For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. Psalm 26:3 ESV
When I am anxious and fear blocks my vision.
I will turn to gaze upon Your steadfast love,
Giving thanks to open my eyes.
When my feet fear to move along the narrow way.
I will step out in Your strength and faithfulness,
Giving thanks to remind me You are my savior.
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 NIV
“What a fellowship what a joy divine leaning on the everlasting arms.” Lyrics from “Leaning On Jesus” by A.E. Hoffman
… Even angels long to look into these things. 1 Peter 1:12 NIV
Does God enrich our lives in ways we fail to comprehend?
Something of great value that tears cannot upend.
Joy in God’s forgiveness when we should receive the sword.
A closeness achieved when we lean upon our Lord.
Believing in God’s grace when feelings tell us flee.
Trusting Christ is with us when defeat is all we see,
Oh, but how God uses darkness to help our faith to grow.
This bond with our Savior, even angels long to know.
Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?…
Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. Psalm 77:8,10-11 NIV
When trials come and all seems lost,
“I will remember the darkness of the cross.
Where You hung enduring my shame.
Cut off from God, and taking my blame.
The third morning
You were raised in power
transcending my death.
unfailing grace that will not sour,
In You life becomes fragrant—
a blossoming flower.
Wilting beauty
Change and decay in all around I see—
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
Lyrics from “Abide with Me” by Henry Francis Lyte
As the years accumulate, and my body struggles to do what once I took for granted, I take comfort and courage in these lyrics from the hymn “Abide with Me.”
Life without Jesus would be difficult to face, for it would be about what I’ve lost, but praise God—Jesus has risen and conquered decay. Life is not about getting old, but about being redeemed and abiding in my Lord!
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. John 15:4
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! Psalm 103:1-5
Sunrise over Leavenworth WA
Psalm 29
Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. Psalm 29:1-2
Ascribe in Psalm 29 means to attribute, to give homage, to acknowledge in a worshipful manner. It is His infinite strength, glory, and holy splendor we are to ascribe to the Lord.
Unfortunately, I will go through a whole day and not ascribe to the Lord. This robs me of the peace I can have affirming God is more than able to handle the troubles before me. Psalm 29 continues by telling us about the power of God.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is majestic.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. Psalm 29:4-5
It is normal to be anxious about things, but when I ascribe to the Lord His glory and power and strength, then I begin to breathe easy again.
The Lord gives strength to his people;
the Lord blesses his people with peace. Psalm 29:11
Arrowleaf Balsamroot soaking in the sunshine
Worry is a sticky thought––once touched it is hard to brush it away.
The flowers of the field remind us there is a way to take care of worry:
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these…seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:28-34
To get rid of worry for tomorrow requires actively pursuing the Kingdom of Jesus today (letting Him forgive past wrongs and rule in every area). Then humbly walk with God allowing the Holy Spirit’s help you make right choices. If you mess up, or another worry pops up start again with step one. Worry itself is not a sin, but it is the temptation to take your eyes off of Jesus.
Unfolding of life
Life is not about God pleasing us, but about us pleasing God.
Life is not about begging our pardon, but begins with begging for God’s pardon.
Life is not about how we see things, but about how God sees us.
Life is not in what we make of it, but in what God makes of us.
Life begins when I let my life go and seek God above all else.
Balsamroot along the Icicle River
All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. 1 Peter 1:24-25
Sometimes I just read the Bible like a homework assignment…and get very little out of it. Then there are those moments when I meet God in the Word, resting in His presence. I lay still, letting the words and the Holy Spirit wash over me to change me and refocus the day. The funny thing is I never seem to develop any skill at being still and resting before God. Instead, I have to start from scratch each time, going over the same terrain of reigning in my will and submitting to his will. I know God endeavors to make it easy to rest. I am the one who makes it hard.
Glorious
This flower is one among hundreds on this hillside. Hardly worth taking its picture, until you get the early morning sun behind it and then — Oh my, it is glorious.
Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27
Balsamroot spill over from the heights
This picture, from above my home, shows the Spring cascade of color.
The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom… But only the redeemed will walk there,
and the ransomed of the Lord will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:1, 9-10
My hope is not in the beauty of this world, but in Jesus my creator, my redeemer, my shepherd, my king. Only in Him do gladness and joy reside forever. Only in Him will sorrow and sighing be excluded from spoiling eternity.
Stephen L Hufman 