The Plumbline

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. (Psalm 23:4) If there is one message that rings true in Psalm 23 it is that God is always with us. No matter what trouble comes, fear that emerges, anxious thoughts that grip us, or the deepest, darkest places that attempt to consume our peace, God is with us. The shepherd uses both the rod and the staff to direct us, keep us, and protect us. The staff to guide us. The rod to protect us. Sheep need both - the shepherd knows this very well. Fix your eyes on the shepherd, not the 'wolf' that comes to steal and destroy. We won't be overtaken by the 'wolf' because the shepherd knows he is there, already has a plan to deal with him, and is ever vigilant to protect us. When our eyes are on him, the 'wolf' is no longer our focus. God is bigger than our 'biggest' issue. Too many times, we embrace the 'issue'...

Do you ever feel 'ashamed' about your understanding of the Word of God? There are indeed times when someone will come out with some 'deep' insight into what God has said, then we simply sit there in a state of 'awe' because we had never seen that truth before in that particular passage. We shouldn't ever feel 'ashamed' that we didn't see the truth like they did - we should revel in the fact God surrounds us with people who can see things we might have missed and that they are willing to share them with us! It is one of the means God uses to actually help us learn his truths. Lord, you gave us your instructions and told us to always obey them. How I wish I could be more faithful in obeying your laws! Then I would never feel ashamed when I look closely at your commands. The more I understand how fair your laws are, the more sincerely I will praise you. (Psalm 119:4-7) God gave us his instructions, not so they could sit on a shelf or in a bookca...

You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this: “God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!” That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon. Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you. You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch the wicked turn into corpses. Yes, because God’s your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door. He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go. If you stumble, they’ll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling. You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes, and kick young lions and s...

My protection and success come from God alone. He is my refuge, a Rock where no enemy can reach me. ( Psalm 62:7 TLB ) Protection is often thought of as the preservation from harm or injury. It comes from the root word 'protectio' in Latin and means "a covering in front". We want God 'out front' in our lives - shielding us from all harm that is attempting to find a means to lay us out. The idea is that of 'guarding' so as to keep safe from invasion or loss. The President of the United States has a 'protection detail' with him wherever he goes. His 'detail' is huge, not only in number, but in the armored vehicles he has at his disposal and the military defense at the ready wherever he goes. The purpose is to keep him safe from any harm that might be planned for him. This allow him to do his job, much like God's protection 'out front' in our lives helps us 'do our job' on this earth. The right 'protection' mak...

The weapons we use are not human ones. Our weapons have power from God and can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments, and we tear down every proud idea that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We also capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.   (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 ERV) It was Mark Twain who reminded us of the fact, "It is easier to stay out than to get out." It might be helpful to actually use an illustration here. Think of a baby at the high-chair, all ready to eat some mushed up spinach and carrots and spaghetti. He is wearing a bright white t-shirt and his clean little diaper. What is the instinct of most parents just before they sit that plate of colorful food in front of the little guy? It is either to strip the wee one of his white shirt, or to place a bib large enough to cover it! Why? We know the stains that will be inevitable if we don't keep them away from the shirt - easier to keep (or stay) out than ...

Protect me, God, for the only safety I know is found in the moments I seek You. 2  I told You, Eternal One, “You are my Lord,  for the only good I know in this world is found in You alone.”  (Psalm 16:1-2 VOICE) New product emerge every now and again, designed specifically for the purpose of protecting us from one thing or another.  The motorcyclist manufacturers would like us to believe the best of helmets, toughest of boots, and thickest of leather will protect us from the worst of injury should we take a spill on the motorcycle.  The airbag manufacturers made millions over the use of a simple bag which inflates with the sudden impact of a car colliding with another, all to assist in permanent damage to ones brain.  Cyber companies invent new and ever emerging ways to "protect" us from all the hackers of this world.  Even the best protection today may be outdone by the next generation of that same type of protection in the future.  I am so gl...

Because he clings to Me in love,   I will rescue him  from harm ;   I will set him above danger.   Because he has known Me by name,  He will call on Me, and I will answer.   I’ll be with him through hard times;  I’ll rescue him and grant him honor.   I’ll reward him with many  good  years  on this earth  and let him witness My salvation.  (Psalm 91:14-16 VOICE) These are God's words - his promises to keep us safe, rescue us when we are about to slip into some harmful pursuit, and to be attentive to our voice as we cry out to him in the honesty and integrity of heart willing to be open to him. They are words of commitment to those of commitment.  Nowhere does God say, "If you get it ALL right, I will be there for you."  In fact, these words imply something quite different, for we come upon harm, realize danger, finding ourselves needing to call out for rescue, and even counting on him for the extension of our da...

The Eternal’s purposes will last to the end of time;   the thoughts of His heart  will awaken and stir  all generations. (Psalm 33:11 VOICE) When we understand the intended result of something, we are more likely to either move toward it because it is good for us, or we move away from it because we see it won't bring anything good into our lives.  The movement toward or away from something is solely based on what we see as the "purpose" and the "outcome" of the thing.  The desired result may be understood, but us "getting that result" whenever we try to get it may not always work.  In fact, what I have learned from playing some of the video games I have struggled with like those "matching games" is that we try way more than we succeed in life until one day we develop an awareness of what is supposed to happen to help us pass that level.  To be truthful here, sometimes it is just by accident I actually find the key to passing the level I am...

To care for something is more than just giving it a little attention now and again. I came home yesterday to find a beautiful husky just sitting on the curb outside my home.  At first I didn't know if she was friendly or going to be kind of stand-offish with me.  After pulling into the garage and seeing she didn't run away, I asked her to come over and to my surprise, she did!  She immediately cowered down, rolled over and let me give her a few good rubs, scratches, and a little ear jostling.  No tags, just a collar.  Someone obviously claimed her as a pet, but were they caring for her all that well?  Not at the moment! She was free to roam and now I had to decide where she needed to roam back to!  It didn't take me long to identify an open gate at a neighbor's home, recall they had two dogs, and then equate the open gate with the escaped dog.  What did take a while was getting them to open the door to actually tell them their dog was roaming the...

A recent TV commercial shows a rather largely muscled, foreboding gentleman dressed in a suit standing guard in front of a person's house.  In the commercial, the premise is that nothing gets past this particular security system you can have installed and pay for each month.  The idea of this "body guard" of sorts is kind of effective to make the point - someone is standing watch over your life.  I have never been famous enough to need a body guard, nor have I had enough wealth to support such an expensive "personal protection" service for my home. I have gone into some pretty scary places, unarmed with natural weapon, nor supported by any burly dude big enough to stand up to any attacker who might come my way. I have been awakened to some "creepy" noises and wondered if someone was about to pounce on me in the dark of the night.  I haven't felt the need for another protector in my life because I have the privilege of being protected by the bigges...

To whom do you run when you face troubles?  I remember awful summer storms in the Arizona desert, lightning flashing across the sky, black clouds rolling in around on all sides, and loud rolls of thunder shaking the very panes in the windows.  It wasn't so bad when I was nestled all secure in the safety of my home, mom close at hand.  It was terrifying when I found myself a couple doors down, caught in the sudden down pour and only fence upon fence separating me from that absolute safety of mom's care!  I would remember hearing her calling for me and before long, her arms would come over the fence, lifting me to "safety" in those loving arms of hers.  She'd rush me inside and then all would be well.  You know, God is kind of like my mom - he has big enough arms to reach over obstacles in my path; a loud enough voice to be heard over the cacophony of noise in my world; and a tender, enveloping embrace which makes me feel at peace once I enter into...

To take refuge, one must move into what has been provided as "cover".  In the terms of a hunter, they set up a small tent of sorts, creating an illusion of "belonging" in the surroundings.  The illusion is meant to fool those animals who frequent the area, giving them a sense of security, but not alerting them to the intruders in their midst.  God's refuge is unlike that of the hunters - for it is never an illusion, never meant to trick, and does not disguise those who would attempt to intrude upon its security.  Yet his refuge is a place of "cover" for those who avail themselves of it.  Not a place to "duck and cover", but a place of protective covering, free of worry and harassment.  But you’ll welcome us with open arms   when we run for cover to you.   Let the party last all night!   Stand guard over our celebration.   You are famous,  God , for welcoming God-seekers,  for decking us out in delight. (Psalm 5:11-12 MSG) ...

If you have ever tripped over what seemed like "nothing but air", you have probably felt pretty silly!  If you would have tripped over a known hazard, such as an uneven crack in a sidewalk, a cord in your path, or even your own shoelace, you'd have felt half as silly.  I used to laugh each time I saw the introduction to the Dick Van Dyke show, when he'd enter the living room, run into the ottoman and roll head-over-heals as he connected with it.  The illusion presented was of him not knowing it was there, but the lack of "reality" of ALWAYS landing on his feet each and every time he did this was absolutely unbelievable!  I am sure it took him a little practice to manage this maneuver.  No matter how good our reflexes might be, we cannot escape a "fall" once in a while!  We might escape the fall the first time, or the second, but eventually our senses become dulled to the constant "tripping hazard" and we will eventually "submit...

Mending fences - something we don't do much anymore because we live in gated communities complete with their tall brick or block walls.  For most of us with "fences" in our yards, they are erected more for a sense of privacy than as a functional "tool" to assist us with our herds, flocks, or the like.  As I ventured through the back country of Tennessee this last week, something caught my attention about those folks who had fences.  They actually served the purpose of keeping something in and also keeping something out!  The cattle were out to pasture, but within confines.  The horses could run the paddock, but within confines.  This is what fences do, isn't it - they confine something.  Two things occur - the living things inside remain safely in the protective barrier, receiving the care they need, and the things which do not belong stay on the outside of those fences.  Broken down fences don't provide for protection, nor do they provide for car...

I saw a post by someone on Facebook this morning.  The statement was simple, but definitely worth the "repost":  "I know ONE person who will never give up on me . . . GOD!"  There are always going to be times when we find ourselves thinking everyone has given up on us, or that we want to give up on everyone else!  When we feel like giving up, we are simply at the end of our resources, aren't we?  We are exhausted by the fight, worn down by the demands, or simply frustrated with the seemingly impossible odds.  David reminds us there are more "options" than to give up: Let all who run to you  for protection  always sing joyful songs.  P rovide shelter for those  who truly love you  and let them rejoice.   Our  Lord , you bless those   who live right,  and you shield them  with your kindness.  (Psalm 5:11-12 CEV) First, and foremost, we need to "run to God" when we are in the spot of feeling like it is...