Peace Be Unto You

Beggars

David on the Edge

Devoted

Blessed Are

The Delusions of a Righteous Man

Trying the Reigns of the Heart

Pigs

A Shanty or a Castle?

Worship At The Well

Lost in the Woods

Definition of a Hypocrite

Never Alone

The Iraq War and an Ode to Spring

Isaiah 40:11

Safe Trees to Sleep In

Mirror

Compassion

John the Baptist

Manna

The Martyrdom of Job

We're All in the Same Little Boat

Be Still
Be still and know that I am God - Psalm 46:10

My busy schedule was suddenly interrupted by a painful bout of neuralgia, a cold in the nerves running from my back into my right arm. It made it very difficult to move. Sudden movements could bring a stabbing jab of pain. I had to spend a lot of time in bed with my heating pad. I did need the rest, and God needed my attention.
    I remember trying to fall asleep one night. I couldn’t lie on either side, or lie flat. My only sleeping position was propped almost upright, my chin banked by another pillow.
    I was on the verge of finally falling asleep. The only thing on my mind at that moment was getting a good night’s rest. Then all of a sudden, out of the blue, a phrase was deposited across my mind with all the force of a mental volcano and I heard these words from Scripture -“His left hand is under my head, and His right hand embraces me”.- Song of Solomon 2:6.
    I was taken by surprise. If I was going to be given a verse from the Lord, I expected it would be something that had to do with healing, or comfort in affliction. Why this verse?
    In the quiet of that moment, the Spirit softly fed the interpretation into my soul.
    When His left hand is under your head, and His right hand is embracing you, you can’t move around very much. It is a position of intimacy. His hand is cupped around the mind, His other hand surrounds the heart. He is commanding His bride to focus upon Himself.
    “Be still My love, and know that I am your God.”
    So I couldn’t move to the left or the right. I would stay focused upright upon Him, and I would hear what He has to say to me.
    Martha was always going, doing, serving,( Luke 10:38-42). Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His word.
    Martha complained to the Lord, and He corrected her, saying that little Mary had chosen the best part.
    In another segment of Scripture, (John 12:2,3), we see that Martha is still busy serving, and Mary is once again at the feet of Jesus, anointing Him with oil and praise. This time Martha doesn’t say anything, for by now she must know that Mary, again, has chosen the best part.
    Yet the serving had to be done. I thank the Marthas who serve so the Marys can take the time to serve in another, less obvious way perhaps. But the Mary service is of much value to the Lord. For the Marys anoint Him with worship and bless Him with the joy of intimate communion. Sometimes we forget that we have been created for fellowship with Him.
    Thank you, Martha, for all that you do, all you have done. Now take some time off; sit down with your little sister and listen for a while.
copyright 2003 by H.D. Shively

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The Secret of His Tabernacle

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.- Psalm 27:4,5

      Psalm twenty-seven, verses four through five mentions four dwelling places. David seeks to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life, to inquire in His temple. He knows that God will hide him in His pavilion and the secret of His tabernacle. To be hidden in a secret, what is the secret of God's tabernacle? Is David really asking to dwell in the literal church or sanctuary all the days of his life? Is he talking about a man made structure to be his hiding place? I don't think so. I believe David is seeking to dwell in the Presence of the Lord. The house, the temple, the pavilion and the tabernacle are all places that have to be entered into. In order to behold the beauty of the Lord you must seek to come inside.
      "In the secret of HIs Tabernacle" He shall hide me in times of trouble. When the waves of stress are tumbling around you there is a place of calm quietness and that is the beautiful Presence of the Lord. Take time to seek Him in the quiet, take time to listen. He cannot be seen or physically touched, but He can be felt. Seek and you will find, knock and the door shall be opened. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. We were created for fellowship with Him. Knock on the door of His house and He will open Himself up to you. Invite His Presence and He shall hide you in the pavilion of His peace. And in this temple, you shall worship, and in this tabernacle of fellowship with your God you shall offer sacrifices of joy and sing your praises to the Lord! - Copyright 2008 by H.D. Shively