Our Ever-Present Help

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 46: 1 – 3

After reading this Psalm, Martin Luther, in a time when his life was threatened, wrote the great hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”

Let your mind marinade in these words:

“A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and pow’r are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.”

The title “Lord Sabaoth” stands out in the Scripture, but its meaning is little known. It means the Lord of armies. A contemporary song identifies God, His angelic army, and their protection.

“…I know who goes before me I know who stands behind

…The God of angel armies Is always by my side

…The one who reigns forever He is a friend of mine

…The God of angel armies Is always by my side

…My strength is in your name For you alone can save You will deliver me Yours is the victory

…Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I fear?

The opening line of the text noted above is a summary of the sufficiency of our God: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Even if you are facing an intimidating situation these truths apply.

Rely on the truth declared in these closing thoughts: “…You hear me when I call You are my morning song Though darkness fills the night It cannot hide the light… Whom shall I fear?”

Hear it again: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 46: 1 – 3               

May your conduct reveal you believe these truths. Let others see Jesus in you.

Integrity

Jesus said, “…you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness… Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves…” (Matthew 23: 28 & 31a)

Jesus was warning that appearances can be deceitful. He used a word from the world of drama to describe persons who pretend to be something they are not. It was the Greek word “hupokrites” and is translated “hypocrite.” It described a play actor.

Ours is a theatrical society.  Many engage in the role of the great pretender. Synonyms for integrity are “honesty” and “faithfulness.”

For years the Marine Corps has had as its motto “Simper Fidelis.” meaning “always faithful.” America has major moral and ethical problems today because integrity is missing in the boiler-rooms, barrooms, board-room, bargaining-rooms and bedrooms.

A lack of integrity has resulted in the coining of the term “sleaze factor.” A lack of integrity has resulted in social decay in America.

During the Korean War one of our officers, General Dean, was captured. Day after weary day he was teased and tortured. More than once he was threatened with death. One occasion arrogant guards burst into his cell telling him he had less than an hour to live. They thrust paper and pen on him and told him he had only a few minutes to write a farewell note to his wife before his execution. He had no reason to doubt them. General Dean and his wife had one son named Bill. As the general concluded the letter he did so by asking his wife to give Bill a message for him. He wrote, “Tell Bill the word is…” Suppose you were writing such a letter and could fill in the blank with one word. What would it be? He chose to conclude by saying, “Tell Bill the word is integrity.”

Integrity simply means “You can count on me, I’ll keep my word. I’ll be true.” That is it. I am not for sale at any price.”

Integrity is Martin Luther standing before his accusers who believe they have the power to banish him to hell and threatening to do so, but offering him pardon if he will recant his faith and him saying, “Here I stand, I can do naught else.”

Integrity is a teenager willing to fail a test rather than to compromise and cheat.

Integrity is an adult saying no to alluring sexual enticement rather than compromise and break the heart of his Heavenly Father.

Integrity is a consistent character that won’t compromise even if circumstances make it easy and the potential for ill-gotten gain is great.

Integrity is a “not for sale” sign on the cover of your book of moral codes.

Integrity is saying, “Hear I stand Jesus, you can count on me.”      

Good Grief

“Good grief” is an expression of surprise, dismay, alarm or other emotion, usually negative. The term, a euphemism for “good God,” dates from the early 1900s. It appeared frequently in Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip, Peanuts, where various characters would use it in addressing the hapless hero, “Good Grief! Charlie Brown!” Do you ever have cause to apply it to the circumstances of your life? Do you ever experience surprise, dismay, alarm or other emotion, usually negative? The chorus resounds: “I do.” 

Grief isn’t good, but good can come out of it, though sometimes we are slow to recognize it.

The warning Jesus gave His disciples is applicable to each of us, “you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.” I Thessalonians 4:13-14

Every time we wrestle with the events in the catalog of pain the Bible shows up and offers us hope, such as, “Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

We are all on the scale of suffering somewhere between life being free and easy, and suffering that seems unbearable. The latter is described in Scripture as groaning. However, this darkness is not going to end in despair, not even death. If you are a follower of Jesus, this groaning will end in God’s glory and your joy.

Grief is a form of pain, physical or emotional. Dr. Braun, director of the former leprosarium near Baton Rouge, was asked if he could give a person suffering from leprosy one gift, what would it be? He said he would give them the gift of pain. Not being sensitive to pain they might put their hand on a hot stove, and not feel the heat injure themself seriously. Pain, like all suffering, is a warning signal something is wrong.

Consider the form of pain: grief. The big three in terms of loss usually involve the death of a spouse, child, and/or close family member, becoming unemployed, and, finally, moving and/or the loss of a home. But there are many other major life changes that can cause grief, too—things like illness, disability, separation, divorce, abuse—all excellent candidates for triggering a grief response. That’s why how you handle grief is so important. 

Grief is love with no place to go. It is the final stage of love. As such it often awakens us to the need of God from which comes all comfort. You don’t have to suffer alone. The same Jesus who wept at the tomb of Lazarus wants to be your companion in time of grief. Overcoming grief takes time. Don’t try to ignore it. Internalizing it can be emotionally harmful. There is an old hymn with a line that offers comfort, “Take it to the Lord and leave it there.” Express it to Him.

Claim these promises.

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (I Peter 5: 10)

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34: 18)

Blessed to Bless

The greatest blessing known to man, aside from getting to know Jesus in a personal relationship, is being a blessing to someone.

 “So encourage each other to build each other up, just as you are already doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11

I am always delighted when someone is a blessing to me for two reasons. One obvious, but not the primary reason, is it lifts me up. However, the primary reason is I know they are blessed by doing it. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) We all know how good it is to receive, but we can never fully know how good it is to give.

When was the last time you were on the receiving end of a blessing? Felt good didn’t it? When was the last time you were on the sending end of a blessing? Felt even better, didn’t it?

Recently I have had people reach out across the ages and express gratitude for what I was to them years ago. What a blessing, not just to me but to them in doing so.

One was a viable 93 year old. She was gracious in recounting past experiences, prompting exchanges.

Another was a 50 year old adult who has spent his life in ministry helping steer people on behalf of the Lord. He told of how he had invested in young lives, specifics I had invested in his life over 30 years.

Yet another had spent months trying to find out if I were alive and how to reach me. Such a special blessing.

Still was another who has had three highly successful phases to his life, a mega-contributor to many. He recalled how I visited the home of his parents and as I was leaving I looked down at him as a little boy and said to his parents, “You’ve got a winner there.” That passing comment he said motivated him to strive to be a winner in all of life.  

Remember, “Kind words are like honey sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” (Proverbs 16:24)

It has been my joy to reach out to others and express to them how they have been a blessing in my life. About 30 years ago I made a list of 15 persons who were a blessing in my life during the years of my youth. I contacted each and expressed my gratitude and abiding love for them. I am glad I did, for all of them are no longer alive.

To you the reader of this, I have prayed for all who receive it that the Lord will fulfill the following in your life today.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6: 24 – 26

You Do Matter

Do you ever feel as though you don’t have resources that enable you to be a contributor? 

Small things can ultimately have large results. For example, consider how few musical notes there are in a scale. There are only eight. Yet, all the music in the world comes from them. Consider all the symphonies, concertos, oratorios, hymns, and popular secular music. It all comes from only eight notes.

All the profound words in libraries filled with volumes written in English have their origin in only twenty-six letters of the English alphabet.

You are not accountable for anything not in your control. You are responsible for the most constructive use of things in your reservoir of resources. 

Jesus told the story of the mustard seed. Not knowing the nature of the mustard of which He spoke robs us of its fuller meaning. I have brought back from Israel literally hundreds of thousands of these seeds. Upon planting one it takes on the nature of the Oriental mustard and grows to become a ten foot tree. Small though the seed was, it produced a tree large enough for a bird to build its nest in it. It was small, but its nature was large. We all produce according to our nature something larger than ourselves. If you have the heart, you can do the same. 

Be all you were created with the ability to be. That is all you should expect of yourself. However, that is what you should demand of yourself. 

Examples of this are students. A “C” student should be the best “C” student they have the ability to be. A “B” student should be the best “B” they have the ability to be. An “A” student should be the best “A” student they have the capacity of being. Neither should be concerned about not being what they don’t have the capacity of being. All should aspire to be the best they were born with the capacity to be.

The dedication of each should be to being their best they can be and not fretting over not being one they are not capable of being. Stretch yourself within your being.

A worthy aspiration and commitment is: Jesus, I want to be all for you that I have the capacity of being.

James the Lesser is proof there is room for lessers in the service of our Lord. He is an example of the fact you can’t have a greater without a lesser. You can’t have a book without a chapter, you can’t have a chapter without a paragraph, you can’t have a paragraph without a sentence, you can’t have a sentence without a word, and you can’t have a word without the letters of the alphabet. You can’t have a greater without a lesser. Whatever he did it was essential to the role of the apostles. He walked with giants, and was a companion of Jesus.

If you feel like you are a nobody, get over it. In reality there are no nobodies in the cause of Christ. Nobody? There stands the cross proving you really are somebody. Now get out there and fulfill the cause for which you were called. May you find fulfillment in your calling. You really do matter.