Scripture for Today: Psalms 85:8  “I will listen to what God the Lord says; He promises peace to His people, His faithful servants – but let them not turn to folly.”

It is a nice idea to listen to soft relaxing music while drifting off to sleep. But for one man, this peaceful experience sent him to the emergency room the next morning! After trying to drink a glass of water that would not go down, it was suggested that maybe he had swallowed his AirPod. Sure enough, he could only account for one! It took an emergency endoscopy to remove it from his esophagus!

There are many things that can make us feel peaceful. But today’s verse gives the Source of peace. We are encouraged to actively listen to Him. And it begins with a statement of intention, “I will.” Listening to the Lord through His Word takes effort and discipline. How worth it that is when He speaks peace to those that belong to Him! Listening to what God has to say not only gives us peace of heart but keeps us from acting on our own foolish ideas. What a peace we have in His unfailing love and salvation! (verse 7)

So many times I have come to Him in prayer totally agitated and stressed. He speaks peace. Especially in these troubled times, He calms me down. And listening intently, I hear reminders of His love and control in my circumstances. I get in that troubled state usually because I have not been listening to Him in the first place! Not only do I hear Him speak peace, but listening to Him keeps me from doing something foolish. Listening to Him daily through His Word is the best way to avoid my own folly. Oh how I need the peace and calm He offers!

Lord, keep me listening to You today.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 37:30-31 “The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just. The law of their God is in their hearts, their feet do not slip.”

(Photo: © Michael Wood)

If you find yourself slipping as you walk in the forest, it may be because you have stepped on a Slippery Jack Mushroom! You can take your revenge by picking it and cooking it for your dinner as it is edible. Their name comes from their slippery slimy cap. But its name has another source as well. Apparently, there is a Slippery Jill Mushroom too! And of course, those two names recall the Jack and Jill nursery rhyme where both characters fall climbing that hill.

Today’s verses describe the righteous as being wise in what they say. They speak only what is just and true. The law of God is not something they only agree with in principle. It is something they cherish and have in their hearts. God’s law is the source of their wisdom and it is in following God’s law that their feet do not slip. God’s law lives in their hearts instead of just laying on the bookshelf. The righteous allow God’s law to keep them from any slip of the tongue.

God does not want me to slip. But it is exactly what I do when I am wise in my own eyes and when I think I know better! God’s laws are not just good ideas. They are inspired and given with love to spare me unnecessary pain. I do not want to grudgingly obey them. I want to cherish and love them for the wisdom they give. I don’t just want them in my head but in my heart.

Lord, help me to keep Your law in my heart.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 49:13-14a “This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers who approve their sayings. They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd…”

Quite often we would see flocks of sheep in rural France. This shepherd kindly allowed us to take this photo and from it I made a plaque that hangs on our wall with Scripture. It was not until I enlarged it however, that I noticed something troubling in his right hand. I wanted to believe that this little lamb was fine and that he was in fact helping it. But it may be that its little life was over and he was removing it. From his smile, the shepherd does not look too concerned.

Today’s verse tells us that there is a shepherd we do not want to follow. He is a shepherd who leads his sheep to their death. His followers are those that trust in themselves and who have influence on others who approve of everything they say. What a contrast this is to the Great Shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus! (Hebrews 13:20) He leads those that trust in Him away from death and towards life! This Good Shepherd lays down his own life for the sheep. (John 10:15) And He came so that His sheep would have abundant life! (John 10:10)

What a huge difference between these two shepherds! The choice is between death or life. And the criteria is a matter of my trust and where I place it. Without even realizing it, when I trust in myself I am following the wrong shepherd and it does not end well! But entrusting my life to the life-giving Shepherd ends with an eternity with Him!

Keep me following You, Lord.

Scripture for Today: Isaiah 60:20 “Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light and your days of sorrow will end.”

No, the sky is not falling. But in fact, I think I would prefer that to falling iguanas on my head! There is currently an “iguana falling alert” in southern Florida as temperatures drop. This cold-blooded reptile will fall out of its tree as though dead when the temperatures dip into the 40’s. The cold stuns them so completely that they become immobile and still, dropping to the ground. They stay that way until the sun warms them up again!

Todays’s verse is a beautiful promise. Though the sun sets now and the temperatures may drop, there will come a day when the sun will always be shining and the light of the moon will never wane. The Lord will be our everlasting light and with His life-giving warmth, sorrows will end. The believer in Christ can look forward to the time when there will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain. (Rev. 21:4) Isaiah describes it as a time when sorrow and sighing will flee away! (Isaiah 35:10)

The warmth of the Lord’s presence gives me life now and eternally! Though I was once dead in my own sin, He has brought me to life! (Col.2:13) And I can look forward to a life one day without darkness, and without the coldness of death and separation. His eternal life-giving light will chase away all sorrow and sighing. What a day that will be when I wake up to unending perfect light! It is this sure hope that keeps me looking forward despite dark circumstances. He is faithful and He will do it!

Thank you Lord, for being my everlasting light!

Scripture for Today: Ephesians 5:18-19a “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit…”

The Cedar Waxwing is a beautiful social bird that loves her berries! She can often be seen with a flock, sitting in fruit trees. She will sometimes play with her food, plucking the berries out of mid air while she hovers. The problem comes when she indulges her appetite on berries that are overripe and fermented. Can birds get drunk? Recently in North Texas, these birds have become disoriented, crashing into windows!

Today’s verse contrasts being drunk, filled with wine, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Both states give up some measure of control. It is not unusual for a drunk person to sing. But he is also disoriented and sometimes crashing into things. The one filled with God’s Spirit also sings! But his songs are from the Spirit and express thankful praise to Him. It is not just lip service but is from the heart and directed both to others and to the Lord. Speaking and singing our praise is clear evidence that we are filled with Him.

When I am filled with Him than I am also filled with song. I know things are not right when I see only the negative and cannot see what is good in my life. How my attitude changes when I acknowledge and thank Him for all the blessings! His filling gives me even more impetus to praise HIm. Not only does it come naturally to my lips, but I will want to share that praise with others! There is a satisfaction being filled with Him that I do not experience any other way!

Thank you Lord, for how You fill me!