STARTING THE DAY WITH A SONG

“But as for me,

I will sing about your power.
Each morning I will sing with joy

about your unfailing love.
For you have been my refuge,
a place of safety

when I am in distress.”

Psalm 59:16 NLT

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We are living in troubled times! - The Timothy McVeigh bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995 – the 911 Twin Tower bombing in New York City in 2001 – and now just last month, April 15^th, the Boston Maritime bombings. Added to the terrorist bombings are the financial uncertainties throughout the world.

 

As a nation we have been turning farther and farther from the standards of God’s Word. Life styles that were hardly even mentioned fifty years ago are now openly practiced. Abortion is called a choice and gay relationships are claimed as “rights”.

The prophet Isaiah warns, “What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.” But that is exactly what is happening in our society, including more and more professing Christians. 

 

But our focus needs to be on God’s power to keep us safe in the midst of it all. David is a good example of doing this. King Saul pursued him at every turn with the full intent to kill him. Even when Saul’s soldiers surrounded David’s house and David had every reason to fear for his life, he chose to focus on God’s power to keep him safe in the face of such looming danger, and he says “But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.”

 

The darkness around us is real, but the Lord’s unfailing love is even more real and is able to keep our soul safe, and that is something worth singing about! As we reflect on how He has been our refuge in the past it gives us all the more confidence to sing with joy and assurance of His keeping power today and forever!! 

 

Jesus tells us “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul… What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”

 

Join Ethel Waters as she sings -

His Eye Is on The Sparrow

WHAT KIND OF SEED ARE YOU SOWING?

“So let’s not get tired

Of doing what is good.

At just the right time

we will reap a harvest of blessing

if we don’t give up.”

Galatians 6:9 NLT

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Dafodils and Crocus have been blooming for weeks and other perennials have been showing signs of life. Springtime gets us thinking about gardening; sowing seeds and setting out plants.

 

Donna and I grew up on farms in South Dakota, and from childhood on we have been familiar with planting seed and harvesting. All our married life we’ve had a vegetable garden and flowers. Without fail we reaped what sowed. Radish seeds brought a harvest of radishes, and tomato plants brought forth tomatoes. That’s a law of nature that God set in motion at creation. God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came. And that is what happened”. 

 

There is a basic principle here, which applies to all areas of life, not only in the physical world, but in the spiritual realm as well. Our attitudes, thoughts, words, and deeds all are seeds which will produce a harvest. Bad actions bring a bad harvest, good actions bring a good harvest. “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” 

 

With our family – at work – at the store – across the back fence – on the Iphone, facebook; deliberately or unintentionally, we are continuously sowing seed which will reproduce it’s self. “A soft answer turns away anger: but threatening words stir up trouble”. 

 

There have been situations when we have shared comforting Words from God’s Word with people going through difficult times and seen their spirit lifted. Good seed produced a good harvest. On the other hand, if we are truly honest with ourselves, we have to admit we have caused people pain by unkind things we have said or done. Bad seed produced a bad harvest. 

 

I am sure you are with me in wanting to be increasingly sowing good seed into people’s lives. It’s going take a continuous effort. But be assured the Lord will help us as we seek His help. “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

 

Don’t miss listening to SOW MERCY by the Gaither Vocal Band, it’s incredible!