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Gleanings From The Word

Category: devotional

  • Lonely Places

    Lonely Places

    God walks with you

    Tundra swan in flight
    Tundra swan

    I sat on the bench at the popular watching area. A single cormorant sat on the shore, wings spread, sunning itself. Alone, Mallard Drake honked, getting no response. A lone swan flew considerably behind the flock, calling plaintively to its flock mates who were now almost out of sight.

    The swan’s call was different from what I was used to hearing. I later looked it up on my Merlin app and learned it was a tundra swan. Although I knew there were plenty of trumpeters around, I didn’t realize there was a separate species.

    To the cormorant, the swan, and the duck, the lake seemed a lonely place. It was quite a different story on the pathways.

    It seemed that everyone and their dog (literally) were out walking. The park has several walking trails and is busy from when the gates open in the morning until they close in the evening. Depending on your perspective, the lake was both a lonely place and filled with activity.

    Life can be that way. We sometimes feel alone and separated from God. Yet, if we could roll back the veil and see what is transpiring in the spirit realm, the level of activity would overwhelm us.

    The prophets of old had the heavenlies revealed to them. One verse always strikes me with what it unveils.

    Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:17 ESV

    Some of the disciples saw Jesus and others on the Mount of Transfiguration. Paul, John, and others had the heavens revealed to them.

    Throughout the Old and New Testaments, we are repeatedly given glimpses of what is happening all around us but just out of our sight. God’s ministering servants are hard at work on our behalf and bringing Him glory.

    We are reminded that God is with us.

    So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me? Hebrews 13:6 ESV

    Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV

    Until next time, remember when you feel like you are in one of those lonely places and distant from God, that there is more than you can imagine happening on your behalf all around you.

    Kevin

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  • House cats and petty squabbles

    House cats and petty squabbles

    two cats curled up asleep on a blanket

    We have two grand cats, which means the family has two house cats that sometimes visit us. They most likely visit when we look after our granddaughters, especially if the girls have friends over.

    Leeloo (the female) and Vader (the male) are siblings who have been together from birth. Like human siblings, they can be best friends or want nothing to do with one another.

    Yesterday afternoon, they wandered down for a visit. Leeloo hopped onto a blanket on the couch, where she sometimes sits beside Kathy. It’s also one of Vader’s favorite spots. He was not impressed that his sister beat him to it.

    She chased him away with a few nasty ears-back looks, and a couple of bats on the head with her paw. He gave up for the moment and spent the next couple of hours trying to convince her to go somewhere else. After a while, it became apparent that she no longer wanted the spot but also didn’t want him to have it.

    Eventually, he forced his way up, and they reluctantly shared it, with neither particularly happy about it. They drifted off to sleep, each trying to nudge the other off the blanket.

    Now, you’d think that as human adults, we’d be more mature than a couple of house cats. Apparently not.

    What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:1-4 ESV

    The lusts of our eyes and hearts lead us to quarrels and divisions. At times, we want things just because someone else has them. We can be jealous, petty, and greedy. Even as believers, we can fall into this trap.

    Fortunately, James reminds us that the Lord offers a way out.

    But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. Luke 4:6-10 ESV

    As we grow to be more like our Lord, may we be less prone to pettiness and jealousy and have less desire for the things of this world.

    May we learn to be more mature and gracious than a couple of house cats.

    Kevin

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