"Under the Shadow of Thy Wings"

Do you remember those times when you were younger and some "enemy" (a dog, person, or maybe just a distorted inanimate object) was "going to get" you? Most likely you were very scared. You probably knew, however, that if you could make it to mommy and daddy they would protect you. Perhaps some of you had that stability for a time, but then it was ripped out from underneath your feet; perhaps some of you never had it at all. It's the unfortunate way of things today.

 And, perhaps, some of you are trying to flee from something that no parent can vanquish. Each one of us has a foe that no family member, no friend, can fight for us. It is between us and them. I have seen it many a time in the life of those dear to me-when I just wanted to be able to give them the victory on a silver platter, but I couldn't.

What's more, I have gone through such lone struggle myself. The worst trials I have experienced have not involved individuals (though some of those have been hard as well), but my own mind. There is nothing more terrible than one's brain being assaulted with random, hideous thoughts and ideas, things that you would never willingly ascribe to. No one you know can fight it for you. You can't make sense of it, and it seems like no matter what you do you can't stop it. No sooner did you fight one than another one takes it's place. You get tired from trying to hold onto what you know is true, and every few minutes feels like hell. You get to the point where you're not sure what or who you really are anymore. You begin to doubt your own sanity. Soon other people aren't too far behind you on that, especially when you start talking to yourself so you can at least hear something sensible... My mother was particularly distressed by my strange behavior, and had often told me to "hold the thoughts captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ." I scoffed at such an idea. Like it was that simple! Furthermore, I told her, I did not want to have to be doing that all day.

One day, however, I reached the end of my rope. I realized I had nothing whatsoever to lose by giving it a try. Surely it could be no worse in effect than the mantras I had created-they weren't much help. So I tried. I can't remember the exact experiences following my decision to try it, but I know it put me on the road to "recovery". Sometimes I would-and still do- fall back into the old habits, but more and more I have learned to hold them captive. Then, I go by faith. Since I truly believe that they have fled, I go about my business as though they had never come, regardless of the feelings of fear and condemnation that come upon me. Often, it is not easy, but GOD has given me many victories through this advice.

Such advice does not just apply to my particular situation. The basis, going by faith, is applicable to any and all situations. When temptation assails us, we may claim the promises in GOD's Word, and we can be sure of them- as long as we do all that is within our power to cooperate with Him. It might be confessing sins, setting things right between us and our neighbor, removing temptations as much as possible, and so on. He cannot help as much when we willingly cherish known evil.

I hope these promises become a safe haven to you, as they are to me. Here is a quote from a devotional called Our High Calling by Mrs. Ellen G. White. It is taken from March 20, "Give No Place to Temptation":

"Let us trust fully, humbly, unselfishly, in God. We are His little children, and thus He deals with us. When we draw near to Him, He mercifully preserves us from the assaults of the enemy. Never will He betray one who trusts in Him as a child trusts in its parents. He sees the humble, trusting souls drawing near to Him, and in pity and love He draws near to them, and lifts up for them a standard against the enemy. “Touch them not,” He says, “for they are mine. I have graven them upon the palms of my hands.” He teaches them to exercise unquestioning faith in His power to work in their behalf. With assurance they say, “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

 

May GOD be the Father you can run to. May you realize, by faith, the fulfillment of the psalmist's prayer in Psalm 17:8-9: "Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings, From the wicked that oppress me, [from] my deadly enemies, [who] compass me about."

Blessings,
Adelaide


 

Like Little Children

"And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:2-3.

Little children. When you're little and you look up to someone, you think the best of them. You think that whatever they say is so, and that they always have your well being in mind. And thus, you obey them without question. You try to make them happy in every thing. You seek to be just like them, because you love them.

So often as we grow older, we become jaded because we realize that they are not perfect, they are not always right, and in most cases, not always looking out for us. We begin to lose the ability to trust people, more or less, to some degree. We hold people, perhaps without realizing it, at arms length.

We don't have to with GOD. He is perfect, He is always right, and He always seeks our highest good, even though it may not seem so at the time. "...the LORD [is] upright: [He is] my rock, and [there is] no unrighteousness in Him." Psalm 92:15

"Oh that My people had hearkened unto Me, [and] Israel had walked in My ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned My hand against their adversaries. The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto Him: but their time should have endured for ever. He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee." Psalm 81:13-16. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11.

"God [is] not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do [it?] or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?" Numbers 23:19. If we do what He says, He will do as He says. "Them that honour me I will honour," 1 Samuel 2:30.

With such assurance, shouldn't we seek to be more childlike today?

Blessings,
Adelaide

The Best Thing to Do

It has been said that the best cure for unhappiness is service for others. I have found that, lately, to be true. Last night was a perfect opportunity to prove it. If you've read the About Me page, then you know I'm disabled. Put that together with being homeschooled for the past 5-6 years (yes, I've been lax), no transportation outside of your folks (who work a lot), and not having many friends in the old pine tree state, and it can get lonely. Really lonely.

Last night that was the case, and I just wanted to be alone and bawl my eyes out. Well, there's really no time to do that when all your family is up. I solaced myself by saying I could let go once everyone went to bed. With such a frame of mind, I naturally did not want to do anything other than what was necessary-not even read the mission story that accompanied the Bible reading with my sister. I honestly didn't.

Something told me that I should. "You'll be happier if you do it," was the thought that came to me. "You know you will." I had to agree, even though it rankled me. After we read from Isaiah, we thanked the LORD for what we read, and I prayed for strength to read the story (that's not unusual; I often get tired). Then, I set off reading.

It was a story about a boy named Christoff. He and his family had moved to Portugal, so the boys could be homeschooled. He met a man named Antonio, who raised goats. Christoff was very interested in the goats and plied his new friend with questions. Christoff decided to help Antonio with his goats until he obtained some of his own, and eventually they developed a nice friendship. By and by the young lad was able to share his faith with Antonio. Since the older man could not read, Christoff would read the Bible  to him. Eventually Christoff ended up reading to the whole village, since it was made up mostly of older people, and many came into the faith.

It was a good story (and read much better than my rendition), but more importantly, by the time we finished, the ache in my throat was gone. I lost my sadness when I lost sight of myself. In fact, that's why I even bothered to write this post. And you know, it worked again. I suggest you give it a try. It truly is the best thing to do.

GOD bless,
Adelaide

In the Garden

I recently finished the chapter "Gethsemane" in The Desire of Ages. It makes one look at Christ's sufferings in a different, clearer light. Not only did it bring home what He went through for me, but I also understood more fully that Christ identified with me. He knew, particularly in that dark hour, what it felt like to be alone. His heart longed for sympathy, for prayer from His beloved friends! but alas, they were asleep. Later on, He would witness them as they fled, to save themselves. He Who had interceded for and stood by many, had no earthly support to count on.

Of course, no one's situation is as dire as His was, and never has been, never will be. At least we may know that if Christ conquered that, which is far worse than what we have to deal with, we may surely conquer through Him. And yet, how was He victorious? Through prayer. After Christ prayed three times about this trial, when everything seemed dark, victory was obtained. The heavens were opened, and the angel who replaced satan came and strengthened Him to drink this bitter cup, encouraged Him to continue on.

The angel did not come to remove the trial, but to help Him pass through it. Even the pain that Christ was enduring was not removed, "but His depression and discouragement left Him. The storm had in nowise abated, but He who was its object was strengthened to meet its fury. He came forth calm and serene. A heavenly peace rested upon His bloodstained face. He had borne that which no human being could ever bear; for He had tasted the sufferings of death for every man." Ibid., pg. 694.

That is what GOD longs to do for us. He longs to strengthen us for every trial, and give us victory.  Christ has marked out the way by which we can be. It is difficult, painful, and trying, yes. But if we follow it, we may be assured of victory. Therefore, let us "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

Blessings,

Adelaide

Jonah

 

I am reading through the Bible, and recently finished the book of Jonah. I caught something in the first chapter that spoke to me. Jonah sought to flee from GOD’s presence by boarding a ship bound for Tarshish. Yet he could not run; the LORD sent a tempestuous storm. When the people aboard the ship obtained no relief from their deities, they cast lots to determine the cause, and it fell upon Jonah. “Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil [is] upon us; What [is] thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what [is] thy country? and of what people [art] thou? And he said unto them, I [am] an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the GOD of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry [land.]” (Jon 1:8-9). Then they were afraid when he told them how he was running from the LORD, and asked what might be done to make the sea calm. “And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest [is] upon you.” (v.12).

It seems that the men were not too sure about this, for “Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring [it] to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.” (v.13). Even so, they ended up doing it, and praising GOD when they saw the results: “Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.” (Jon 1:15-16).

Even though GOD used this situation for good, by demonstrating His power to the heathen, it occurred to me that Jonah’s wrong choice affected not only him badly, but those around him-the storm affected everyone. How careful we should be to realize that whatever we do has ripple effects, and choose on the LORD’s side, for everyone’s good!

Blessings,
Adelaide