Blog Archives

SPIRITUAL Rx #5 545

9/30/2018

SPIRITUAL Rx #5 545

For the fifth time, we glance at the Psalms
for instruction, encouragement and medication
for the soul.

1. Psalm 3:5..."I laid me down and slept; I awaked,
for the Lord sustained me"

2. Psalm 23:5... "Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of mine enemies, thou anointest
my head with oil; my cup runneth over"

3. Psalm 27:5..."For in the time of trouble, he
shall hide me in his pavilion; in the secret of his
tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up
upon a rock"

4. Psalm 30:5... "For his anger endureth for a moment;
in his favor is life; weeping may endure for a night,
but joy cometh in the morning"

5. Psalm 31:5... "Into thine hand I commit my spirit:
thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth"

6. Psalm 67:5... "Let the people praise thee, O God;
Let all the people praise thee"

7. Psalm 71:5... "For thou art my heart, O Lord God,
Thou art my trust from my youth"

8. Psalm 86:5... "For thou Lord art good, and ready
to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them
that call upon thee"

9. Psalm 99:5... "Exalt ye the Lord our God, and
worship at his footstool; for he is holy"

10. Psalm 100:5..."For the Lord is good; his mercy
is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations"

(Written on November 2,1978

ISAIAH 45:2,3,6,22

9/27/2018

ISAIAH 45:2,3,6,22

I will go before thee
and make the crooked places
straight
I will break in pieces
the gates of brass
and in sunder the bars of iron

I will give thee the treasures
of darkness
and hidden riches of secret places
that thou shall mayest know
that I, the Lord,
which call thee by thy name
am the God of Israel

That they may know thee know
from the rising of the sun
and from the west
that there is none beside me

I am the Lord and there is
none else

Look unto me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth
for I am God
and there is none else

GOODBYE TO SUMMER 534

9/26/2018

GOODBYE TO SUMMER 534

We ride the surf
No more
Nor dive beneath
The breakers
Nor tumble
Toward the shore

We leave behind
The friendly sandcrab
To burrow
In the soft, silky sand
All alone

Rusty buckets
And tiny trusty shovels
Gone for another season
Good times
Fun Times
Gone
But not forgotten

(First written on October 3, 1978 #534)

PERIMETER OF SATISFACTION 543

9/24/2018

   PERIMETER OF SATISFACTION


    Financially speaking, too many of us
spend too much or too little of our wealth.

And therein lies the mortal struggle
that besets most of us... to be content
with what we have, rather than constantly
  being discontented with what we don't have.

From proverbs we read, "Give me neither
poverty nor riches: Give me just enough to
satisfy my needs: For if grow rich, I may
become content without God. And if I am too
poor, I may steal and thus insult God's holy
name." (Living Bible, Proverbs 30: 8-9)

In struggling for riches, there is a perimeter of
satisfaction.

When do we know we have crossed over this
perimeter into the area of contentment?

When, indeed, O Lord?

THE DEWS 0F 0CT0BER 544

9/24/2018

THE DEWS OF OCTOBER

"The greatest operations, both in nature and
grace," wrote Richard Cecil, "are the most silent and
fury is soon exhausted, and its effects are but
partial and soon remedied."

"But, the dews, [though small, revive] the very life
of large portions of the earth."

Oh, that we could learn a lesson from the soft silent
dews of an October morn... Giving life and refreshment,
struggled through the summer months to survive the
parching rays of the summer months.

Talk about revival! Silently, gently, majestically,
the moisture arrives daintily on tiptoe, reviving
and revitalizing the sod... In quietness and in reverence...
of God. The dews of October.

(First published on October 31, 1978. Some revisions
on October 21, 2018)

BETWEEN TWO ETERNITIES 538

9/15/2018

   BETWEEN TWO ETERNITIES

Thomas Carlyle once referred to this life as
  "a little gleam of time between two eternities."

Some might debate as to whether we lived
before this earthly life. But, we think it is safe
to say we are not at the same place we were
ten, twenty of thirty years ago.

Everyone of us continues to march relentlessly
into the future, Oh, there is plenty of foot dragging
to be sure. But, time carries us ever onward at her
measured pace, even as we try to stall.

And, old questions keep coming back to mind...
What shall we do with the little gleam of time
that remains for each of us? for us all? How
  shall we redeem the time remaining?

That second timeless eternity is close at hand.
It may be difficult for some of us to determine
where we've been or what we may have
accomplished, but it is in the power
of our wills for each of us to determine
where we shall go from this point on.

(First published on October 12, 1978.
Slight revisions made on September 15, 2018)

ISAIAH 44:3,6,21,22,23

9/15/2018

ISAIAH 44:3,6,21,22,23

For I will pour water upon him
that is thirsty
and floods upon the dry ground

I will pour my spirit upon thy seed
and my blessing upon thine offspring

Thus saith the Lord, the King of Israel,
and his redeemer the Lord of hosts

I am the first and
I am the last
and beside me there is no God

Remember these, O Jacob and Israel
for thou art my servant
O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten
of me

I have blotted out, as a thick cloud
thy transgressions
And as a cloud, thy sins
Return unto me, for I have redeemed thee

Sing, O ye heavens, for the Lord hath done it
Shout, ye lower parts of the earth
Break forth into singing, ye mountains
O forest, and every tree therein
for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob
and glorified himself in Israel

IN STILLNESS 167

9/15/2018

  IN STILLNESS 167

"The ant," wrote Clarence Day
is knowing and wise, but he
doesn't know enough to take
a vacation."

The worshipper of energy and
hard drive is too physically energetic
and on the move to see that he
cannot explore certain higher realms
until he takes time to be still.

In stillness...
We may hear a robin sing
We my let our thoughts take wing
We may rest from labors done
We may count our victories won
We may prepare for another day
We may encourage our souls to pray
We may polish up our shields
We may seek the higher fields
In stillness, we may slow down
and love

(First published on May 13,1976.
A few revisions were made on
September 15, 2018)

WE HEAR AMERICA SINGING 168

9/9/2018

WE HEAR AMERICA SINGING

   We hear America Singing
Songs of grateful hearts
Melodies of good cheer
Hymns of faith and hope
Tunes of patriotism dear
We watch America working
To keep freedom's beacon burning
As we add another log
To the fire of liberty
To light our way through the fog
And to set the captives free
  We witness America praying
For a return to our forefathers’ faith
For more trust in a God that’s true
For more reliance on his Spirit
For his grace to see us through
We hear America singing
Every mountain rings with laughter
Every forest sings songs of kindness sown
Every valley echoes praises joyously
Every flower of the field whispers
your deeds are known

   (Written on May 16, 1976 #168)

SPIRITUAL RX #537

9/9/2018

SPIRITUAL RX #537

For the fourth time now, we reach
  into the Psalms for some powerful remedy,
  some miraculous balm for the ills of our time.
  And again, we do not come away empty handed.
  The following is strong medicine.

Psalm 3:4... "I cried unto the Lord with my voice
and he heard me out of his holy hill."

Psalm 4:4... "Stand in awe, and sin not:
  commune with you own heart upon your bed,
  and be still."

  Psalm 23:4... "Yea, though I walk through
  the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff
they comfort me."

Psalm 25:4... "Show me the way, O Lord; teach me
thy paths."

Psalm 34:4... "I sought the Lord, and he heard me,
and delivered me from all my fears."

Psalm 37:4... "Delight thyself also in the Lord:
and he shall give me the desires of thine heart."

Psalm 70:4... "Let all those that seek thee rejoice
  and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation
say continually, let God be magnified."

Psalm 91:4... "He cover thee with his feathers,
and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall
be thy shield and buckler."

Psalm 96:4..."For the Lord is great, and greatly
to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods."

Psalm 100:4... "Enter into the gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and
bless his name."

(First published on October 10,1975)