Message in a bottle!

Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. (Psalm 69:1-3 NIV)

I find it fascinating how the Holy Spirit works in our lives. So often I come upon verses in 

Gods word that fit so perfectly in my life, not this time. It makes me wonder if it is a prelude to trouble. Yet, I can not see it and don't sense it anywhere. Maybe this message isn't meant for me. Maybe I am the bottle that God is placed a special message. He has tossed me into the ocean of life to be found by just the right person. Just maybe ithe message of Psalm 69:1-3 is meant for me to share. Maybe it will come through me at the right time in someone else's life. 

It really is presumptuous and self centered of me to think God sends messages to me exclusively for my own purpose. In fact I have asked him to use me and right now I restate that desire. Lord use me. I know this verse was sent to me by your love and grace. It was sent for me to share. Open my eyes to the person that needs this verse right now in their special circumstances. I know you love who ever it is and am honored that you trust me to be with them. 

Praise God for your perfect love and the grand plan of our lives!

Help!

You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. (Psalm 18:35 NIV)

We, I can't go through this life alone. I need help. I have the wonderful help of my wife and my friends and colleagues. My real help comes from the Lord. 

How do I know when the Lord is helping me?

My first indication is my prayers. I have noticed God really does answer my prayers. I use need to look for those answers. Most of my prayers are personal and not spoken outside my private prayer time. No one else knows my prayers. It has to be the Lord. The "World" would say it is coincidence or chance or that my own desires direct the answers. That is just ludicrous. God is in control, he is real, and he is my help when I need him.

I have also seen help come even when I have not asked. I have seen "supernatural" interventions that can only be explained by my loving savior. Again, the world tries to explain this away. Your thoughts are your own. I have seen the wonderful help from my God. He has intervened for me. He has answered my prayers on multiple occasions. He knows what's best for me and he alone determines when that help comes and in what form. Even when I don't put it into words, he sends help. He is my help in all times. I love him and praise his name!

Just along for the ride!

Psalm 108

¹² Give us aid against the enemy,
   for human help is worthless.
¹³ With God we will gain the victory,
   and he will trample down our enemies.

When Stephanie and I go on motorcycle rides. I do all the driving. She does not Pilot the motorcycle. It appears to all who see us, that I am doing all the work. But, do you realize she is an integral part of the ride. She is not just along for the ride. When we go through turns, she has to lean precisely with me in order for us to smoothly negotiate the curve. She acts as another pair of eyes to watch other drivers and potential road hazards. We work together for an enjoyable and safe ride. There have been so many times we have been saved because of her vision when I wasn't paying attention. It might look like she's not doing anything, but I am so much safer when she is with me.

In my life, it looks like I am doing everything. It looks like I am the Pilot of my own destiny. But, I can tell you that is not true.  My help comes from the Lord, not humans and certainly not from within me. God really directs my life and is the key to making things smooth and safe. As Christians we take a lot of the credit for aiding the poor and the sick. You would think as followers of Christ we would realize it's not us. When we offer financial aid, or give our time, or talents, it is not us but God who works through us. We should Praise him not praise ourselves. God  puts us in the right place, at the right time, with the right resources to help others. He is the victor! It looks like it's us but we know that God is the one behind us and directing us. 

Why is it we are so quick to praise ourselves and reluctant to praise God! We face a lot of hardship and sickness in this world. Many times we get to the point we feel helpless to overcome those things. Yet, when we do it is not of our hand but the hand of the Lord that deserves the credit. 

Praise God as he is the source of all help and is the only real victor. Really, We are just along for the ride!