Tag Archive | psalm 34

Storms vs Storms

Jan3

This morning I awakened to the ominous sounds of distant thunder.  Lightning flashes were all around me.  And then I noticed the warnings on my phone.  It wasn’t long before the high wind and hail came and there was no time to prepare.  It came as a surprise.  My electricity went off  so  I reset the clocks and then it went off again and stayed off for a while longer.  But I noticed something and I knew it logically, but it brought into stark reality how brief our lives truly are.

Many of you have lost loved ones.  Sometimes, if we are fortunate, we have the time to say goodbye and prepare for the storm.  There is time to set matters in order.  And it’s not as though we enjoy doing these things for our hearts are shattering one tiny piece at a time while we are trying to come to understand why our lives are in a whirl of uncertainty and change.  And though we know these times will happen, we never expect it to be us.  And then one day it is us.

Still others get the phone call, or the visit, and you know it isn’t good news.  It hits you like a brick wall.  You weren’t expecting it.  You hadn’t prepared for it.  Your heart hadn’t time to steel itself against such tragic news.  A million things run through your heart. Your whole world is suddenly spinning out of control, you’re brought literally to your knees. Your world is crumbling around you, and you can’t believe what has happened.

In my own life, I remember while driving home from the hospital.  I kept thinking why is, the world was still moving?  Shouldn’t everyone be mourning?  Don’t they know what happened?  Looking back I realize it was shock and I’m not sure how I found my way back to an empty house.  Time for me stopped, and  I had to reset the clock for a new chapter in my life.

Gradually the sun appears, as though nothing happened, with the promise of a brilliant and glorious day.  The threatening storm is gone.  We laugh again.  Our hearts begin healing.  And this is the way God works in His faithful child’s life.  We come through the storm and He is ever there to bind up and heal the wounds.

“And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves:  but He was asleep.  And His disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, Lord, save us:  we perish.  And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?  Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.  But the men marveled, saying, What manner of Man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!      Mathew 8:23-27

“The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.  The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of contrite spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous:  but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.”   Psalm 34:17-19

“Sometimes God calms the storm. . . . .
Sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child.”     ~ Unknown

Eileen Light

Taste and see that the Lord is good

Sep16

The chartreuse pop of color that my marjoram displays is a nice contrast to the plainer green in the herb bed. As a matter of fact, that might be the only reason that it’s there. The plant is an ornamental variety, and not as flavorful as its standard, less flashy cousin.

That’s too bad. I like to make herb vinegar in the fall, and rarely does the marjoram earn a place in the herb mix.

So it is with so many things that look attractive on the surface. They just don’t measure up.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!” (Psalm 34:8, HCSB)

Here is one realm where tasting is believing! God does not disappoint those who trust in him.

Unfortunately, too many will not “taste.” There are many who remain on the outside looking in, so to speak, with the church. They look at the menu of what they perceive to be Christianity, but don’t really delve into what the truth is and what the Bible teaches.

When they see something they think they won’t like, they act like petulant children, and won’t take a bite. Maybe they perceive a legalistic attitude, maybe it’s an illogical emotionalism, maybe something else. It’s important for us to reflect Christianity in a palatable way, but it’s also each person’s responsibility to check things out for himself.

One sweet lady I know is turned off by what she perceives as unnecessary violence in the times of the exodus from Egypt and the conquest of the promised land.

We have not had a chance to really discuss it yet, but so far she has been open to the idea of learning new ideas. It’s my personal opinion that she will see why there was so much violence in the Old Testament, once she digs in and gets a taste of the Bible as a whole.

Isn’t it just like baking a cake? The flour may not be good all by itself, nor the cocoa powder, nor the other ingredients; but put together, a chocolate cake is pretty yummy! The flavors blend and come together in a way that makes sense.

I do have to admit that the ornamental marjoram might be a good ingredient in some more mild dishes. It’s possible that I haven’t done enough tasting for myself. In the meantime, it holds a place in my garden for its visual appeal. I’m glad I tried it out!

Maybe you have been struggling with questions about the church, or about the Bible. What is necessary here is to “taste.” Get into the word of God, and find out how delicious Christianity is!

– by Christine Berglund @ www.forthright.net