Isaiah 63 Treasure part 7

 bob-maclafferty  No Responses »
Nov 092010
 

One day a couple of years ago, I got a call from one of my daughters at school saying that she was feeling very sick. I drove quickly to the school and found her laying on a couch in the chaplain’s office, surrounded by concerned friends. I helped her to her feet and she walked unsteadily out into the hallway with my arm around her for support. She soon slumped against me, too dizzy and weak to stand. I swept her into my arms and carried her through the hall and out to the car. Teenager or not, sometimes the right place to be is in daddy’s arms!

A few days ago, something was different in the pattern of my days and I spent most of the time on my feet for part of a week. That and some time spent barefoot at home on hard floors made the soles of my feet sore and tired. I just wanted to be able to keep my feet up.

Do you ever feel like the pressure on your feet is just too much? By the end of the day, do you feel more like melted jello than a mighty oak?

he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

If you feel like that, you are carrying something you were never meant to carry. What is that something? It’s you! Just like me, ready and willing to lift my daughter when she’s down, God is even more ready to do that for you. He’ll lift you and carry you as long as you let Him.

I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us— yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses. He said, “Surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me”; and so he became their Savior. In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Isaiah 63:7-9 NIV

Father, give me the strength to be weak today. Remind me not to try to do by myself what only You can do for me. Pick me up, hold me close, never let me go. You promised. I’m asking. Let others around me  see me floating today and wonder why!

Cowboy Up?

 Uncategorized  No Responses »
Aug 312010
 

 

Have you heard the expression, “Cowboy Up”? It usually means something like, “Tough it out” or “Be a man” or “Grin and Bear it”. It has to do with standing up for yourself and pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps. Dusty jeans, dirty boots, sweat, aching muscles, and getting back up. There was even a movie entitled “Cowboy Up”,  released ten years ago, starring Kiefer Sutherland and centered around professional bull riding.

Have you ever said something like this, “When they come at me like _______, I can’t help it. I have to say_________. I’ve got to be honest, right?  It is the most natural thing in the world to respond in kind, to speak the way we’ve been spoken to. It seems fair. It’s almost like the Golden Rule, right?

King Saul was chasing David through the desert. David used to work for him and Saul liked him, right up to the point when he realized that David had been anointed by God to be the next king.  That can certainly be a downer in a working relationship!

David, always a strong and charismatic leader, soon had 600 men gathered around him as he stayed one step ahead of Saul. 

In this story, Saul was pursuing David with 3000 to David’s 600. After moving through some pretty rough country, Saul tired and went into a large cave to rest. What he didn’t know was that David had chosen that very cave to hide in! He and his 600 were lining the walls of the cave in the darkness. As Saul dropped off to sleep, David’s men told him, “See, this is clearly a sign from God. He has put Saul into your hands!” David crept up to Saul and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

Then, his conscience kicked in. “I never should have touched the king. He was anointed by God as well!” He did nothing to harm Saul and prevented his men from acting as well.

When Saul awoke, minutes or hours later, we don’t know, he left the cave only to hear a familiar voice behind him calling his name and proclaiming innocence.

When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud.  “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.  You have just now told me of the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me.  When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today.  I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.  Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.” 1 Samuel 24

Interesting! Looks like there’s been a little power shift. What an admission for Saul, David’s mortal enemy, to make!

It was the power of God in David that kept him from killing the very one who was trying to end his own life. He was able to take the high road and lead his men to do the same.

You might be faced with challenges or temptations that are more than you can handle at this very moment.  God is anxiously waiting to see what you will do. Will you turn to Him for strength? God loves it when I pray, “I can’t do this by myself. I need You!” He is waiting for the chance to power you to speak and act, not in the way that seems natural to us, but in His way. That’s the way to get real power in your life, power to do things that you never would be able to do on your own.  Don’t Cowboy Up, Pray Up!

adapted from devotional shared at CBMC 7/23/09 and family August 2010.