Tag Archives: Psalm

When the Storms Rage . . . Turn Up The Worship Music!

16 Mar

Dust Storm - turn up the worship music

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.    Psalms 95:6 (KJV)

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We make occasional trips between our home in Chino Valley and Snowflake, a city we are going to relocate to on the exact opposite side of the state.  To get there we have to travel several hours along a highway with barren land on both sides.  On one of our trips we left Chino Valley with light breezes, not realizing that light breezes on our side of the state meant heavy winds along that stretch of the highway (now we understand why there isn’t any growth along the road).

Half way into the trip, as we drove along side other cars and big rigs, we saw heavy dust crossing the road.  Drivers’ heads turned from side to side and the dust disappeared.  Looked like a single incident; no big deal.  All of the sudden the big rig to my right started to rock and sway; the cars ahead of us were hit with a wall of dust and they had a hard time staying in their lanes.  We were in the left lane, following other vehicles, watching carefully the line of big rigs in the right lane.

Everyone slowed; no one dared to stop.  While watching for taillights and misdirected vehicles, stress levels built, prayers were loudly spoke; we could barely see the front of our car at times.

My son anxiously shouted, “What are we going to do, Mom?”

Holding the steering wheel tightly with both hands I shouted back, “Turn up the worship music!”

Nothing brings peace faster than worship music.  The storm didn’t stop, people were still having trouble controlling their vehicles against the wind, the dust still obscured the road ahead, but the music calmed us.  That was the longest 45 minutes in my life; but it didn’t overtake me.  We were able to thank Jesus for our safety with a peaceful heart.

There are many times when tests and trials come; some small, some overwhelming.  Every time I feel the storms rising I turn on the worship music and fall into prayer.  Worship – prayer, two aspects of the same entity, communicating with God; what a delight.

Father, never let me forget to worship you, even in the rage of a storm.

Written by Linda J. Humes

Written on 4-19-2010

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GENTLE BREATH

13 Oct

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

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A rush of angel’s wings,

Soothing,

Drawing away,

The stress of yesterday.

—

Angels of protection,

Wrap your wings about,

That no evil,

May Penetrate.

—

Gentle breath of God,

Wash over,

Cleanse – Fill – Release.

—

Precious Holy Spirit,

Heal the broken walls,

Fill the voids,

With Your joy.

—

Release Your anointing,

To bring a new walk,

Stepping in the footprints,

Of the Father.

———-

** Prayer – May your time with Jesus be tender, precious and everlasting. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

———

Written 1/13/2004

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FRESH BEGINNINGS

20 Mar

coffee cup and hands

A Song of degrees.  I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. [2] My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

I love my morning cup of coffee.  Nothing fluffy or sweet or blended, just fresh ground, brewed coffee.  I claimed it as my last vice, until recently that is.

Having food allergies, all of my fun food was disappearing – one item at a time (bummer).  People were always curious at my unusual diet and would inquire at my ability to stick with it.  “It’s easy,” I’d reply, “I still have my morning coffee to look forward to.”

Well!  Pride goes before the fall and it wasn’t too long after that the doctor removed my coffee.  I pled, rationalized and begged – to no avail.  Coffee was out!

I went before the Lord and “Pitched a Fit.”  I’m so grateful that my Jesus is patient and understanding of me.  “What is it that you so enjoy about your cup of coffee,” He asked me.

“The aroma,” I said.  “The feel of the warm cup nestled between my hands.  The minutes I get to blow a cooling breath across the top while sipping the robust drink.  The moments I get alone, enjoying the morning and reflecting on the goodness of God.”

A smile touched my lips and my sorrow faded.  It wasn’t the cup of coffee I missed – it was the fellowship and tender times with God that I was afraid of losing.  The aroma of a fresh morning, the grass wet with dew.  The warmth inside that He spreads, from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet.  The cooling breath of God as a breeze caresses my cheek.  Sipping of His goodness – if only for a few minutes before my day begins.

Lord, let me never loose touch with what the true meaning is, of everything I do.  Let me release the ritual and enter directly into your presence – with praise and thanksgiving and joy.

 

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TAKE MY HAND

27 Dec

 Reaching Hand

“Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” 

Psalm 77:20

 —-

Take my hand, Lord,

                                                         and guide me through this weary time.

—-

Gently lift and gently lead,

            my eyes are tired,

           the path is dim.

—-

Take my hand, Lord,

                               a grasp of friendship,

                    a grasp of love,

—-

Father to child,

                     child to father,

            trusting,

           secure,

           warm.

—-

Take my hand, Lord,

                                   that I might be healed,

                          and capable soon,

                         to reach my hand,

                     back to another.

—-

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Eve, Did You Know??

8 Dec

Adam & Eve

“For my words are wise, and my thoughts are filled with insight.”  Psalm 49:3  (NLT)

 The Garden of Eden holds a critical lesson about the frailty of man.  How easily we can be fooled by clever words that play on our earthly desires.  We can be so caught up in receiving those “special wants” that we don’t ask about the lingering after effects.

Extremely gifted people are placed in marketing departments for every major company.  If they can get people to touch their product, whatever it may be, and convince them that their product will dramatically change lives, then they’ve done their job and a product is sold.

How many cars have been purchased for the “sex appeal” marketing and later repossessed because of high car payments, high insurance costs and expensive repairs?  How many expensive jewelry purchases have put difficult financial burdens on young families because marketing says that a diamond ring or necklace is the only way to prove your love to your spouse?  How many young lives have fallen ruin because of movies and commercials showing that “Cool” people drink, smoke, party and are sexually active?

Satan tempted a “perfect” life in a “perfect” world and turned the entire future of man upside down.  Adam and Eve did not understand temptation; they did not understand evil; they did not understand that life could be anything different than it was.  They did understand that there was a rule and it was a very explicit and critical rule:  They were not to eat from the tree.

In Adam’s and Eve’s minds the gain must have appeared to far out-number the potential loss; how bad could the consequence possibly be in a “perfect” world?  We all know that the consequence was the exposure of imperfection, pain, fear, loss of relationship and death.  I wonder whether they would have been as willing to disobey if they truly had understood the consequence.

Many times I have wished that I could have kept my children completely protected from the evils of this world.  I raised them in a Christian school for many years, until it closed.  The harsh reality of life struck each of them in a different way when they started secular schooling and met their first bully.  They were shocked by the negative interactions of student to student and teacher to student.  Had I set them at a disadvantage by protecting their environment?  Would they have had better “worldly” coping skills if they had been exposed to non-Christian behavior in their formative years?  I can only guess and wonder and pray wisdom over my now grown children; each one walking a difficult journey in their lives right now.

Resisting those temptations, bullies and everyday challenges takes wisdom.  Wisdom sets us in right-standing with the Word of God and gives us the direction and skills to fight.  How do we receive wisdom, where does it lie?  It is in Jesus Himself (1 Corinthians 1:30); it is from God, given as a gift (Exodus 31:3); it is shouted in the streets and the public squares by those who have walked the journeys and chosen to encourage and warn others (Proverbs 1:20).  Wisdom is within each of us, if we ask for it; if we will humble ourselves and recognize our frailties; if we will desire not to fall into temptation (James 1:5).

God, please give me the wisdom to teach and guide Your children back to You.  Help me to help them to understand that temptation comes at the hands of skilled marketers, including Satan himself.  Help me to teach them to call out to You for wisdom – for the small things and for the mountains that stand in their path.  Please Lord, help me to remain humble as I ask again for the wisdom I need to continue this journey.

By Linda J. Humes

Written 8-29-2011

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OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES

18 Sep

baby & adult hand

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. Psalm 8:2

The other day I took my 6-year-old son to the mall for “one-on-one” Mom-Son time.  We saw a short 3-D movie, “T-REX”, the one where the dinosaur drools right in your lap as he eyes you for a potential lunch item.  After the movie we ate lunch (30 restaurants to choose from and he goes for Burger King  –  AGAIN!) and talked a while, then we decided to do a sightseeing lap around the mall.

About 2 months ago I started working Saturday mornings, the day I usually spend with the boys.  We always went for breakfast (all you could eat buffets!) and then went to the park or ran errands around the valley.  When my schedule changed I went to the boy’s school and asked the principal about taking each boy out on rotating Fridays.  She gave me her approval as well as her blessing; Mom-Son Friday came to pass.

Every Friday at noon I pick one of the boys up.  We talk, eat and watch a movie (of the boy’s choice); not necessarily in that order.  By 4:00 PM we’re on the way back to pick-up the other two and head home.  This particular day was Jon’s day.

As Jon and I walked around he chose the shops he wanted to tour through.  Being 6 he chose only the brightest and most colorful shops.  No clothing  –  mostly shops with toys, hanging objects, shelf decorations and rocks.  One of the shops we went into seemed innocent from the front.  There were rock slab wind-chimes, polished stone necklaces, cut stone book-ends, and similar items throughout.  Jon was mesmerized by the color and shine.

As we neared the back of the store we saw voodoo and witch-doctor paraphernalia on the floor and walls.  I tried to steer Jon clear of the items, but he nearly ran into a chair with a demon head carved into the seat back.

Jon stopped immediately, put his little fists on his hips (as only a 6 year old can do) and stated quite clearly, “Well, these people don’t know Jesus.”  After which he quickly dismissed himself from the store.

Trying to help lift his spirits, I started searching for signs of Jesus in every store we entered.  Finally, as we reached the end of the mall, I spotted a shelf with porcelain figurines of Jesus, Mary, the nativity, the crucifix and various other Christian themes.

“There, Jon,” I said.  “There’s Jesus.”

For a moment a smile formed on his face, which was quickly dismissed and replaced by round determined eyes and firmly set fists.

“Well,” he said.  “I just want to know why Jesus is there  –  and women with no clothes are right there!”  I followed his small pointing finger to the shelf immediately below.  There on the shelf were porcelain nudes, three times the size of the Christian figurines.

“I’m just going to go get Joseph (our youth pastor) and we’re going to come back here and pray.”  At that point he took is offended little self out of the store and decided that he had seen enough of the mall.

So there I was, at 49, looking so hard to find Jesus that I allowed myself to overlook the offense, the insult, of placing Him among the very decadence He came to this world to overcome.  In that very store were dragons and Buddas, crystals and prayer beads, nudes and seductive paintings.  How many times do I close my eyes to the things that offend me?  How many times have I felt it was the way of the world and there was nothing I could do?

Out of the mouth of a babe came the words that had been spoken into him.  At 6 years old he was ready to take a stand against the things he knew were wrong, and he was ready to find someone to stand with him in prayer.

Thank you, Jesus, for babies who remind us how to be the best we can be.

By Linda J. Humes
Written 2-24-1999

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WINGS

23 Jun

By Linda J. Humes

Hen and Chick

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.                                                                                                 Psalms 91:4 (KJV)

In the area where we live, this time of the year is when you see new birth.  The weather is starting to warm, things are sprouting, trees are blooming, and baby chicks appear.

One of our hens decided to set on an egg, and there wasn’t any getting it away.  After about a month a little chirping black ball of fluff was running crazy all over the hen house with a squawking momma, in the chase – trying to collect the golf ball sized little chick and rush it to safety.

At feeding time I discovered that the momma hen could only protect the chick when it allowed her to, and once the chick ran into the outside yard, she was completely unable to guide it back in.  Every night I would find the hen and chick outside, put the chick inside the hen house, dodge the angry momma’s beak, and finally get momma and baby reunited.  Once inside the ruffled and irritated hen would spread those wings and chase that chick around until it was finally in a nest, under her wing, and settled down for the night’s sleep.

One day we had a crazy rain storm.  Icy and heavy – I forgot about the hen and chick.  When I realized the storm wasn’t going to lighten up, I went out in the dark to feed the chickens.  No momma, no baby.

I called my son to help me search and after a bit he found the hen in the outside pen against the edge of the hen house – not moving.  He picked her up and put her through the little hen door – she lay limp.  I asked about the chick, but he didn’t see it.  Then, right outside the hen door, in a covered spot, was the chick; it had fallen when he moved the hen.  The chick was completely dry and warm.  Momma had almost drowned.

We picked up the hen and dried her off.  We wrapped her in a towel and placed them in a cage under a heat lamp.  Before long that momma was talking to that chick and scolding it to stay still and warm.  The next day they looked as if nothing had ever happened.

I’ve thought a lot about that hen.  She was willing to drown to keep her chick safe and warm.   She’s still trying to get that chick to stay under her wing – but it’s running around wanting to see what life is all about.  It’s about the size of a tennis ball now, still so little, still so full of life, still so curious.  Kind of like us, don’t you think?

God is doing all He can to bring us abundant life under the shadow of His wings. He sent His Son to die for us and yet we’re running free, trying to find out about the pleasures of this world.  Thank goodness, like that hen, God loves us so much that He’s constantly trying to bring us safely back to Him.  Let me always run to the safety of His arms.

Written 4/23/2009

By Linda J. Humes

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