Down an Unfamiliar Road

GOD’S FINGERPRINTS SEEN –

The compilers of the hymnbook portion of the Psalter wanted to give the pilgrims something with which to praise and worship their Creator. Especially, when their time in the Holy City was coming to an end and they would soon return home to face the everyday cares and worries that needed to be handled with faith and courage. So they wanted the pilgrims to learn how marvelous it was to contemplate that the same hand that created the universe and nourished the earth, also reached out to guide and hold those who love Him, making them feel safer in the world He made. So they chose the song of a believer who had been forced to live in exile under bondage in a heathen society, but to whom the Lord showed mercy and set him free to worship God once again on holy ground.

“Say, Hallelujah! Our One True God always enjoys a good song that lifts Him up in the praise that He deserves. Yes, the LORD Eternal is the one who rebuilt the Holy City and gathered His people from places they were forced to live. He’s the one who mends the brokenhearted and treats their wounds. He’s the one who knows how many stars there are and gave each one of them their name. How great is our Divine Master who possesses unlimited power; whose intelligence is beyond our comprehension. This is the LORD Eternal who lifts up the downtrodden, but forces the evil-minded to their knees. So let’s shout to the LORD Eternal with songs of thanksgiving, and make music to our One True God! For He’s the one who causes clouds to billow in the sky to provide the earth with rain, so grass can sprout on the hillsides. He’s the one who provides food for the animals; even to baby ravens when they cry out. So He is not impressed with a horse’s stamina, nor is He awed by the swiftness of a runner’s legs. But the LORD Eternal is enthralled with those who revere Him; those who wait patiently to receive His unconditional love. Say, Hallelujah!” Psalm 147:1-11, 20b

Reflection: A number of years ago a group of volunteers from Atlanta, Georgia showed up to renovate an apartment building in New York City so it could house nineteen families in need with decent accommodations. Those who passed by didn’t see anything special about one older gentleman hammering away inside, wearing a dark blue baseball cap, a light blue denim shirt, with a red bandanna tied around his neck. It wasn’t until later that they learned that man was none other than a former President of the United States, once the most powerful man in the world. Now the residents of that building proudly point to the walls and others areas and say, “The President of the United States put that nail there; one of the most powerful men in the world painted that wall. No wonder the psalmist was awestruck and gave thanks and praise for being able to point to evidence of the involvement and finished handiwork in his life and proudly proclaim, “The King of the Universe did that for me!” And if anyone wanted to see other wonders performed by this most powerful being in the universe, he pointed to the beauty of the heavens and the wonders of the earth. Sometimes believers begin to think of God as an unseen being who looks much like some giant human, sitting high in the heavens looking down on earth as He watches what’s going on. On occasions He might get involved, but only after they have spent hours pleading with Him and begging Him to do something so their faith might be increased. But the psalmist chose to look at what God had already done and by faith take it for granted that He would make sure things turned out according to His will and purpose for his life. If you’re not sure, just go out on some clear night, look into the sky and say to yourself, the One who lives inside me did all that. Since I can see evidence of His design for the universe, why should I fear about His design for my life!

A DIFFERENT PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE –

The compilers of the Psalter wanted to make sure that before the pilgrims left to return home, they pledged to God their loyalty and dedication as His messengers of good news. They wanted to make sure that the pilgrims did not fall into the trap of becoming so dependent on the good graces of those in power that they begin to rely on them and shift their dependency and loyalty to them instead of to God. So they chose this psalm written by an exile who returned home to help rebuild the Holy City, making it a place where God was worshiped once again as the ruler over all the earth. This would make them real devotees of God who did not seclude themselves from all appearances of evil in a self-absorbed lifestyle. Rather, they would walk by faith and not by sight; they would not shy away from encounters with evil. So they chose this psalm that begins and ends with a ringing, “Hallelujah!”

“O Hallelujah! Yes, let my soul praise the LORD Eternal my God. As long as I can breathe I will celebrate the LORD Eternal; yes, as long as I’m alive I will sing songs of praise to my One True God. Don’t make a mistake by putting your trust in political big shots to save you, they have no such power. After they die they end up in the grave, and the promises they made expire with them. Count your blessings if you are one of those who have placed their hope in the LORD Eternal, and your Sovereign God is your benefactor; the One who made everything and owns everything and can be trusted for eternity; the one who seeks justice for the downtrodden and gives food to the hungry; yes, the LORD Eternal who sets loose those that are bound; the LORD Eternal who restores sight to the blind; the LORD Eternal who lifts the burden of those bent over with cares; the LORD Eternal who loves those who live right; the LORD Eternal who watches over those who’ve lost their way; the LORD Eternal who gives encouragement to the orphaned and the widowed, but does not keep the evil-minded from becoming despondent; the LORD Eternal who will reign forever, the One True God of all believers, generation after generation. O Hallelujah!” Psalm 146:1-10

Reflection: In 1892, a Baptist minister named Francis Bellamy, assistant editor of “The Youth’s Companion,” a national family magazine published in Boston, Massachusetts, wrote out a pledge to be used one time at an upcoming Columbus Day event. It went like this: “I pledge allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Thirty-one years later, in 1923, the National Flag Conference of the American Legion liked his pledge so much they expanded the word “Flag” to read “Flag of the United States of America.” In 1942, at the beginning of WWII, it was formally adopted by Congress as a pledge, and in 1945 when WWII came to an end it was given the official name of “The pledge of Allegiance.” Then in 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill that added “one nation, under God.” But the Pledge of Allegiance now faces unprecedented opposition from atheists, liberal civil rights groups, and activist progressive judges because they see it as a religious pledge. They accuse the government of violating the mythical separation of church and state provision which does not exist in the constitution. No doubt the psalmist faced similar opposition in his day, but he remained unshakable in his commitment and loyalty to God, making this psalm a candidate for today’s believers to put their hands over their hearts and say, “I pledge allegiance to the cross of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and to the kingdom for which it stands. One body, under God, in Christ, with salvation and eternal life for all who believe.” The psalmist refused to accept any so-called benefits offered him by way of compromise, violating his beliefs. Through the Spirit he saw into the future and made the decision to go with God. So the next time you face a similar moment of truth, just remember: you can invest your life into something that’s designed only for the short run, or in something that guarantees it for eternity.

TELL IT LIKE IT IS –

The compilers of this hymn book portion of the Psalter wanted the pilgrims not only to thank the good LORD for what He had done in the past, but to focus on how they would carry on serving Him in the future. No one wanted to walk out of the holy sanctuary to head home and not think about how good God is and why they need Him so much until it’s time to come back. They wanted to make it a daily exercise in praise and worship. So they chose this praise song of David that he composed to give God glory for bringing him through victoriously time and time again.

“Every day of my life I want to lift up my One True God and King of kings; to praise and worship Him for who He is. The LORD Eternal is magnificence, and His glory exceeds our imagination, that’s reason enough to exalt Him. Each generation should tell the next generation all about His miraculous accomplishments. That is why I continue to describe the glorious magnificence of Your splendor and Your miraculous accomplishment; so that mankind will talk about the effects of Your awesome works, and proclaim how great Thou art. I want them to celebrate the memory of Your abundant goodness, and sing about Your kindness and mercy. For the LORD Eternal is so gracious and compassionate that He rarely gets angry because His lovingkindness is overwhelming. The LORD Eternal is good to everyone and merciful to everything He created. That’s why Your greatest creation should praise You, O LORD Eternal; yes, Your saints should heap praise on You. They should testify about Your fantastic power and the beauty of Your everlasting kingdom again and again. For Your kingdom will never end; You will remain on Your throne generation after generation. That’s because You, O LORD Eternal, stand behind every promise You make, and every promise You make is done out of love. For You, O LORD Eternal, reach out to the fallen, and hold up those about to stumble. That’s why everyone looks to You with expectancy because You always shows up at the right time with the right thing in Your open hand. For the LORD Eternal is just and kind and merciful in everything He does. The LORD Eternal is never far away from those who confess Him as their Lord and are sincere in their relationship with Him. He grants those who revere Him the desires of their heart, and His heart is touched by their calls for help. The LORD Eternal looks out for those who really love Him, but frustrates the plans of habitual sinners. I will publicly praise the LORD Eternal as long as I live, and continue to tell everyone I meet about His unparalleled reputation.” Psalm 145:1-21

Reflection: Dr. Samuel Johnson was a towering figure of 18^th century English literature. He once wrote an essay concerning the prospects of finding someone to trust and believe in. He stated that one may live a long, long time before finding a friend who is understanding, with integrity, one could fully trust and whose opinions one values as being just and sincere. He concluded that a passive person, no matter how honest and well-intentioned, finds it hard to judge a friend; while a positive and outgoing individual, no matter how insightful, do not always give the best counsel. We often choose friends because they like what we like. Therefore, they minimize our faults because they have the same ones, and don’t want to point an accusing finger at themselves. Friends can be very sympathetic, and unwilling to cause us pain. Although they are concerned about what we are doing or the way we are conducting ourselves, they don’t want to offend us with criticism. King David had plenty of friends, but he knew of only One who did not hesitate to tell him if he was right or wrong; someone who left no doubt concerning things as they really are. Furthermore, he knew that his God did not make-believe or pretend. So no matter how much it hurt, he always got a straight answer from His Heavenly Father.

But David also recognized that he must reciprocate with the same honesty and sincerity in order to keep his relationship with God alive and healthy. As Dr. Johnson indicated, sometimes people we call friends will not always tell us the real facts. They must learn that in order to be considered genuine friends, they should be honest without being hurtful; they must be open without being obnoxious. So ask yourself, the next time you go to God in prayer do you want Him to treat you like a real friend and tell you the truth, or would you rather that He made excuses?

TRUST GOD’S WISDOM –

Not only did the pilgrims who arrived in the Holy City feel blessed and fortunate to celebrate and worship their One True God, but they also acknowledged that for many of them this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They knew that when it was all over they faced a long trip back home; back to where God’s presence was seemingly missing and people lived their lives as though He didn’t exist. They could wish for nothing more glorious than for the Lord to reach down while they were worshiping, and carry them off into His presence forever. So the compilers of the Psalter chose this psalm of David for their hymn book so the pilgrims could use David’s words to express what he felt many times when trouble surrounded him and he longed for God’s rescue into His eternal abode.

“O LORD Eternal, why do You bother with or care about ordinary human beings? Mankind’s lifespan is like one short breath or flickering shadow. O LORD Eternal, when You descend from heaven let the mountains smolder when Your feet touch them. Let Your descent be accompanied with a blaze of glory, causing sinners to run and hide. Then use Your drawing power and force them to face You. At the same time, reach down to snatch me away; yes, pluck me out of the rising flood of troubles. Then, O One True God, I will sing a new song to You; yes, while I play my ten-stringed harp I will sing hymns to You; to the One who delivers His anointed; who will snatch His servant away from impending disaster. So again I ask You, snatch me away from unbelievers who don’t want to acknowledge the truth, and who say one thing but mean another. So let all those who believe Him count their blessings; yes, count your blessings if you’re one of those who believe that the One True God is the LORD Eternal.” Psalm 144:3-11, 15

Reflection: Years ago in a small town a 10 year old lad climbed onto a stool at a local ice cream shop and asked the waitress, “How much does an ice cream sundae cost?” “Fifty cents,” the waitress quickly replied. The boy pulled out a handful of change from his pocket and slowly started counting. The waitress became impatient because she had other customers waiting to be served. After finishing his count, the young tot asked, “How much is a bowl of plain ice cream?” The waitress responded irritably, “Thirty-five cents!” Again the boy counted and finally said softly, “May I have a bowl of plain ice cream, please?” When the waitress returned later to clear the bowl, she picked it up and got a lump in her throat. The boy had left two nickels and five pennies underneath it. She realized then, that he had exactly the right amount of money to buy the sundae, but he gave it up in order to leave her a tip. Perhaps David had a similar encounter with God. The Almighty always uses His divine knowledge and intellect to deal with man’s needs and problems. Sometimes we don’t understand why His actions do not fit conventional wisdom. We even question Him, and can’t figure out why He doesn’t see things the way we do. But David realized that God knew things he didn’t know. So he simply decided to trust God’s wisdom and accept His input. Both David and that little boy offer us examples of giving God credit for knowing what’s best. So the next time you want answers from God for some dilemma, don’t be startled if He does it in a way that ends up leaving you an extra blessing as a surprise.

Even before he was born, it was told that he would be someone special. A supernatural being had informed his mother that the child she was about to conceive would not be a mere mortal but would be divine. He was born miraculously, and he became an unusually precocious young man. As an adult he left home and went out on an itinerant preaching ministry, urging his listeners to live, not for the material things of this world, but for what is spiritual. He gathered a number of followers around him, who became convinced that his teachings were divinely inspired, in no small part because he himself was divine. He proved it to them by doing many miracles, healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead. But at the end of his life his miracles roused severe opposition, and his enemies delivered him over to the the occupying force in their country for judgment. Still, after he left this world, he returned to meet his followers in order to convince them that he was not really dead but lived on in the heavenly realm. Later some of his followers wrote books about him. If you guessed that I was talking about Jesus of Nazareth, you’re wrong. I’m talking about Apollonius of Tyana, born in 3 B.C., in the Roman province of Cappadocia in Asia Minor (modern Turkey today), and lived until approximately 97 A.D. He was a contemporary of Jesus of Nazareth. This may have been the reason for Jesus’ warning in Luke 21:8. So keep your eyes open. – Dr. Robert R Seyda

I entered a hospital room at the cancer center where I served as a chaplain resident, and saw an elderly, white-haired woman sitting on the side of her bed. As I approached her, I smiled and said, “Hi! I’m Chaplain Seyda, how are things going with you today?” She looked up with a frown and said, “I don’t need any chaplain, I’m not interested in talking to a chaplain.” I looked back at her, and with a big sigh of relief I said, “Oh thank God! I’m so glad to hear that, because sometimes I don’t want to talk to people like a chaplain either!” So, would it be alright if we just talk like friends?” She looked up at me and said, “I didn’t mean to be rude, but you see, I’m Jewish, and didn’t think Christian chaplains talked to Jewish people.” I sat down and said to her “I like Jewish people, some of my best friends are rabbis, and it’s so nice to meet you.” She gazed at me with a quizzical look on her face and inquired, “Can I ask you something?” “Of course,” I said. “I’m a survivor of the holocaust,” she continued, “and I can’t understand why God would allow me to escape that death camp where I saw my whole family die, and now let me get cancer and die like this. I just don’t understand a God like that.” I said to her, “Well, it all depends on what God we’re talking about.” “What do you mean?” she said, “I thought Christians and Jews both believed in the same God.” “Let me explain,” I responded. “Many of us believe in the God our parents told us about. Some of us believe in the God our ministers or rabbis explained to us. And some of us believe in the God we made up in our own minds. Now if you are talking about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the God of the Bible, then I’d be happy to talk about Him.” “Yes! Yes! That’s the God I meant,” she responded. So, I then asked her if she believed the story of Noah, of Abraham, of Jacob, of Joseph, of Moses, of Joshua, of Daniel and the three Hebrew children? She nodded yes very vigorously to all my questions. Then I pointed out that all of these patriarchs went through tough times; sometimes being tortured and near death. However, one thing that impressed me about their God was that He went through it with them. He didn’t abandon or leave them to face it alone. Therefore, if that’s the God you’re talking about, then I have a feeling that He’s right here with you, and won’t let you go it alone. There was a pause as she looked up at me with an enlightened look on her face, and the said: “Tell me more about your God, that’s the one I want to know.” For the rest of her stay in the hospital, we had wonderful chats together, talking about the God she wanted to know. I never called her after she left or tried to follow up, since that was against the rules unless the patient asks. Rather, I turned it over to someone much more capable than I, the Holy Spirit. I’m absolutely sure He did a great job. I learned that there are our ways and other ways, but the best way, is God’s way.

SOMETIMES IT HELPS IF IT HURTS –

Every pilgrim knew that going to the Holy City to celebrate and offer God His rightful praise and worship, also involved the need to petition their Heavenly Father for strength and faith to carry on in spite of all the negative circumstances that went against them; trying them and their dedication to the One True God they served. So the compilers of the Psalter chose another psalm of David for the pilgrims to sing as they stood in the Holy Sanctuary. No one faced more danger and persecution than David as he tried to remain loyal in his quest to fulfill God’s will for his life. The important thing was that David was willing to accept any responsibility for actions that may have led to the difficult situation he faced, such as his dealing with Absalom that led to a rebellion which almost cost him the throne. His willingness to own up to his weaknesses made him stronger and more successful for God.

“O LORD Eternal, I come to You in prayer, because You’re known for Your reliability to answer; so please listen to my cry for mercy. I’m depending on Your kindness toward me as Your servant, not to hold this against me; no person claiming to be perfect could stand guiltless before You. But my integrity is being attacked; the person behind it has driven me into hiding; he has forced me to disappear from sight; like someone who suddenly died. I’m sick to my stomach; my heart is numbed by my pain. Yet, I lift my hands toward heaven as I think back to the good days, and am reminded of all the wonderful things You’ve done for me, and reflect on everything You helped me accomplish; because I need Your refreshing like parched ground needs water. So please respond quickly, O LORD Eternal, I’m totally exhausted; I beg You not to turn away from me; don’t let me end up in the grave. By morning let me sense Your sustaining arms wrapped around me, for I trust You to the fullest. I need to know how to cope with this, and I’m depending on You to show me the way. You’re the only one who can rescue me from this dilemma, O LORD Eternal, that’s why I’m running to You for help. I need to learn how to do things Your way, for You are my One True God. Therefore, let Your Spirit guide me to where I need to be. So in Your kindness, and for Your sake, O LORD Eternal, keep me going and lead me out of this distressful situation. And since You love me with an undying love, get rid of those who are causing all this turmoil. I am asking this of You as Your servant.” Psalm 143:1-12

Reflection: Monica Dickens tells the story of David, a 2-years old boy with leukemia, who was taken by his mother, Deborah, to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston to see Dr. John Truman, a specialist in treating children with cancer and various blood diseases. Dr. Truman’s diagnosis proved devastating, and he told her that little David only had a 50-50 chance of surviving. The countless clinic visits, the blood tests, the intravenous drugs that followed, and the resulting fear and anxiety brought the mother so much stress because she had to stand by and watch her boy’s pain and suffering. But her little David never cried in the waiting room; he always ran ahead of his mother with a smile, looking for the warm welcome he always received, in spite of the fact that those same friends would stick painful needles into his body. When he turned three years old, David needed a spinal tap – a painful procedure at any age. They explained to him that because of his sickness, Dr. Truman needed to do something to make him feel better. “If it hurts,” his mother cautioned him, “remember, it’s because Dr. Truman loves you.” The procedure proved horrendous. It took three nurses to hold little David down while he yelled and sobbed and struggled. When it finally ended, the tiny lad soaked with sweat and tears, looked up at the doctor and gasped, “Thank you, Dr. Truman, for my hurting.” King David faced a similar procedure, although not quite as painful. Yet he saw the same thing his little name-sake saw, that God allowed all of this for his good; to make him a better healthier person to complete the plans and opportunities that lay ahead. That’s why big David, like little David, did not resist even though he knew it would hurt. My, what great examples these two David’s provide us in how to face trying and agonizing experiences in our lives. So the next time God puts you through a procedure that causes pain and suffering, just look up to Him and say, as little David did, “Thank you, LORD, for my hurting.”

CRYING HELP DOES NOT MEAN YOU’RE HELPLESS –

After many pilgrims reached the Holy City and stood in the courts of the Temple on their way to worship the God they served, none of them confessed to being perfect. They all knew there were many times they felt hopeless and wondered if it was worth believing and obeying His will. So the compilers of the holy hymn book chose a psalm by David, written as he sat either in the cave of Adullam or the one at En Gedi, trying to deal with the constant hounding of King Saul and his murderous cohorts. While these situations lent themselves to periods of despair, they also offered opportunities for David’s faith to be strengthened and his resolve to be made stronger.

“O LORD Eternal, I’m praying as loud as I can; please hear me as I pour out my heart to You, my LORD Eternal. I won’t hold back; I’ll tell You exactly how I feel and how much distress and grief I feel. For when I can’t take it anymore You know precisely what I’m prone to do, and so does everyone else. That’s why they know just how to sneak up on me and hurt me when I least expect it. I look all around me, but it seems there is no one who cares if I live or die. The walls appear to be closing in on me; and it doesn’t matter to anyone, whether or not I survive. That’s why I’m calling out to You, O LORD Eternal; You are my only hope, my only reason for living. Please hear my sobbing cries, for I feel so dejected. The growing numbers of things bothering me are getting too much for me to handle, so I desperately need Your help, in order to cope. Break the sense of uselessness that I feel so I can worship You for the God You are. When those who live right see this; when they see how graciously You treated me, they will surely rally to my side.” Psalm 142:1-7

Reflection: Years ago, they told the story about a young lady who went to work in a textile mill in the State of North Carolina, U.S.A. As part of her orientation they showed her a sign near her station that read: “When your thread becomes tangled, immediately call the foreman.” Being new on the job, and wanting to show everyone she was more than capable of taking care of any tangled thread, she decided to lean on her years of sewing experience at home. Sure enough, one day her thread became tangled, and so she embarked on untangling it herself, hoping it would make her look like an expert, and at the same time, keep her from looking incompetent by having to call for help. But the more she tried and the longer she worked at it the worse the situation got. But she was determined not to give up, so she tried and tried even harder, but matters worsened even more. Finally, in desperation she rang for the foreman. When he arrived she showed him the knotted mess and said, “I did the very best I could!” Looking at her, the foreman shook his head and exclaimed, “No you didn’t! Your best you could have done was to call me at once as soon as the tangle occurred.” David learned this lesson early in his life. After his spectacular defeat of Goliath, it would be easy for him to depend on his own prowess to get himself out of trouble. But David remembered how many times he needed God’s help to protect his father’s sheep from lions and bears. So he showed no hesitation in calling on his Divine Foreman to come to his aid. This young lady in the textile mill gives us just the opposite view on how to handle problems. While sitting in that damp, cold cave, David knew that if God helped get him out, then God would help him continue his mission. So the next time you find yourself in a situation beyond your ability to control or manage, call out to the One in charge. Telling your family and friends how God got you out of your mess is a lot better than having to tell them how you only made things worse by not asking for God’s help.

STAYING ON COURSE –

In order to provide songs for the pilgrims to sing, the compilers of this hymn book for worship chose another psalm of David in which he shares how he wrestled with temptations in life to do as others do, not as God wanted him to do. He was under tremendous pressure to give up on becoming the king of Israel as God promised, and for which the prophet Samuel anointed him. They wanted to offer him something else, something less grand, something less risky. But David did not want to disappoint his God; he wanted to stay on course to complete his calling. This message in song no doubt touched the hearts of the pilgrims to do the same for the One they served.

“O LORD Eternal, I’m calling out to You, hurry to help me; please take notice of what I’m saying as I call on You; as I lift my hands toward heaven at the end of the day, let my prayer ascend up to You like sweet incense from the altar. O LORD Eternal, please station a guard to keep watch over what I say to provide security at the door of my lips. Don’t let my heart be persuaded to do something bad in response to offers made by people with evil motives; don’t let me desire what they have. Let any true believer give me a slap to alert me of the danger; I won’t retaliate against such an act of loving concern, I want to continue standing firm against these pretenders. Even though I told them I had nothing against them and wanted to get along, their stony hearts only made matters worse. What they did was like someone digging a hole in the ground and then throwing me in and covering me up with dirt. That’s why I’m turning my eyes toward You, O LORD God, my Divine Master; so You can protect me, please don’t let me down. Keep me safe from they are trying to do to me; keep me from taking the bait they’ve offered to entrap me. Let these evil-minded people fall into the traps they’ve set, allowing me to continue on with the life You’ve given me.” Psalm 141:1-10

Reflection: Miss Frances Havergal was born on Wednesday, December 14, 1836 as the youngest child of Anglican Church minister, Canon W. H. Havergal, of Worcestershire, England, the composer of many hymn melodies and sacred music. Although she suffered from frail health, she grew up to lead an active life. One time, on a five day visit to a well-known halfway house for girls in Stourport, known as Areley House, she shared with ten destitute girls who lived there the love of Jesus, and prayed in her heart that with God’s help she might lead them in confession and faith. On her last night there, Wednesday, February 4, 1874, the governess asked Frances to visit her two daughters as well, for they had begged her to let Frances to pray with them. After they tearfully accepted Christ as their Savior, Frances went to her room rejoicing. She was so moved, that she sat down and wrote some touching words that flowed from her heart through her pen: “Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love. Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.” Frances fulfilled her heart’s desire until she died five years later of hepatitis on Tuesday, June 3, 1879, in Swansea, England. Like King David, Frances wanted to remain faithful to God’s calling no matter what the time or cost. In her case she fought against disease and other handicaps that might tempt others to stay at home and waste their lives feeling sorry for themselves. She also resisted suggestions that she live life to its fullest while she still had time. Rather, she concentrated on God’s plan for her life and would let nothing stop her. As a result, girls who otherwise would have been lost were born again, and she gave the church a song that is still sung to this day. What wonderful examples both King David and Miss Frances give us in carrying out God’s will, albeit with pain and hardship. So when you’re not sure exactly what to do when faced with obstacles and opposition, look to God and let Him give you His smile of approval and encouragement. You’ll find it pays to stand up for God, even if done in pain and agony, more than sitting in misery and suffering, complaining because you can’t do the things you want to do. People will be inspired by you when you stand fast in your faith, they’ll only feel pity for you when you remain seated as you stew in your unhappiness.

CLOSURE WITH GOD, OR CLOSER TO GOD –

Almost every pilgrim that finally made it up to the Holy City and had the privilege of standing in the presence of God Almighty to worship Him and praise Him, knew that they were the few among many. They had to overcome many obstacles to get there and only the brave-at-heart made it. So the compilers of the Psalter chose one of David’s psalms for them to sing that offered comfort and encouragement to tired and weary pilgrims. David experienced what it was like to be on a mission and run into opposition from those who did not understand God’s will and purpose for his life. But David knew that all he needed to do for God to bring him victory was to stick with what was true.

“I promise this one thing to You, O LORD Eternal: I will always acknowledge and accept You as my only Sovereign God. That’s why I’m asking You now, O LORD Eternal, to please pay attention to the words in my plea to You for help. I’m asking You, O LORD my God, my Divine Master; the One whose power brought my deliverance; the One who once protected me from being wounded in the heat of battle; please do not grant the evil-minded their wishes; O LORD Eternal, do not make it easy for their evil plans to succeed; it will only increase the pride they have in themselves. Likewise, never let those who attack other people’s character gain a foothold in our nation. Instead, let their harmful attacks end up leading to their own downfall. I believe the LORD Eternal will stand by those unable to help themselves, and get justice for those unable to fight back. I’m convinced, those who live right always trust in You for who You are; yes, the right-at-heart will always stay in harmony with Your will. Psalm 140:6-8, 11-13

Reflection: At the graveside service for assassinated U.S. President James A. Garfield, on Monday, September 19, 1881, a beautiful hymn was played. Then on Friday afternoon, September 13, 1901, assassinated U.S. President William McKinley made the lyrics of the same hymn his dying words. And again, as the great ship Titanic was sinking into the icy waters of the North Atlantic Ocean on Monday, April 15, 1912, the ship’s orchestra played this hymn up to the bitter end. What hymn was it? The one whose lyrics go as follows: “Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me, still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee.” It just so happened that British poet Sarah F. Adams, an aspiring actress whose bout with tuberculosis cut short her budding career, was being visited by her pastor one afternoon, and he mentioned that he was having difficulty finding a hymn to go along with his sermon on Jacob’s of a ladder reaching into heaven that coming Sunday. So Sarah volunteered to write the lyrics, for which her sister Eliza would write the music. She penned these words at the age of 36, and seven years later she would die from her illness. In this hymn she expressed the same desire that was in Jacob’s heart. Could it be that David was thinking along the same lines when he wrote this psalm? All of them not only wanted to be in harmony with God’s will, but in accord with His ways as much as possible. That is a lofty goal for any believer to set, and one that must really be yearned for if there is any hope of attaining it. It has been proven that a person does not solve their problems, or find solutions to their difficulties by trying to run from God’s will, but by embracing it with all their heart and soul. Presidents Garfield and McKinley, as well as Miss Adams, the patriarch Jacob, and King David, believed with all their heart and soul that if they embraced God’s will He would embrace them. The psalm of David just before this one, points out clearly that it’s impossible to run from God or escape from His presence. Therefore, since it is not possible to run from God, what is it that people are fleeing from? Fact is, they are running from His truth, His will, His purpose and His destiny for their lives! No wonder people who live outside God’s will feel so forsaken and lost. No wonder they look everywhere to find some beacon of light to guide their lives and give them meaning and a reason for living. King David had no such illusion, he knew where to look, and he was not about to let anyone mislead him or discourage him from applying the truth of God’s word to his life.