Graves' This and That

Larnell Harris had a gospel song ages ago, "When Answers Aren't Enough, There's Jesus."  I have hung on to that song for about that many years as it was sung.  I do not wait well!  I dislike lengthy red lights and will obey them, but with a hurry-up attitude as I sit there .  Even in praying, the Lord seems to enforce the patient mode on me.  I have numerous requests before the Lord, and I continue to "wait upon Him" and have had to confess, repent, and rejoice in the process.  Psalm 138 is among my favs...thanksgiving for answered prayer. This is one of David's prayer and praise songs. I love David's "I will" statements.  It is more a declaration of this is what "I will" do.  I am committed to this action.  David has committed to praise the Lord, wholeheartedly, and in the presence of all the self-titled gods who are mere men, he will give praises to the Lord.  He praises God for His love and faithfulness and adds this glor

     Do you happen to notice your distractors  when you are working on a task?  In preparing children for working math problems or for tests, they have to be taught what is unnecessary information in the problem or in the reading passage.  We teach them to look for distractors that try to negate an action or make the information false or not the best answer.  "Not the best" answer should send one back to the drawing board to rethink. Operative word, SHOULD.  In 2 Corinthians 2:11, " In order that satan might not outwit us.  For we are not unaware of his schemes."  At this point, I think a disclaimer is mandatory. We best be very alert, for he is always seeking whom he may use as his feast.  Even in joyful events, his schemes/ methods/strategies, can attempt to high-jack the good or even my own flaws of the flesh can high-jack the good.  Evil, my own or his, always attempt to be the center of attention.  Anything to rob joy. Evil one's method:  steal, kill, and

One of the concerns of the past two weeks has been that the word, cancer, was again going to raise its ugly head, but this time in the life of a step-son who is a 20+ year survivor of Lymphoma.  This time, there was a "tumor" seen from a C-Scan by medicals and it was suggested that it was probably carcinoma in the kidney. To get a more definite diagnosis, a biopsy needed to be done.  There were concerns and confusion about the risks of the procedure. Finally, the procedure took place, and in getting the biopsy, it was revealed that the "tumor" was a cyst! As the liquid was drained, the object was not there. Of course, the biopsy of liquids will be sent to the lab for a final diagnosis. Much elation and thanksgiving took place among all of us who were present.  As I thought of yesterday, and all of my perspectives of cancer, I dreaded the whole procedure and the waiting of 5 days to get a diagnosis, and from that information, a plan of medical action. It seemed

    Do you ever have to make a decision on the run?  You have tried every tool in your Problem Solving Kit, and you are down to your last one, and it too fails.  David is the man "running scared" in Psalm 34. Recall with me that the Psalms are songs to be felt. The songs are from the narratives that the characters of the Old Testament have experienced: good, bad, and ugly!  He has been on the run for years from King Saul.  This time, he even tries to hide by enlisting in the army of the Philistines who are the enemies of Israel. He has been recognized as the Warrior David, and when he realizes this tool is not going to fix the problem, he decides to feign insanity so that he can get away safely from the Philistine king.  He knows that an insane person is looked on with pity. "Poor David, look what has happened to him!"  Personally, I have not tried the insanity tool, yet I can identify with David's weariness and being exhausted from the presses of life.  In th

  The Psalmist has made his declaration, his commitment, The Lord is my Refuge and Strength.  He has also declared that if the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the roaring seas, he will not fear.  In verse 4, he can see in his mind's eye, a flowing river streaming from the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem.  This is a metaphor for God Himself and His presence because Jerusalem does not have a river flowing through it.  However as a river flows freely and sustains all who drink from it, the analogy is drawn of God's presence being like a river.  I do recall that Jesus in speaking to the woman at the well in Samaria, in John 4, replied to her question about the water and the well, " Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."  T he psalmist called the Lord, Most High.  As El Elyon, He is

How I hate trouble!  Trouble enters our lives sometimes by our own invitation, the consequences of our choices, and sometimes it bursts into our lives as a very uninvited guest allowed by God, with His divine purpose.  Psalm 46 is the safe and soft place that I want to focus for today. The author is probably the sons of Korah who were temple assistants.  It could have possibly been written after the siege of the Assyrians against Israel and the miraculous deliverance from them during the reign of Hezekiah. It was a victory song/poem which was sung in worship.  The psalm was also the basis of the hymn sung by Martin Luther, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God."  I also think I recall it being played at the Cathedral in DC when President Bush spoke after 911. (?) That word, trouble translates as distress or strait, in a narrow tight place.  The psalmist desires that we experience God as our safe place and the most protected and powerful place to rest.  In fact, He is not only our

We hear from David...ole Dave is one of my favorite Bible characters because he is transparent about his love, complaints, and his fears.  One sees little pretense about Dave.  Today, I settle into Psalm 63.  This is another of his psalms while "on the run" but this time from his rebellious Absalom who is attempting to usurp his father's reign. He is hiding in the wilderness of  the Judean desert.  Dave addresses God, of course, in prayer.  He moves from addressing God as Elohim into very personal terms, my EL.  El is an expression of the name of God which shows Him as strength and power, Almighty.  He professes to God that he seeks him "early", some versions interpret as "earnestly" seeks.  Whichever word, the picture of consistency as a habit of first action.  Hear his words as he describes the views of the brown and dull sterility of the wilderness.  I have experienced the feeling of being in a wilderness spiritually, and I HATE it.  I do underst

Sometimes, I get into the habit of singing the line from the hymn, "Farther Along", "Tempted and tried, we're oft made to wonder, why it should be thus all the day (weeks and years) long."  It is so easy to hunker down in that mode of melancholy and the "glass half full" default thinking, however the Word of God challenges me to another perspective.  Psalm 98 is my refresher for my heart and mind today. The psalmist is anonymous.  It could be a song or poem reminding us to "lift our heads for our Redemption draweth nigh." It could have been sung after the return of Israel from Babylonian captivity.  It is a song of victory. Psalm 98 opens with a command, " Sing to the Lord a new song,".  New from the Hebrew is a fresh or new thing.  Again the circumstances, people, too much, or too less have the focus of the mind, and the psalmist commands me to sing a NEW song.  In other words, GET A NEW FOCUS!  Song carries the idea of a strol

  Don't you love the thought of a just plopping down in a comfy recliner and just being without pell-mell thoughts racing through your head?  It seems that the press of thoughts from the default mind-set and the taunts of the evil one have a tendency to demand attention, like a bratty undisciplined two year old with his mom in the grocery store, and her voice cries out, "One, Two...etc."  Rather than react, I am choosing the higher action: Prayer and checking out Psalms 91.   The author of Psalm 91 may have been Moses.  He certainly would have known the press and stress of a million or so voices who were always ready to rebel, belly-ache, and return to the good ole days in Egypt..as slaves!  I have several thoughts as I worked on the Psalm 91:1-2...here they are: 1.  The Psalmist uses four names for God:  Most High (El Elyon), Almighty (El Shaddai), LORD (Jehovah), and God (Elohim). What a powerhouse HE is! 2.  The Promise: I want to sit down (permanent action) in cal

    Life has so many demands which press against us.  I am finding that in order to keep the demands from squeezing my mind and heart, that I must go to the Source of Strength, the Word of God.  As I was reading, Psalm 141, another of David's psalms, I came to David's declaration and request in prayer, verses 8-9, "But my eyes are fixed on You, O Sovereign Lord; in YOU I take refuge--do not give me over to death.  Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, from the traps set by evildoers."  From perusing most of the Psalms, I note that David, being a mighty, prosperous, and successful king had enemies all around him.  Here I am thinking that Washington D.C. has it problems with the press of evil...nothing new.  Evil is as old as man!  Yet David had his eyes fixed or the mind set on Jehovah Adonai and he was willing to trust in HIM. He looked at that which pressed against him and who Jehovah Adonai as HE reveals HIMSELF.  Jehovah : LORD, righteous, true, "I

As I read the Word of God, I love the treasures that the Word offers.  Lord knows, I need His treasures!  Today while looking at a verse in 2 Corinthians 2, my eyes grabbed this diamond, found in verses 10-11, " If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him.  And what I have forgiven--if there was anything to forgive--I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for you sake, in order that satan might not outwit us.  For we are not unaware of his schemes." I refuse to use upper case for satan!  The diamond:  My OBEDIENCE to forgive outwits satan!  his (refusal to use upper case for him) scheme is always to ensnare in his schemes.  I ALWAYS WANT TO OUTWIT him!  I am very mindful of his schemes..the word says so!  I cannot plead ignorance and harbor an unforgiving spirit.   The unforgiving spirit will always hinder the work of the Holy Spirit in my life.  The sparkle of the diamond: I forgive others of their offenses, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven me.  1 Jn 2:12, Eph

  Today I am rummaging around in Psalm 118.  I am SO ready to celebrate. I have grown so weary of the voices of gloom and doom. This Psalm was the song of victory sung during the Feast of Tabernacles.  This feast lasted for six days and the psalm was sung once daily, and on the seventh day, it was sung seven times. On the seventh day, it was called the Great Hosanna.  It may have been used during David's reign or when Israel experienced her restoration from Babylon. Israel was well ready to celebrate for she has been in exile. As I stare down pressing circumstances, how I need to refocus and speak, " Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."  Israel has been pressed, eyeball verses 10-18! It seems the psalmist is talking to himself (self-talk) because he makes several declarations of truth that he knows and recalls: 1. The Lord is with me.   2. I will not be afraid . 3. He is my helper. 4. I will look in triumph on my enemies (metaphor for w

A lot is going on with me, around me, around us as a family, and the press is on from the flesh and the evil one to squeeze us into the "victim" mold so that emotions will be the "first responders" to circumstances.  I so value the Psalms because David, the main author of most of the Psalms just lays it all out there so transparently...warts and joys!  Psalm 142 is termed a maskil which is a poem of divine thoughts which instruct. Have your ever felt cornered?  David is cornered an has been off and on for years, and this is one of his prayer poems from a cave where he is hiding for his life.  I can identify with David's crying aloud to the Lord...been there especially when it seems that life is spiraling out of control. El Shaddai is the one to whom David ran and I run.  I need HIS comfort, HIS compassion, and HIS mercy. How I want HIS order and HIS control.  David is asking the Lord to lead him because he realizes there are snares in the daily path that he w

  I dearly love the "Foot in Mouth" Fisherman Peter.  He is so practical.  From his own experience as a fisherman, he gives us a command, "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." I Peter 5:7.  David said about the same truth in Psalm 55:2, "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall."  As always, I am curious about the meaning of words in the Hebrew or Greek to get a better understanding of the word as the speaker means it in his language.  The word, cast, carries the meaning of to throw upon.  The verb is in a tense that is an action to be done ONCE AND FOR ALL. For me, I cast many times because the ole flesh wants to grab it all back! I have to confess to you that I looked in the Scriptures and I have not found a verse which says, "Cheryl, I want you to carry your every anxiety and to spend precious time fretting, stewing, and being fearful.  I have confidence in you that you will wor

       The Psalmist seems to enter into prayer in Psalm 71:9-13.  He begins to think of today and tomorrow for he has already looked in the rear-view mirror and recalled yesterdays with the Lord and HIS faithfulness in his life.  As he glances ahead to today and tomorrow, he requests that the Lord not cast him away when he is old, when his strength is fleeting, and when his enemies come up against him. As an aging adult, I am thinking that the "enemies" may be metaphors for slower thinking, maybe dementia, health deteriorating, slower movements, and when family, friends, or acquaintances may view one as useless. In our culture today, youth is so celebrated, and I love the young.  New is celebrated, and anything that is "NEW" quickly supplants the used object and even persons,  though it or they may still be very purposeful and sufficient for the need.  "New" gives the appearance of prosperity and being so very "cool" and "with it". 

   Last night with our family prayer group, my sister in-law mentioned that she perused her prayer journal and expressed her gratitude for the prayers that the Lord had answered.  Well, working through Psalm 71 is akin to a look back at a prayer journal and reviewing the faithfulness of our dear Lord.   The Psalmist in verses 5-8 expresses that the Sovereign Lord has been his hope and confidence since his youth and that even in his mother's womb his reliance was on HIM.  I cannot recall the trip into Mother's womb or the trip out, but I do know that HE was so gracious to give me to a loving Mother and Father who were in process of relying on the Lord.  The Psalmist continues to praise the Lord for being his strong refuge and trust.  I, again, am so grateful that the Lord God so protected and nurtured me during those tender years of being a child and then a youth.  I became a Christ follower at ten years of age, and in my heart, I began the work of the Pharisee, thinking that

    I just love, love, love it when I am told that God's promises are ok until the rubber hits the road....and then the speaker of the ole adage is totally surprised when God PROVIDES AND THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD! Oh, to have the faith of Polycarp, the ole martyr in the second century of the church. He was bishop of Smyrna. Hear his statement of faith: " Eight and sixty years have I served HIM, and HE never wronged me, shall I forsake my God and Savior?"  The fires were lit and he burned, but not to death, so others stepped in and stabbed him to death!  Now dear ones, that is when the rubber hits the road...He was found faithful .  Will you, will I, be found faithful in walking out this faith-walk to HIS glory and for HIS sake?  From the lips of one of my heroes , Isaiah , "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."  Isaiah 40:8 and Psalm 119:89, "Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens." 

     As I continue to read the Bible through chronologically, I will be in the Psalms for a while.  I so enjoy the perspective of each of the authors who wrote the Psalms.  They are very practical, transparent, and express the minds, wills, emotions, and the spirits of us frail, flawed, and fragile humans. I can identify! A commentary writer said of Psalm 71 that it is the Old Man's Psalm. The author could have been David or Jeremiah, the prophet, but it is credited to anonymous.   Well, this old woman is HUNKERING DOWN in this psalm and it is so apropos to my heart. Looks like I will only cover the first verse!  The psalmist first gives his declaration: " In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame."  The KJV version: "In you O Lord, I put my trust."  Trust in the Hebrew is translated as the word refuge.  Trust is truly the secret of our character as a Christ follower.  Trust is the refuge, the place of rest, of protection, of a willingn

    The Northern Kingdom of Israel has been taken captive by Assyria in 586 BC and now, the Southern Kingdom of Judah acts as wicked as ever and as if God has not warned them of His judgment through the prophets of Isaiah and Jeremiah.  Judah turns a deaf ear to the pleas, "My people are fools, they do not know me.  They are senseless children; they have no understanding.  They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good." Jeremiah 4:22-23.  "To whom can I speak and give warning?  Who will listen to me?  Their ears are closed so they cannot hear.  The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it." Jeremiah 6:10.  J udah has witnessed the wrath of God on Israel's sin and the year is 587 BC and the other shoes drops, and this time it is Babylon led by King Nebuchadnezzar.   The walls of Jerusalem are broken down.  All of the people who could bring profit to Babylon are taken into exile with only the poorest people left behind

The year is 640 BC and King Josiah is on the throne of the kingdom of Judah.  I so love a good report... "He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left."  2 Kings 22.  He is within the dynasty of King David, hence the description as "father David".  He is the great grandson of Hezekiah.  At this point in the continuing saga of Judah's kings, the temple of the Lord is in desperate need of repair.  In the midst of the repairs, the Book of the Law, (actually a scroll) has been found.     The Book of the Law is taken to King Josiah and is read aloud to him.  As he is hearing the words of the Law being read, he realizes that their prolonged disobedience has been great and God is offended and he tears his robe in response.  The Lord withholds His course of action upon the king and his kingdom because Josiah is willing to humble himself by tearing his clothes and weeping in

   To complete the narrative in 2 Kings 19, the news of the field commander's intimidating statements and the presence of the army of soldiers is taken to the King Hezekiah.  I can't figure out how he would not have known an army was near and ready for a fight, but his response is to tear his clothes, put on sackcloth, and he goes into the temple of the Lord. (Tearing the clothes and putting on sackcloth are choices which show humility).  Hezekiah's officials are sent to the man of the hour, one of my heroes, Isaiah, the prophet.  Isaiah is the mouthpiece for God and he delivers this message to Hezekiah, " Do not be afraid of what you have heard--those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.  Listen, I am going to put such a spirit in him that when he hears a certain report, he will return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword."   Another attempt of intimidation and strong-arming comes again t

Only the Kingdom of Judah has survived.  Israel, the Northern Kingdom has fallen and is in Assyrian captivity. The time period is about 715 BC.  In 2 Kings 18, Hezekiah is the king of Judah and Scripture records that he trusts in the Lord, the God of Israel.  He is a stand-out among the kings of Judah.   Assyria is not content with taking Israel captive and now turns its attention to King Hezekiah and Judah to complete his power grab. Hezekiah has wearied of paying all the gold and silver to Assyria to NOT fight against them, and he has drained his coffers of gold and silver.  The field commander of Assyria's  massive army comes to Hezekiah and inquires of him, "On what are you basing this confidence of yours?"  He scoffs at their attention and worship of Jehovah.  The field commander taunts him, " The Lord himself told me to march against this country and destroy it."  Be reminded:  THE ENEMY IS A LIAR, THIEF, AND MURDERER!  With the press of evil and the c

In the closing chapters of 2 Kings, Israel has been taken captive by the nation of Assyria.  Both Israel and Judah have been warned by prophets and this is the account of the record keeper of 2 Kings 17, " But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the Lord their God."   Before the fall of Adam and Eve, security was a given blessing, however with the fall, even the desire to be secure became corrupted with self expressions..."I will do anything to ensure the happiness of my__________."  No price to pay is too much and the "end justifies the means" of how I experience security and all its blessings.  Because Israel would not trust in their God and kept adding more religious idols and practices thinking this would assuage the anger of God against their sins, God has withdrawn His protection and has allowed Israel to go into exile in Assyria.  A faithful and loving parent is willing to discipline his or