote a song based on Psalm 32:7 that begins this way: “You are my hiding place. I run to You. I need Your mercy and grace to see me through. So I run to You.” Where is your hiding place?

 

Lord, I long to hide in the shelter of your wings when everything around me seems to be falling apart. Thank you for covering me with your love. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• When situations come up that are difficult, where or who do you turn to first?

 

• Is that refuge temporary or permanent?

 

Apply

• Memorize Psalm 32:7 and sing it as praise to the Lord.

 

• Journal Scriptures that talk about the hiding place that the Lord has offered to you each and every day.

 

Power

• Psalm 32:7 (NIV) “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”

 

• Psalm 31:19 (NIV) “How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.”

 

• Psalm 31:2 (NIV) “Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.”

Slip Sliding Away

 “When I said, “My foot is slipping, “your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.”

Psalm 94:18-19 (NIV)

 

Snow skiing is loved by a large group of enthusiastic people. My youngest daughter is not one of them. Her experience on the slopes of Colorado convinced her that almost any sport is preferable to one that requires the participant to freeze, despite layer upon layer of clothing, and depend on flimsy poles and two slick “boards” as she called them to get her from point A to point B safely.

 

Having never snow skied before, she was initially excited to go on a winter vacation with her husband and her in-laws. Great care was taken to choose the right coordinated ski pants and jacket. Sunglasses were selected that would offer the best protection from the glare of the sun on the snow along with sunscreen and lip balm.

 

She was ready. She thought. Until she took her first skiing lesson. And slipped. And fell. And stood up. And slipped again. And . . . you get the picture. For about 30 minutes she was up and down in the snow until, with a great deal of effort and support from her husband, she was able to get to the top of a small hill.

 

During that time, her father-in-law was helping her mother-in-law stand upright after a hard fall. Successful at last, he turned to watch as my daughter began her descent down the slope, but his look of admiration quickly turned to one of panic as he realized that on her present path, she would make a direct hit on his wife. He was right.

 

My daughter said that to this day the trip downhill is still a blur but what she will forever remember is the look on her father-in-law’s face as he frantically tried to push his now-standing wife away from the path of his daughter-in-law’s out-of-control skis, poles, and body. He was not successful.

 

Can you picture the aftermath of the collision? Two women – in coordinated ski pants and jackets - laying in the snow, arms and legs wrapped around tangled-up skis and poles and accented with pieces of sunglasses. And two husbands standing over them, wondering how in the world they could have prevented the slipping, sliding accident from occurring. They could not.

 

I think that life is a lot like that skiing experience. We try and try to get up the slope. And there are a few times when we can make it and stand upright and feel successful. But there are many many other times when we slip and fall, barely get up, and fall again. That’s where David was in Psalm 94:18-19.

 

David probably never snow skied but he certainly knew what it was like to stand on the top of the hill as he was chosen by God to be the new king over Israel. He also knew the feeling of everything being out of control as King Saul tried to kill him.

 

What are you facing today that seems to knock you down and push and shove you as you try to get up? What is causing anxiety in your heart? What keeps you awake at night because there seems to be no clear answer?

 

Trust our Father who not only supports us when we start to fall but also keeps our feet from slipping. That was His promise to David. And that is His promise to us. Even on the ski slopes of life.  

 

Father, I praise you for listening when I call and for holding on to me when I cannot stand on my own. I praise you for your love and mercy. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Think about a time in your life when you felt everything slipping and sliding from underneath you.
• What was your first reaction? Turning to the Creator or bracing for the crash?

 

Apply

• Call a prayer warrior friend, share your concerns, and ask her to lift you up in prayer.
• Memorize today’s power verses and thank the Lord for keeping your feet from slipping as He watches over you.

 

Power

• Psalm 94:18-19 (NIV) “When I said, “My foot is slipping, “your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.”
• Psalm 121:3 (NIV) “He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber.”
• Psalm 37:23-24 (NIV) “If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”

 

Jacket With A "J"

 “. . . for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:27 (NIV)

When I was in high school, a girl always considered it a huge honor if she got to wear the letterman’s jacket belonging to her boyfriend for a Friday night football game. When she wore that jacket, she was immediately linked to the boy whose name was on the back of the jacket.

  And that in turn connected her to his “fame” as a football player. She felt honored to wear his jacket; they belonged together. I imagine that concept might possibly be considered outdated today but to us, it was a big deal to wear the letterman’s jacket.  

Galatians 3:27 speaks about a different type of clothing. It says “. . . for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” And that caused me to think what if. What if we wore the clothing of Christ – in other words – Christ Himself every minute of every day of our lives?

I know we are supposed to do just that but unfortunately, there are times when I seem to be more comfortable wearing the old rags of the world than the clothes that Jesus gives me. But suppose every morning I chose to be clothed with Jesus.

Would I act differently when dealing with a neighbor who was once again playing his loud music at 3 am? Would he be able to know by our conversation that my “clothing” was made from the sacrifice of Jesus?

  How about my words and actions sitting at a ball game when my team is losing? Would everyone know the One I belong to or would people around me hear and see someone completely opposite of the Lord?

I don’t need to wear a letterman’s jacket with a big “J” on it for others to know I belong to Jesus. But I do need to remember that as His follower, my wardrobe must change so that I am clothed with Christ for life.

  Father, too often I forget I belong to you and act as though I don’t even know you. Forgive me for not clothing myself with your son every day. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

  

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Do people around you see know you are a Christian by what you “wear” every day?

 

• Have you ever considered that what you say and do is a clear reflection of the One you serve?

 

Apply

• Journal the characteristics of Jesus from Colossians 3:12.

 

• With every situation you face, remember that you are clothed with Jesus. Treat people accordingly.

 

Power

• Galatians 3:27 (NIV) “. . . for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

 

• Colossians 3:12 (NIV) “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

 

• Romans 13:14 (NIV) “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” 

God is Already on My Journey

 “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

          My daughters and I recently took a vacation together outside the United States. As someone who does not travel anywhere, I thought it was quite interesting – and a bit scary.

          I asked several questions. “What if we get lost? If our first flight is late, who do we tell so we can get to the connecting flight? And if that happens, how will we reach our family to let them know what is going on? Won’t they worry where we are?”

          Questions and worries. Worries and questions. All unnecessary.

          Because just seconds before we were to get on our flight, my daughter’s husband texted “I see you are set to board your plane in the next few minutes.” What??!!

          “He has GPS, Mom,” she smiled at me. “He knows when we are boarding and he will know when we land. He knows exactly where we are.” Seriously? Yes. And, just a few minutes after our plane landed, another text came through. “I see you are on the ground. Have fun!”

          Now, while I find it fascinating that GPS can track our every movement, that’s where the fascination ends.

          Because if I am sick on the flight, GPS can do nothing. If I am sad or discouraged or anxious as I land, GPS cannot calm me or encourage me. It can only track me on my journey.

          I think that is why I love Deuteronomy 31:8 so much. It says “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

          God Himself has already gone before me on my journey through life. He knows all the ups and downs and every detour in my path. And He will not leave me but instead will calm my fears and encourage me as He stays by my side.

          I need to ask – what journey are you on today? Are you struggling in a marriage with no hope in sight? Do you have a child who knows the right thing to do but always chooses the wrong thing? Are you faced with a possible life-changing diagnosis and find it hard to even breathe?

          With everything in my heart, I encourage you to turn your eyes toward the One who is beside you on your journey and who has the answers. He understands. He has been on the path before you and He stands ready to guide you through every minute of every day.

          Call Him by name. Dig into His Word. Again and again God reminds us that we are not just someone to be “tracked” but rather, a child dearly loved by a Father who stays with us and guides us every single day of our lives.

          Father, I thank you so much for never leaving my side and for guiding me each day. Thank you for caring about every single detail of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

R.A.P. it up . . . 

 

       Reflect

•  Have you ever felt alone in a situation in your life and unsure if anyone cares or if God is even with you?

• What have you been focusing on? The situation or the solution?

 Apply

•  Copy Deuteronomy 31:8 on an index card and keep it in your purse or pocket to remind you of God’s care over you no matter what is going on. 

• This is a great Scripture to memorize and remind yourself of God’s presence.

  Power 

•  Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

• Joshua 1:9 (NIV) “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

•  Psalm 139:8-10 (NIV) “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

        

 

          

 

        

 

 

Making a Memory

 “I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Matthew 26:13 (NIV)

 

“Is LeRoy there?” The question asked by the man on the phone late one evening caught me off guard. “What?” I responded. “I’m sorry. What did you say?” He must have thought I didn’t hear what he asked because he repeated his question more slowly and loudly: “Is . . . Le . . . Roy . . . there?”

 

My husband had passed away 5 years earlier and, except for the occasional junk mail addressed to him, the references had ceased. After the caller explained that he wanted to buy a coon dog, I took a deep breath and told him that LeRoy had passed away.

 

 He quickly gave his condolences and hung up, but his question remained with me: “Is LeRoy there?” Yes. Yes, he is. He is here. He is here in the mannerisms and quiet strength of his son. He is here in the hazel eyes of his oldest daughter. He is here in the smile of his younger daughter.

 

He lives on in the giggles of grandchildren who were babies when he passed away and do not have clear memories of him but still beg again and again “Tell me how Papa LeRoy lifted me up in the air!” to “Papa LeRoy loved coon hunting, didn’t he. What was his dog’s name?” to “How come Papa had a mustache?”

 

He will live on because we choose to share memories of a man who was crazy mad in love with his children and grandchildren and his wife and who considered every day a gift and a blessing.

 

Those are precious memories, yes. But, more than anything else, his memory will live on, and he will not be forgotten because he shared the Lord he loved with fellow coon hunters, with co-workers, and with his family.

 

 Matthew 26:13 speaks of a woman who, according to Jesus, would never be forgotten. She did something that the disciples thought was ridiculous. This woman, named Mary, brought an alabaster jar of expensive perfume to the home where Jesus and the disciples were and began to pour it on Jesus’ feet and wipe them with her hair.

 

While the disciples considered it to be an expensive waste, Jesus replied that she would be remembered for this act of love because what she had done would be told over and over throughout the world. She had given everything she had of earthly value to her Lord by showing where her treasure belonged.

 

 

Can I just ask you this? What legacy are you leaving behind? How will you be remembered? “He was a great athlete” or “She loved to garden” or “He was a successful businessman” are all nice accomplishments and compliments.

 

But more than anything, we want to be remembered as a Christ-follower who shared the One we loved with everyone around us. That is the memory that is most important. So, is LeRoy here? Yes. Yes, he is . . . for years to come. 

 

 

Father, I want to be remembered as someone who loved you more than anything and shared you every day. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

·         What memories of your life will be left for those who knew you?

 

·         What do you want people to remember about you years from now?

 

Apply

·         Journal a mini version of your conversations for one week. How many times did you mention the Lord and what He has done for you?

 

·         Ask the Lord to give you the boldness to share Him with those you meet every day.

 

Power

·         Matthew 26:13 (NIV) “I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

 

·         Philippians 1:3 (NIV) “I thank my God every time I remember you.”

 

·         Romans 1:8 (NIV) “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Hair-Raising Experience

 “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:30-31 (NIV)

 

I knew when I was a little girl that I was not blessed with a full head of hair like my sisters. For one thing, it was obvious when I looked in a mirror. But until I was about 10 years old, I thought it was somehow the fault of my mother’s attempt to tame the hair I did have.

 

 I had even considered that when God was creating me, He called out “Hair!” but one of the angels thought He said “Nair!” and dumped a bottle of the instant hair remover in my genes. And then I saw some pictures of me at about 2 years of age. “How in the world could you cut my hair like that?” I demanded of my mother. “I look weird.” She immediately shook her head. “It wasn’t me. You didn’t have any hair until you were five years old.”

 

Perhaps that will help you to understand why, at first, I was not overly impressed with Matthew 10:30-31 about God knowing how many hairs I have on my head. I remember thinking “How big a deal is that if you have hair like me?” But further inspection reveals so much more about what Jesus meant.

 

On average, there are over 100,000 strands of hair on a young adult. Each individual hair lasts for two to six years before it falls out and another begins to grow and take its place. There is no way I could figure out a system to correctly count the number of hairs on my head – or anyone else’s for that matter.

 

What a tedious, time-consuming job that would be! But is that all Jesus was saying? That He was divinely capable of doing a head – err – hair count? Not at all.  I believe that Jesus is using a visual picture to show us just how much we are loved.  

 

First, He is emphasizing to us that He has knowledge of all things, no matter how insignificant they may seem to the world around us. Secondly, He is subtly reminding us that He is our Creator and knows exactly how we are made – from our heads to our hearts to our toes – because He made us!

 

Do you get it? If He cares enough to want to know everything about us, it is because He is crazy mad in love with you and you and you and me! And for that very reason, He will watch over us, His priceless creation, each and every day.

 

I am never going to have hair like Jennifer Aniston but I am always going to have a Father who values every hair on my head because of His great love for me.  

 

 

Father, thank you for reminding me that you know everything about me, your creation and that you love me more than I can ever imagine. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

 

Reflect

• Have you ever felt like you weren’t worth very much to the Lord?

 

• What person or situation caused you to feel that way?

 

Apply

• Write Matthew 10:30-31 on a note card and place it with your combs and brushes as a reminder of God’s love for you.

 

• Each time you brush your hair, silently thank the Lord for loving you enough to watch over each detail of your life.

 

Power

• Matthew 10:30-31 (NIV) “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

 

• Luke 12:7 (NIV) “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

 

• Psalm 121:3 (NIV) “He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber…”

 

Guard Your Mouth by Guarding Your Heart

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

 

It seemed quite funny to me as a little girl to hear my grandparents talk about what had happened to our minister in our small town. They felt bad for him but, as a 10-year-old girl, I could only giggle as they described the situation.

 

Pastor Sanders was walking down the sidewalk in town and noticed several people looking at him rather strangely. He started to wonder if his whistling was off-key as he leisurely strolled past stores. That is until a woman stopped him and asked, “Pastor, when you whistle, is it usually the tune from a beer commercial?”

 

Mortified, he realized that that was exactly what he had been doing! He loved listening to music as he drove to visit sick or hospitalized people in the congregation. Evidently, that commercial came on a lot and it had stuck in his mind without his realizing it.

 

I had forgotten that incident until many years later when my husband found himself in a similar situation. He had a new boss at work and the man had a colorful vocabulary. I don’t believe there was a single word that we would have spanked our children for saying that he didn’t say. Often. And loudly. No matter where he was or who was there.

 

But since our kids were not around him, we felt that they would be protected from his speech. That all changed one evening at supper. The conversation was on t-ball and batting when our son joked about the games, and we began to laugh. My husband made a comment that had not one or two but several of the colorful words his boss often used.

 

It took him just a few seconds to realize that all laughing had suddenly ceased, and all eyes were on him. As he looked up from his meal, three children with mouths wide open in unison exclaimed “Dad!” in shock!

 

“What? What’s the matter?” he asked. Instantly our youngest daughter replied “Dad, you just said . . .” and repeated his comments verbatim. Now it was his turn to be in shock. He had no idea that he had unintentionally allowed the vocabulary of his boss to become part of his vocabulary. It was at that exact moment that I remembered our minister years before and what had happened to him. And it was no longer funny.

 

 Proverbs 4:23 is short but full of an important truth. As Christians, our hearts belong to the Lord, and we must guard them closely in a world in complete opposition to the Christian walk. There will always be conversations and actions that do not reflect Jesus. We must be careful to keep our minds focused on Christ and turn away anything that does not reflect Him.

My husband quickly apologized to our children and to me. And from that moment on he made a conscious effort to replace what his boss said with uplifting and positive words. Guard your heart, my friend; guard your heart!

 

            Father, I do not want to say or do anything that does not call attention to you in a positive way. Please guard my heart. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Have you ever made a comment that was totally out of character for you and then realized what you had just said?
• Where did that comment come from?

 

Apply

• If you work with someone with speech totally opposite to your Christian walk, pray for that person daily and ask the Lord for an opportunity to speak to them in love.

 

• Ask the Holy Spirit to nudge you every single time you start to say something that would not be a good example of speaking with the heart of Christ.

 

Power

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

 

• Matthew 15:11 (NIV) “What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.’”

 

• Romans 12:2 (NIV) “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”