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]]>Hi, this is Barb Twigg with another What I Know for Sure if you cannot view this email, click here:
Hi, this is Barb Twigg with another What I Know for Sure if you cannot view this email, click here:
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Good morning, SUM Nation,
This is an important update. Please read it.
After nearly 20 years of blogging on the platform, Typepad, I am changing our host service for all the websites: Three Keys Ministries, Spiritually Unequal Marriage and lynndonovan.com. My host Service, Typepad, notified me a few days ago that they are shutting down as of September 30th.
It’s a monumental undertaking to move our content to a new host service. But I believe the Lord is directing me to maintain the nearly 20 years of Kingdom writing, wisdom, and encouragement that we have created on the web. I know that AI picks up our content, and I respond to comments from older posts every week.
During the month of September, there will be no regular content writing. I’ve given all the writers the month off. However, you may receive some test posts that come through your email. As we are relocating everything to our new host provider.
You can expect a relaunch of the websites in early October.
Please pray for me and the team as we migrate these websites to our new host service. As you know, I broke my wrist, and my hand isn’t functional enough to type quickly.
But guess what? The devil doesn’t get to win. He will not destroy 20 years of Our amazing community, our church without walls, here at spirituallyunequalmarriage.com
I love you.
Pray for me. I’m going to need it. Grin.
Thank you for being part of this amazing community. The Lord is so proud of you. And I love you deeply.
All of this is for the honor of the name, Jesus Christ.
Blessings and hugs, Lynn.
King David’s Heart Was Like a Pitcher
By Martha Bush
I know you were blessed as much as I was by the Summer Bible Study that all the writers wrote
on the Psalms.
On the first day, Lynn caught my attention with these words: “Within the Psalms, (written mostly by King David) we discover this amazing relationship between him and God. It’s raw and vulnerable and honest. There are times I think King David was bipolar, as his emotions are
recorded as very low and then exceedingly high.” (Summer Study of the Psalms)
The fact that David was raw vulnerable and honest in his emotions is the things that led me (Martha) to filling hundreds of pages in journals over the years as I tried to sort through my own emotions. David, a man after God’s own heart, taught me lessons I tried to pass on to others when I taught The Grieving Process as they walked the path of emotional healing.
How well I remember the story of Maria (not her real name) I met years ago.
Her story goes like this:
Maria told of the turmoil she had lived in with her mother for years. Even though they lived hundreds of miles apart, there was a constant battle going on between them.
Maria described the toll that bitterness had taken on her body. She would sit for hours gazing into space, completely lost to reality around her. She described how her stomach felt like it was tied up in knots. Big red whelps popped out all over her body. Blood streamed down her arms and legs as she dug her fingernails into her skin trying to find relief from the itching on her body.
This hatred grew to the point that she actually planned ways she could secretly drive to the city her mother lived in, murder her, and return home without being caught. “I hate her, I hate her!”
Maria screamed loudly. (Yeah, go ahead and gasp; I did)
And then almost in a whisper, Maria concluded her story with, “I am a Christian and I know I am not supposed to be having feelings like these. When I am in prayer, I don’t express my feelings of hate to God. If I don’t express them in prayer, He won’t know how I feel, will He?”
Talking about raw emotions, but Maria had them. I finally got myself together and realized it wasn’t the time to talk to her about “Forgiveness.” But I also knew I had to help her find out how to get a handle on the emotional state of mind she was in.
And so it was, for the next few weeks, I met with Maria. On our first meeting, I gently said to her: “Maria, I’ll let you in on a little secret. The God who created you knows everything about you. He gave emotions to you to serve as a gauge to let you know when something is right or wrong. So, you might as well be honest and confess them; He knows anyway. And then we
began our study in the Psalms with David and his emotions.
David was honest with God: Psalm 142:1-2 David states: I poured out my complaint before Him; I showed before Him my trouble. It appears as though David viewed his heart as a pitcher filled with both positive and negative emotions. Throughout the Psalms, we see him emptying his pitcher. (his heart)
Anger: Break their teeth, Lord. (Psalm 58:6)
Fear: Deliver me from the evil man. (Psalm 140:1-4)
Anxiety: Make haste unto me. (Psalm 141:1-4)
Despair: My heart is sore pained within me. (Psalm 55:4-5)
Love for God: As the heart panteth after the water brooks, I pant for you. (Psalm 42:1-2)
Trust in God: The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1-3)
Joy: You have turned my mourning into dancing for you. (Psalm 30:11)
What happens when we are honest with God about our emotions as David was?
Not only are we expressing our positive emotions to God, but we are also exposing all the dark areas and bringing them to light. Those hidden, unexpressed feelings become dark areas that satan uses to hold us in bondage. God wants us to expose them, tell Him those feelings, and bring them out into the light. He then seizes the opportunity to guide us into ways of dealing with situations in our lives in a Godly manner.
I conclude that “Emotions (feelings) are not wrong; it is what we do with them that involves wrong.”
Personally, some of my most intimate moments with God are when I pour out in my therapeutic journal all my emotions before Him, and then wait in silence for His response to me.
What about you? - Martha
Hi, this is Barb Twigg with another What I Know for Sure if you cannot view this email,"> click here:
Verses 3 through 7 pf Psalm 91 are promises to us that he will preserve and protect us, delivering us from snares and pestilence (infectious disease). We don't need to walk in fear of the things in the night, nor of the attacks in the day, not for the pestilence that comes in the dark or the destruction that comes at noon. Even if there are many dying on our right side and on our left, He says that it will not come near us.
Does this mean protection from war/natural disasters/plagues? Do we even have a right to expect that? What do you think about this?
Embedded in these verses is this promise: “He shall cover you with his feathers, and under his wings, shalt thou trust. His truth shall be your shield and buckler.” I love the imagery in Psalms. I have always pictured God with wings, like a chicken. I know I should be picturing an eagle or a hawk, but we have raised chickens. They are extremely protective of their young. Always on alert, scanning what's around and overhead to protect their young. The chicks know to come running and dive under those wings for protection. They don’t think about it. They just do it, knowing instinctively that they will be safe. That mother chicken will die defending her babies.
How does He choose to defend us? With His truth! And we know who truth is...Jesus. Jesus said,” I am the way, the truth, and the life”. (John 14:6) Jesus, the truth, is our shield and our buckler. What is a buckler? Hmmm, interesting...a buckler is a small shield used in hand-to-hand combat. This is a double reference to Jesus as our large shield and our smaller shield. His protection is complete, both spiritually and physically. It is a double reminder that God is our protector and refuge.
“Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.” (v.8) is also a promise for God's people, that we will see the reward that is given to the wicked. We are not only told how to be safe but where to go to be protected and delivered from the evil in this world...In Him, under His wings, where He is the mighty fortress. And why are we allowed to see what happens to the wicked? Because we have made the LORD our refuge and our habitation. (v. 9)
I also think it is to see God’s justice. We live with His mercy every day. When we were redeemed, we knew we didn't deserve it. It was his mercy and love in the sacrifice of Jesus that made it possible. And there are many Christians in the world who suffer persecution and suffering by those who refuse to acknowledge and receive Jesus as Lord and savior. We are rewarded with Jesus Christ: salvation, deliverance, healing, eternal life in the presence of God.
The next promise is that NO evil will befall us. And no plague will come near our dwelling. This could be our homes, or it could be the habitation we have in Him. Angels have charge over us, keeping us in all our ways...the righteous ways of the Lord Jesus. Of course, we also know that these particular verses refer to Jesus. They are prophetic. And side note, these verses, 11 and 12 are used by the devil during the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. (Mt. 4: 5-6). But they are also promises for his followers. Treading on snakes and lions, we will trample them beneath our feet.
Again, Why? Why this promise? Because we have set our love on God. He loves us. And because we love him, He will deliver us, he will set us on high (next to Him, in His presence). Because we have known HIS NAME!
Lastly, when we call on Him, He answers us! He promises to be with us in trouble. He will deliver us and honor us. (v. 14 – 16). He will satisfy us with a long life and HE WILL SHOW US HIS SALVATION!
The Psalms are so much more than just songs. They are meat for those who take the time to think about them and apply what they are learning. I chose to use this format with you to show you how you can read a psalm and go deeper. I know that when I take the time to really look at a Psalm, think about it, ask the whys, and make the connections, I don't simply see a song to uplift my soul but a way to better understand the character of our heavenly Father. And always, I am looking for Jesus...and in the looking, He can always be found.
Psalms/Songs
Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
Why do we read psalms? Why are they important? What does the bible have to say about them? And where is Jesus in the psalms?
Personally, I tend to turn to the psalms when I need encouragement during a difficult time. Although the psalms were written by several different people, for me, the main writer, King David, is the one I think of when I read them. We know he was a musician. We know he was a man who had a heart for God. And the psalms reflect so many different experiences he went through. Underlying them all is the deep emotions of a man who truly loved God and reflected all the human emotions we go through in life (love, anger, fear, anguish, joy, responsibility, backsliding, repentance, etc.).
One of my favorites is Psalm 91. It begins with a promise. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” This year, the word I was given to reflect on was ‘abide’. As soon as I read this first sentence, I knew it was the right Psalm to be focusing on for this piece. To dwell/live in the secret place of God, one needs to abide/live under or in His shadow. How does one do that? I have asked that very question of God more than once.
We live in a fallen world, surrounded by the expectations of our culture and our society. We are bombarded by the world all the time. We have responsibilities to our husbands and our families, our communities, both church and neighborhood. It seems we are always struggling to find that place for God in the middle of all of that.
And what is the SECRET PLACE?
The second verse, “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God: in Him I will trust,” shows us the way. God is our refuge, the place we go when life gets tough, when it all seems to be coming apart at the seams. And not only is He our refuge, but He is also our fortress! A mighty fortress and a mighty God! Fortresses are meant for defense. When life becomes hard, unbearable, and overwhelming, we can enter the fortress for respite and relief. But what if God doesn't want us just coming into the fortress in times of distress but what if he wants us to learn how to live in that fortress all the time? Is that possible? And if it is possible, how do we do that? Good question to think about...
Lets ponder in the comments.... And tomorrow is part TWO. Stay tuned because the best is yet to come. -LuAnn
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Hi my friends, Ann here.
Today we're going to look at Psalm 127, written by King Solomon:
Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their opponents in court.
Have you ever built something with the Lord? If so, I would love to hear about it in the comments. Maybe it was a book you were led to write, or a little business God had you set up. Perhaps it literally was a house!
What was the process God took you through?
How did he communicate his blueprint to you?
What did it feel like to build with the Lord?
In this Psalm, I believe that Solomon was inspired by the house he had literally been building: The temple of God. His father, David, had spent a considerable time collecting materials and inspirations for this house. Then David died and Solomon built, according to God's blueprint.
I believe that when Solomon started building this house, a feeling of 'flow' came over him, from the Spirit. I think I know that feeling myself, as I've had an experience in the past when God asked me to build something. For Solomon, I believe it would have felt like a strange ease was on it. He would have been excited about it, unable to stop working on it, and this is why he proclaimed:
Unless the Lord builds a house, the builders toil in vain!
Yes indeed, that was what Solomon was experiencing as he watched the pillars go up, and the special utensils get crafted. But hang on, why does the second half of the Psalm change so abruptly, from (1) a house to (2) children? One minute Solomon is talking about a house, and the next he's talking about children being a blessing. What is all that about?
Well, scholars believe that Solomon is also talking about 'house' as a family. The word house can mean family: The house of David, for example. And Solomon is saying that God builds your family, or your household.
SUMites, we too are constructing a house of our own: Our own little family. And our family is our project. We are intentional about our families, but God also gives us the blueprint; especially if we ask him for it. Perhaps we can pray, then:
Lord, give me a blueprint for my family.
Lately, I have been doing a couple of things relating to my own 'house':
(1) I have been celebrating my house (i.e., family) by producing beautiful photo-books of the years of our family, beginning from when my children were born. I am using Milk photo books, have chosen a lovely oatmeal fabric cover for each book, and am carefully documenting our years from 2004 - present. I picture this row of oatmeal books sitting on a shelf in my house for years to come, and I also picture myself as an old lady browsing these books while sitting in my rocking chair, rocking away.
(2) As my children have just reached adulthood, I am looking at our finances and building in margin for some of our money to be spent on experiences together -- experiences the children, who are now adults, will enjoy.
Those are both material things; but above all of that the most important thing I can do for my 'house' is to have a clear prayer plan. All of this is effort; but I must remind myself that the Lord builds my house; and if I ask him for it he will not only give me a blueprint, but he will enable me to build my house with that feeling of 'heavenly flow'.
May we too feel a 'feeling of flow' as we build our own houses, according to God's blueprint.
Love you, SUMites
Ann x
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I know this story has circulated around a few places, but it feels as though THIS is what we need to be reminded.
I read it recently and bawled my eyes out. Please sit with it and allow the Shepherd to love on you. (Psalm 23)
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Every once in a while, a ewe will give birth to a lamb and reject it. There are many reasons she may do this. If the lamb is returned to the ewe, the mother may even kick the poor animal away. Once a ewe rejects one of her lambs, she will never change her mind.
These little lambs will hang their heads so low that it looks like something is wrong with its neck. Their spirit is broken.
These lambs are called “bummer lambs.” Unless the shepherd intervenes, that lamb will die, rejected and alone. So, do you know what the shepherd does?
He takes that rejected little one into his home, hand-feeds it and keep it warm by the fire. He will wrap it up with blankets and hold it to his chest so the bummer can hear his heartbeat. Once the lamb is strong enough, the shepherd will place it back in the field with the rest of the flock.
But that sheep never forgets how the shepherd cared for him when his mother rejected him. When the shepherd calls for the flock, guess who runs to him first?
That is right, the bummer sheep. He knows his voice intimately.
It is not that the bummer lamb is loved more, it just knows intimately the one who loves it.
It’s not that it is loved more, it just believes it because it has experienced that love one on one.
So many of us are bummer lambs, rejected and broken. But He is the good Shepherd. He cares for our every need and holds us close to His heart so we can hear His heartbeat.
We may be broken but we are deeply loved by the Shepherd.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” ~ Psalm 23
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Cheryl Coles has been married 37 years, came to know Jesus 25 years ago, and has appreciated the encouragement of this SUM community for 5 years. She is a high school algebra teacher in Washington.
Have you ever had a moment with God that you just couldn’t wait to share? Well, here’s what I just experienced this morning.
On my morning walk in nature today, I was struck with an extra wave of gratitude. I walk on a neighbor’s property but feel that God has given this beautiful strip of nature to me. As I was overcome with gratitude, I pondered how I could ever “repay” God for all his blessings. I know, I know, there’s nothing that could even come close to repaying my debt, but still is there anything I can do to show my gratitude?
A while later, I grabbed my cup of coffee, cracked open my Bible, and my eyes randomly (or divinely) fell onto Psalm 116:12.
What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?
Wait, what?!!! I don’t remember ever reading this verse before, even though I’ve read the entire Bible multiple times. (His mercies are new every morning.) After re-reading this verse to make sure I didn’t misread it, I continued on to verse 13.
I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.
Wow! My heart immediately translated it as God wants me to thank Him and talk to Him. Duh!
I then looked up some commentaries on this verse and found this quote from Barnes Notes on the Bible, “Make it a matter of special ceremony or observance to call the mercy of God to remembrance.” So, I see this as a toast to God when I lift up my cup of salvation. Another commentator mentioned doing this with faith, fervency, sincerity, and truth. Then, don’t stop there according to verse 13b. Don’t just give thanks, but continue to pray for MORE! The word invocation comes to mind. Ask for assistance from the one who has the authority.
My reflection then led me to the idea the after ALL that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit has done for me, what does He want in return? He wants me to acknowledge Him, thank Him, appreciate Him, talk to Him, ask anything of Him, pray to Him, spend time with Him….
In other words, He loves me and only wants my love in return.
Today happens to be my birthday. People often ask me what do I want? Mothers out there can relate to my answer: Nothing really. What do I want? I appreciate the extra attention I receive today. I appreciate the extra communications. Ultimately, it’s all about connection. I appreciate the way my loved ones connect with me today. Our Father in heaven feels the same way about us.
Connection is an outward exhibition of our love. Connection is now my word of the day and I will ponder it all day along with Psalm 116: 12 – 13.
One last observation. I lift my hands in different postures as I praise and thank God. One such position is as if my hands are cupped. I lift my “cup” of salvation to the Lord. Notice that as I lift my hands in thanksgiving, they are also open to receive. The more I pray with thanksgiving, the more I actually get in return.
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Hello Sumite Nation,