Father's Day Biopoem

Father’s Day Biopoem

Bill (James)

Generous, Outspoken, Compassionate

Husband of Miriam, Father  of Cathie, Child of God, Friend of many

Who believed that Jesus died for everyone, Who looked out for the underdog and the elderly, Who was generous with his time and resources for the cause of Christ.

Who worked for Western Electric Company, Who worked as a tax accountant and an auctioneer, mainly because he liked to stay busy. Yet He never neglected his family or the Lord’s work. Who enjoyed watching movies with his daughter especially  in the closing months of his life.

Who feared that his daughter would die as a result of a disorder with which she was born. Who feared that his wife would die as a result of her heart condition. Who feared little else as he stood for what he believed to be right.

Who, along with his wife, opened his home to visiting missionaries and traveling preachers, Who picked up children for Sunday school,  Who opened his home to a Bible Club for children

Who wanted to provide well for his wife and daughter , who wanted to enjoy life by helping others, who wanted to exalt Christ – as some of his last words were – “Let me go to Heaven, because in my Father’s house are many mansions” and “I love you.”

Daddy

Thanks for the memories --- Until then …

Seeking God Amidst the Pandemic – COVID 19

Seeking God Amidst the Pandemic – COVID 19

Looking around us, we see panic regarding the virus that appears to be so encroaching prevalent, fear of the unknown on many levels, and ever-creasing levels of despair and loneliness that often comes with social distancing. Yet, for those of us who have placed our faith in Christ, one thing is certain our God has never distanced Himself from us.  He continues to reveal Himself in the areas of our deepest needs.  The names I have chosen for today are Jehovah-Jireh  and Jehovah-Shalom.

Jehovah Jireh means, “The LORD will provide.” We find this name in Genesis 22, and the context is the story of God’s command to Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac – the long-awaited child of promise. As Abraham and Isaac made their way up Mount Moriah, Isaac remarked that they had the wood and the fire, but no lamb for the sacrifice. Abraham assured his son that “God himself would provide the lamb.” And so it was that as Isaac lay bound to the altar and Abraham stood with his knife poised to plunge into the body of his son—his beloved – the son of promise – that his hand was stayed by the voice of God, as He told Abraham not to harm his son, because God knew that Abraham had withheld nothing from Him. There in the thicket lay a ram – a sacrifice provided by God’s own hand.  In gratitude, Abraham named the place where they were standing – Jehovah Jireh, the Lord will provide.  Jehovah Jireh … what a precious name!  We are coming out of what has seemed to be draconian social isolation, a time during which there was widespread sadness, depression, and economic devastation, not to mention health issues that arose due to restrictions of medical care or simply an unwillingness to seek it. Yet Jehovah-Jireh never abdicated His position or His provisions. For me personally, He provided a support network, the continuance of my job, continued provision for my health needs and His never-failing presence. One principle that I believe is tied to this name is that God is seldom early, but He is always on time.  Listen to this song and praise Jehovah Jireh with me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCsH_TtZReY.

Jehovah Shalom means “The Lord our peace.”  We find this name in Judges 6:24 as God interacts with Gideon pouring into him courage and assurance that his campaign against the Midianites would be successful. Incidentally, this is only occurrence of this name in Scripture. The word “peace” occurs 429 times in the King James Version of the Bible in a variety of contexts, but the word usually means a settledness or content, most probably related to the idea that God is in control.   Some of the most notable references are Isaiah 26:3, where we are assured of peace as long as our minds are fixed on the Lord – mediating on both His attributes and His acts on our behalf.  Also, notable is the verse John 14:27, where Jesus promises peace to those who love and follow Him. Peace is a highly valued commodity in today’s world. Everywhere we turn there are situations that negate the peace that we so deeply crave. In recent weeks, our peace has been disrupted by an ever-present media clamoring for our attention. Daily statistics related to COVID-19 are shared, conspiracy theories abound; opinions regarding best practices are ever changing and thrust upon us, and none of these inspire peace. Instead, it is quite the opposite. It is time that we allowed Jehovah-Shalom to give the peace that only He affords. I am purposing to step away from the most social media posts, many news outlets, and obsession over circumstances that may inspire worry and find peace in God’s presence and promises – allowing Jehovah-Shalom to be the umpire of my heart.

Seeking God Amidst Covid-19 … Part 1

At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak and the “Stay at home” mandate, I made a practice of reading Psalm 91 each day in a variety of translations and paraphrases. . There were days that I prayed this Psalm;  there were days when I would loosely quote  it with the help of  my Scripture memory app. I still turn to it to remind myself that God is the source of my protection. I also follow the suggestions of the health community as best I understand and am able to do so.

In recent days, I have found myself meditating on the names of God, because they are rich with assurance and comfort.  Today, I’ll share several with you that have special meaning to me.

Adonai-Jehovah is defined by some as “The Lord our Sovereign.” Too often we shy away from    thinking about the Sovereignty of God. To many people it speaks of control or being at the          whim of a capricious ruler.  However, our God is not capricious; he remains unchanging as do His  promises. Sovereign also denotes kingship or one who rules. God rules in the lives of His people, and God rules in the events that touch their lives. We are living in times that engender  fear and uncertainty, often fueled by the media, popular opinions, conspiracy theories, and our own tendencies to cave under uncertainty.  In the midst of the COVID-19 situation, others have faced situations that are only compounded by this unprecedented crisis. Yet, we are in the hands of Adonai-Jehovah, who sees and superintends the  events raging around us. One day, he will say –“This far, but no farther.”  Until then, he bids us trust His heart, knowing that it ever guides His hand.

 El-Roi is defined as the “God who sees.” Nothing escapes Him.  When I was a child, I learned and sang the song, “Oh be careful little eyes what you see … For the Father up above is looking down in love…” We went on to sing about our ears, our tongue, our hands, and our feet as the conclusion of the song reminded me that God was watching. To be honest, the song really creeped me out. I imagined God as a celestial spy waiting for me to mess up so that He could squash me.  I totally missed the  concept that He was watching me “in love.”  God still watches us in love. Yes, he is weighing our actions, words, and attitudes, but more importantly, He is watching with eyes of care. We need not worry, because God is patrolling the events that touch our lives; He is our garrison from harm. Somethings may hurt us temporarily, but for those who belong to Him through faith in Jesus, nothing can eternally harm them. The God who sees, will measure carefully the events, good and bad that touch the lives of His children.  They are never beyond the scope of His watchful care.

Jehovah-Mekaddishkem  is defined in Exodus 31:13 as “the LORD who sanctifies.” The idea conveyed by the word  “sanctify” is that of being set apart for use by God. It is also tied to concept of being made more like Jesus. Note that it is His work, and not ours. The  immediate context of this name is the instruction of God related to Sabbaths – a time when the Israelites ceased from their work and rested in God’s presence.  These current circumstances of isolation may well be an instrument that God is using to teach us to rest and to allow Him to work in our lives.  This sanctifying work of God may lead us through deep waters, through circumstances that are less than desirable, through circumstances that are painful, and through circumstances that may provoke fear. Yet, in all of these vicissitudes of life, He is working to make the positional righteousness that is ours through Christ more evident to a watching world. The promise of Romans 8:28 is expounded upon in Romans 8:29 – the good through which God is working in our lives is that of being conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus. Is there any greater good in which we can put our hope?

Quarantine Quiet Time -- Ebenezer Moments

Quarantine Quiet Time: Ebenezer Moments 

Psalm 121

The Psalmist begins by saying. “I will lift up my eyes unto the hills…”  He was far from Jerusalem; he could see the hills, but he wasn’t there yet.  He was distanced from the house of worship, but he wasn’t distanced from his God – the true source of his help.

We note that he did not stop as he gazed at the hills, although he longed to see his beloved Jerusalem. Instead, his gaze and his heart were fixed on Yahweh – the covenant keeping God – the God who always keeps His promises.  His promises are legion – “I will never leave you …” (Hebrews 13:5)  “My peace I give you…” (John 14:27) “I will strengthen you…”  (Isaiah 41:10) “I will hold you with my righteous right hand…” (Isaiah 41:10) 

…

It is true that the temple of God  was a source of delight and belonging, but nothing could match the splendor of the God of the temple.  It is on Him that our gaze should be fixed.

The word help is “nezar” … think Ebenezer. This may be an allusion to the event in I Samuel where the Lord gave a momentous victory to His people and they erected a monument to His help – a stone named Ebenezer – “hitherto has the LORD helped us” (I Samuel).

In these days of confinement and quarantine, I am reminding myself the Lord is my help, and I need  to look for and note those Ebenezer moments – no matter how small they seem.

Quarantine Quiet Time April 23

Quarantine Quiet Time

I know it’s been many days since you have heard from me. To be honest, I have been struggling with fear, depression, and uncertainty. As a result, I have attempted to lose myself in my work.  Then a couple of days ago, I came across the concept of renting the Word of God – His precepts and promises. (Sister Chicks in Wooden Shoes by Robin Jones Gunn). In my opinion, renting the promises of God means that although, I am seeking to memorize many verses of Scripture and reading faithfully, unless I lay hold of them for me and allow my focus to be on the Word of God, I am experiencing content without reality.  It was then I realized where I had allowed  my mind and heart to dwell and repented.

I have decided to start anew reading the Psalms of Ascent.  Those are the Psalms that we believe the Jewish people sang as they made their way to Jerusalem on the major Feast Days that they commemorated each year. These Psalms begin with Psalm 120 and go through Psalm 134.

Here are my thoughts from Psalm 120.  The Psalmist begins with the words, “In my distress, I cried to the LORD…”  These days of quarantine bring unwelcome thoughts to one who struggles with mild depression.” For the child of God, the best thing to do is to cry out to the Lord. He will answer … not by removing the quarantine, but most likely through His Word and the  the Body of Christ.  These ways include  but are not limited to the following: an encouraging email, a text from a friend, an encouraging Facebook post, and above all a promise from His Word, that we begin to own and not just rent.

The second thing the Psalmist notes is that the LORD rescues us from lying lips. This includes statements from the media, who knows what to believe?  I must take multiple conspiracy theories; again,  who knows what is true – what is actually a conspiracy theory? I have made the conscious choice to distance myself from social media. If I want to check it, I sent a timer and when it sounds, I am usually done. It is taking discipline, but oh how it is worth it.

The third thing the Psalmist bears out is that I must choose peace. I know I have peace with God because I trust in the finished work of Christ alone for my salvation. Now, I must seek and choose the peace of God and allow Him to drive fear from my heart. It’s a constant struggle, but one I am slowly learning in these days.

Will you allow Him to drive fear from your heart and replace it with His peace?

Trusting God in Uncertain Times Day 4

Trusting God in Uncertain Times

Day 4

March 25, 2020

Exodus 14: 15-31

In these verses, the LORD tells Moses to lead the Israelites in breaking camp. God’s command and His work that soon followed  were tied to His glory.   Moses is to raise his rod over the Red Sea, and we know the end of the story – it parted into two walls of water -one on the left and one on the right.  Meanwhile, the Egyptians, whose hearts God had hardened, had set out in hot pursuit.  The Israelites walked between the walls of water to safety on the other side. When the last Israelite was safe, Moses, again, lifted his rod and the sea closed. As it closed, it swallowed the Egyptian armies who were in hot pursuit of the Israelites.  As the Israelites stood on the other side, they saw their enemies destroyed. This would be a defining moment in the history of Israel as time and again, they would refer to this great act of God on their behalf. Verse 31 closes with the words “And the people feared the LORD and believed in Him and His servant, Moses.”

Many of us are sequestered in our homes as the COVID19-virus ravages our land and the whole world. These are days of great uncertainty, and many have lost hope. In many ways, this is a Red Sea moment in the lives of many. Will we trust God to deliver in His own way or will we crumble in panic --- hoarding, blaming, and giving way to depression and anxiety?  I confess that I have allowed depression and anxiety to creep in, and I constantly look to my Father for help.  Yet, there are others whose lives have been up-ended by COVID-19 – they have it or know someone who has. School children and their families have been forced to embrace isolation/home schooling, and I pray for them.   I, also,  try to constantly remind myself that my times are in His hand, my life is His to control, and He will see me through to the end of this virus or to the other side. The same is true for all those who put their trust in Him. In these days, that whatever God does is for His glory, and what is for His glory will ultimately be for our good.

Trusting God in Uncertain Times Days 2 and 3

Days 2 and 3 -- March 24, 2020

Trusting God in Uncertain Times

Exodus 14:1-14

Somehow my entry for yesterday was lost.  So, I’ll cover verses 1-14 today.  In the opening verses of the chapter, Pharaoh regretted his decision to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt. He had just lost his free labor. So, he set out in hot pursuit of them.  It was a part of God’s plan – this hardening of their hearts.  This would be an opportunity for God to show His glory in yet one more judgment on the Egyptians.  In this coming great act of God, the Israelites would know the He was the LORD – the covenant God of His people. Yet, already the Israelites were showing hearts of unbelief and distrust. They cried out to the LORD as they saw their enemies approaching. They also turned their anger toward Moses.  They preferred the safety of slavery rather than the unknowns of freedom. Moses’ words are legendary. In fact, my often-cursory reading of this chapter led me to think that the Lord spoke the words in verses 13 and 14: “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the LORD’s salvation, that He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you” (Exodus 3:13-14 CSB).  Moses knew they stood on the cusp of seeing the mighty hand of God, even though the Egyptians were behind them and the might Red Sea in front of them. Yet, he says “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm."

I am aware that these words were spoken to Israel for that time in history. Yet there are takeaways for us today.  First, we see that God cares for His people. Second, we see that God is in control. He is directing these events to show Himself strong – to strengthen the faith of His people. Third, He is able to deliver, and He will.   As we seek to apply these to our lives in these times of uncertainty, we can trust His care.  Second, there is no need for fear. In fact, he has this situation firmly in control.  Third, there is no need for fear. I remind myself of this moment by moment.  I once heard it said that the Lord tells us 365 times in Scripture not to fear. My heart needs these words in these days of social isolation.  May I cling to His promises and find ways of encouraging others to do the same.

Trusting God in Uncertain Times Day 1

March 27, 2020
Exodus 13:17-22
After years of slavery in Egypt, the Israelites had been delivered by the mighty hand of God.  They
were marching off into uncertainty into who knows what?  In today’s passage, God leads them what might be considered the long way around. The short cut would have led them into almost certain war with the Philistine nation, causing them to turn back. Instead, He led them by  way of the Red Sea.  Unbeknownst to them, He would show His mighty power once again as He brought about their final deliverance – physically-from the land of Egypt. Yet, many would carry Egypt in their hearts – the delicacies and the privation.  Yet He was still with them; he never left His people.   His presence was evident in the pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.  They had yet to see His ultimate act of deliverance – this would be an event that prophets would use as a reminder, an event that the Psalmists would use as the basis of praise. Even in times when they could not see Him, they could trust His character and know that He would never leave them.
In these days of social isolation, it is easy to forget who God is. When we see empty shelves, let us remember the God who delivers. He delivers us from self-seeking. He delivers us from fear. He delivers from disease either by sparing us, providing medical care, or taking us home to Heaven. May we not presumptively ignore the requests to remove ourselves from public contact except as is necessary for food, medical care, or to assist those in need, all the while keeping our distance.  He is the God-who-is-there. He is the God who sees (Jehovah-El-Roi). We will come through this stronger and hopefully more in love with Him.