Learning to Wait Patiently

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” -Isaiah 40:31.  “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.-Psalm 37:7.  “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” -Psalm 37:4  (KJV).

Waiting for some special event or even for some ‘ordinary’ occurrence to transpire is not always easy.  But if we can be patient while waiting and make even the waiting time productive, we will grow stronger in the process.  Today for our meditation on waiting patiently, I offer thoughts from my poem, Waiting. (This poem was composed 11.03.2006 when circumstances demanded much patience.)

Why am I impatient, Lord,

When You speak of peace and rest?

Your time is not in earthly hours;

Your Way a higher quest.

While waiting may I take the time

To savor each good hour.

May I learn the added blessings

That come from Your great power.

Patience fosters fortitude.

From each grows a mighty Vine

Called abiding in the Spirit

And dependence on the line

Of daily prayer and supplication,

Of relying on Your Word:

Your promises to us who follow

That your grace will undergird.

Strength as in eagle’s mighty wings

That bear the peerless bird in flight

Is promised for my journey

Through cloudy day or darkest night.

I will take courage in the waiting,

Delight myself in God’s rich store,

Build memories of the good days

And anticipate many more

Spent in God’s perfect time frame

Gaining patience day by day

Until His wondrous mural

Is completed in His way.                                  - 

Ethelene Dyer Jones 06.27.2016

Memory Verse: Inner Peace

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” -John 14:27 (NKJV)

True peace is inward and can come only from a right relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
      The occasion of this statement from Jesus that He would give His disciples peace was made in the Upper Room on the night He was betrayed. He was facing death on the cross, yet He said, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.” He who knew peace in what He was doing wanted His followers then and now to know the source of peace and the means of peace. Even amidst conflict, the believer can have the confidence and peace that come from trusting in Christ and relying on His promises. It is through faith that we know the peace Jesus promised.

      Hymns and their words are inspiring and helpful to me as I think of the inner peace Jesus gives. There’s the rousing spiritual “I’ve Got Peace Like a River” with the old words of the spiritual tune arranged by William J. Reynolds:
“I’ve got peace like a river, Ive’ got peace like a river;
I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.”
Then in the second and third verses we add appropriately, “I’ve got love….” “I’ve got joy…”
      If I want a quieter expression, I remember words by Edgar Page Stites (1836-1923) in the hymn “Trusting Jesus,” set to music by that revival musician of another century, Ira D. Sankey (1840-1908):
“Simply trusting ev’ry day, Trusting thro’ a story way;
Even when my faith is small, Trusting Jesus that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly, Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall; Trusting Jesus, that is all.”
      Prayer: Father when all around us our times are troubled, may we remember the source of inner peace and “let not our hearts be troubled; neither let them be afraid, “ but trust wholly in the Lord. - Ethelene Dyer Jones 06.25.2016

Memory Verse: Observe the Lord’s Instruction

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” -Joshua 1:8 (NKJV).

The occasion of this verse is Joshua’s commission by the Lord God himself that he was to succeed Moses as the leader of the Israelites prior to their crossing the Jordan River and conquering and settling into the land God had promised to them. The first chapter of Joshua is composed of three speeches. Verses 1-9 give God’s message to Joshua commissioning him to succeed Moses and promising to be with the new leader if he will be strong, courageous, observe the law, not be afraid or dismayed, and accept God’s presence wherever Joshua goes. What a way to start a job! To know that God Himself is with the leader and will guide, protect and guard in all he does.
      Verses 10-15 contain Joshua’s address to the Israelites giving a charge to the officers and the trans-Jordan tribes before their crossing into the promised land.
Verses 16-18 contain the people’s response to Joshua’s challenge and their promise to follow Joshua as their leader. God’s commission, and Joshua and the people’s responses are all stately and filled with purpose.
      The focal verse, Joshua 1:8, given specifically for the leader has a great message for any who will take its truths to heart. The Rev. Arthur Flake, known for his work in helping Sunday Schools to be strong and grow, writes in his final book, Life at Eighty As I See It (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1944, p. 80): “I memorized this verse more than fifty years ago. It is still fresh and invigorating, and I still love it.” Two commands are given by God in this verse concerning His Word, the Bible: Meditate on it night and day. Observe to do what is written in it. Two promises are given by God as a result of following God’s Word: The doer of the word will make His way prosperous and will have success.
      In a Bill Gothard seminar held in 1971, that Christian leader defined “meditation” as “memorizing, visualizing and personalizing” a verse for one’s own good. He also described “wisdom” as seeking to see from God’s point of view. Here in Josuah 1:8-9, we hear God speaking to a leader with a great task and responsibility before him. God promised Joshua He would lead him and be with him. We are to know God has that same promise for each of His children, in each of their particular tasks and callings. Just hear God, as Joshua heard Him: “Do not let God’s Word depart from you; meditate on it day and night; be careful to do what it says. Do not turn away from its teachings.” Then follow the meditation by assimilating God’s wonderful promise to the one who follows His Word: “Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

     I haven’t written a book, like Dr. Arthur Flake, entitled Life at Eighty As I See It, but I with the advantage of four-score and ten years and more in my life span, echo the words God spoke to Joshua and say they are every bit true and trustworthy. And the “prosperity” and “success” God promises are not so much in wealth and fame as in supplying what is needed and in satisfaction of doing faithfully what God calls one to do. - Ethelene Dyer Jones 06.24.2016

Memory Verse: Scripture

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” -2 Timothy 3:15-16 (KJV).

 These two verses explain why the scripture is our guide for faith and practice. First, God inspired the scriptures to be written. Then He set strong purposes for the scriptures, for “doctrine”—our belief system; “for reproof”—our limitations from wrongdoing; for “correction”—our insight into right rather than wrong; and for “instruction in righteousness”—our inspiration for right living. Then the overall purpose of the scriptures is summarized: that the “man of God”—the believer—may have a basis and reason for practicing a lifestyle of good works. This admonition of Paul the Apostle to his “son in the gospel,” the young man Timothy, was akin to the much-loved statement from the Old Testament: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105).
      We need to believe firmly in the inspiration of the scriptures. Someone has described “inspiration” as the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, “breathing upon” those who wrote the scripture so that the Word of God would come to us clearly and unadulterated. The Holy Spirit was present in the writing of the scriptures and in the translation of the scriptures so that people of all languages would receive the message God intended mankind to have.
      Rene Pache, a theologian and strong Christian leader, described inspiration of the scriptures: “Inspiration is the determining influence executed by the Holy Spirit on the writers of the Old and New Testaments in order that they might proclaim and set down in an exact and authentic way the message as received from God.”
      As children in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, we learned choruses and songs that helped us to love the Bible, the Word of God, and to know that it was given to us as a guide for living our lives. I recall now the little chorus that spelled out important truths about God’s Word: “The B-I-B-L-E, Yes that’s the Book for me! I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E!”
      And we also sang Psalm 119:105 to a memorable tune: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path!”
      But with a lofty tune, “Bread of Life,” composed by William F. Sherwin (1826-1888) we sang the words of the hymn, “Break Thou the Bread of Life” written by Mary A. Lathbury (1841-1913) [stanzas 1 and 2] and Alexander Groves [stanzas 3, 4]: (1) “Break Thou the bread of life, Dear Lord to me; As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea; Beyond the sacred page, I seek Thee, Lord; My Spirit pants for Thee, O living Word.” (4) “O send Thy Spirit, Lord, Now unto me, That He may touch mine eyes, And make me see: Show me the truth concealed Within Thy Word, And in The Book revealed I see Thee, Lord.”
      Prayer: May our love for and knowledge of Thy Word grow stronger day by day, Lord, as we commit it to memory and into practice and live lives committed to You. Amen.
- Ethelene Dyer Jones 06.23.2016

Memory Verse: Trust

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct thy paths.” -Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV). [Read Proverbs 3]

Continuing with verses we ought to commit to memory, I was compelled to include Proverbs 3:5-6. Early in my Christian walk, I memorized these two verses and adopted them, along with other specific verses, to be my “life verses”—that is, verses I would repeat often, meditate upon and seek to live by the truths conveyed.
      The wise pastor who taught me about the value of life verses and what they mean in a Christian’s life, the Rev. Claude C. Boynton, has long gone from this earthly scene. But his influence lives on in the way I conduct my life now, how I depend on the well-placed trust he taught me in the Lord. I thank him for his teaching and example.
      Webster defines “trust” as assured reliance on the character, ability and strength of someone or some thing. For the Christian, that trust is placed in the Lord Jesus Christ, first for salvation and the restoration of our fellowship with God which sin marred and took away. But in addition to trust for salvation, saving of the soul for eternity, the one with this well-placed trust knows assuredly the Lord also provides guidance and stability for life itself. Trust produces a relationship that does not have to question the reliability of the one trusted. The writer of Proverbs confidently lauded that well-placed trust. The Lord who has captured the believer’s heart will at all times direct the paths of the trusting one.
      In addition to the above familiar verses (which, if you have not already, please memorize), the author of Proverbs 3 gave other directives that benefit the one trusting. The believer seeks always to keep the commandments of the Lord (v. 1). Mercy and truth should be as much with the believers as if bound about his neck as an amulet, ever-present with the person (v. 3). Fear or awe and reverence for the lord become a way of life, signs of a healthy, productive lifestyle (vv. 7-8). Correction from the Lord should be expected, even as a loving father disciplines his children (v. 12). A major benefit of trusting the Lord is happiness (vv. 13, 16). Freedom from fear follows those who trust in the Lord (vv. 24-26).
      As one who has lived beyond the “three-score and ten years” promised in Psalm 90:10, I can attest to the joy and fullness of a well-place trust in the Lord. Although I have not always lived up to this trust in the Lord, as expressed in Proverbs 3:5-6, the truths of these verses have been a strong anchor in my life, drawing me back to God and forgiveness when I tended to go astray. The strong urging of “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding,” had a definite pull on my decisions. Prayer and supplication, seeking a clear answer to challenges, has drawn me back time and again to seeking the Lord’s answers. Assurance and confidence lie in acknowledging the Lord and asking Him to direct my paths. He has rewarded and keeps on rewarding my trust with His answers. Selah! - Ethelene Dyer Jones 06.22.2016

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” -Psalm 118:24 (KJV)

To awaken each morning and consciously think and repeat Psalm 118:24 is an excellent and affirming way to begin each new day.
      Dr. Robert J. Morgan reminds us that God is in the day-making business. Every twenty-four hours a new day rolls off God’s time-making plan. His compassion and care for us is present every day, ready to be affirmed and assimilated.
      Whatever challenge we face in each day, if we are secure in the belief that God made the day and gave it to us to use and rejoice in, we can be more confident in why we are here at this particular time in history and what the Lord has for us to do. Try, upon awaking, to repeat with sincerity and joy Psalm 118:24. Thus starting the day with God will make your outlook brighter, your anticipation sharper.
      Sir Isaac Watts (1674-1748) used the words of Psalm 118:24 as the basis of his words in the hymn, “This Is the Day the Lord Has Made.” It was set to the tune “Arlington” by musician Thomas A. Arne (1710-1778). The message of the hymn still inspires:
“This is the day the Lord has made; He calls the hours His own;
Let heav’n rejoice, let earth be glad, And praise surround the throne.
Blest be the Lord who comes to us With messages of grace;
Who comes, in God the Father’s name, To save our sinful race.”

      Prayer: Thank you for this new day, Lord. I will rejoice and be glad in it!” Amen! - Ethelene Dyer Jones 06.21.2016

Memory Verse: Faith

“For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast.” -Ephesians 3:8-9 (KJV)

If you ask a person if he/she is going to heaven when death comes, you might get various answers: “I hope so.” Or “I’m living a good, clean life; I hope I will get to heaven.” But Ephesians makes it quite clear that we can never get to heaven by our own merits. We cannot be “good enough,” “clean enough,” or “do enough good works.”
      A person is saved by grace through faith. Grace is the unmerited favor of God. Grace and salvation are gifts to the person who comes in faith to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ gave His life as a sacrifice for sins—meaning an individual believer’s sins.
      “Justification by grace through faith” was the rallying cry of the Reformation.
      Works, no matter how many or how good, cannot save a person. Good works follow faith and acceptance of the grace offered by the Lord Jesus Christ. But good works are not the means to grace and forgiveness.
      John Bunyan who wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress stated: “One of the greatest mysteries in the world—namely, that a righteousness that resides with a Person in heaven should justify me, a sinner on earth.” - Ethelene Dyer Jones 06.20.2016