What's in a name

I don't know if you enjoy the Psalms or not but in different stages of my life I have gravitated to their words and found in them peace and comfort. This year in Bible Study Fellowship, I was challenged to examine the Psalms more deeply and to use them as a part of my daily prayers. As I read the Psalms, I often find descriptions of God that are beautiful word pictures. At first glance, I often don't see how they apply to me. But these pictures become comforting as God shows us what they mean just when we need it most. Here are a few that I saw in a new light.

The first description is of God as my shield. I was able to see the protection that God has given me throughout my life even from things I had no clue about. In October, Winter and I talked about God being her shield after a mishap with a wasp nest. We prayed that God would help her overcome her fear of getting stung and that God would be her shield. Hopefully in time, Winter can take the step and trust God to be her shield in many more ways as she grows up and the fiery darts of the evil one head her way. In Ephesians 6:16, Paul tells us to have a shield of faith. Faith is believing God will see us through. God, be my shield.

"Jesus, lover of my soul" is another phrase I often sang but never really took the time to think about what it meant for me. I took for granted the truth of these words and mostly thought of the words as just poetic. Actually "Jesus, lover of my soul" is the whole gospel. It means Jesus loved me, a soul, so much he came to earth, lived, died, and rose again just so he could keep on loving me forever if I will let him. Jesus, thank you for loving me enough to be the ultimate sacrifice. May my life reveal that I am truly loved by you.

These are just two, but God has many more for me and you to discover. Word pictures that help us to see God as He is and always will be.

In For Repairs

This past September I was without my car for about 5 days due to some carelessness on my part backing out of a parking spot. I couldn't believe that my "little scratch" would take that long to fix. Getting my car fixed was frustrating. It took too long and messed up my schedule. I was on someone else's timetable. Not all my mishaps have to do with cars, some are spiritual in nature. Misspoken words, a deed left undone, or even a few days not in the word are just a few examples of spiritual mishaps. Things that at first don't seem like a big deal but later need a lot of fixing. I need some time in the hands of the master mechanic. He begins his work and sometimes it takes longer then I would like not because of the mechanic but because of the unwillingness of the car. But thankfully God never gives up. In Phillipians 1:6 it says, "God will complete the good work He has started in me." Psalms 51 reminds me that when I go in for repairs that God can fix me up with a pure heart, a steadfast spirit and even restore the joy of my salvation.

Master Mechanic, Thank you for all the work you do each day to make me more like you. Help me not to get frustrated when things aren't going my way but to remember that your timetable is best. In the end, it will be perfection not because of me but because of who is in me. Amen