A Look Back, Birthday Edition

Today is my birthday. I won't tell you how old I am because if you know me you already have that information, and if you don't know me you don't need to know my age. But let's just say for all concerned that I am old enough to be an empty-nester and the Gram of 12 lovely grandchildren who range in age from adult to infant. In other words, I have lived a few years.

Today has been a somewhat quiet Saturday, and I'm not complaining.

I have spent this birthday reflecting on life, on love, on this past year (ugh!) . . . and on what I have accomplished in all the years I've been on earth and what I hope yet to accomplish before I leave it.

Today I've thought about the prayers I've prayed over my lifetime. I remember some of them from my childhood, teenaged years, and young adulthood.

I've thought about the answers to those prayers, how the Lord gave me some of the things I wanted, how He denied me some of the things I wanted, and acknowledged that He did it because He wanted to give me things that are so much better than what I wanted.

Today I read Psalm 90. 

Moses, the writer of the psalm said in verse 12:

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

This was after he rehearsed the world's history before the LORD, recounting both the sins and the blessings of all generations of the earth up to that date. He then continued with a prayer for future blessings. 

No, I have not attained to the age of Moses when he wrote this psalm, but I certainly understand his contemplation. I have been rehearsing my history before the LORD today and praying for future blessings as well. I can take a calculator and easily number my days. That part about applying my heart unto wisdom is a goal, but is not quite so easily attained. I will still try though.

I remember my sins, but I remember God's grace has covered them and that He has forgiven me.

I remember the sins of others that have affected me, but I remember that God's grace also has covered them and that He has forgiven them, and so have I. If the omniscient God can forget sins, I - the forgetful one - surely can!

I remember those who have died on this date or of the birthdays I've spent at the funeral home on this date because someone I love has been birthed into eternity. I will see them again one day even though I continue to mourn for them. 

I remember those who have been born on this date, those with whom I share the date of 10/10. I wish them all a wonderful day today.

I remember my 18th birthday when my parents held a surprise party for me, but the biggest surprise of the day was that a certain young man walked up to me in the parking lot of the college we attended (he as a senior, me as a not-yet-graduated-from-high-school college freshman) and asked me out on a date. 💘

I don't really remember my 19th birthday, but I know that "Pastor Dad" and I had been married for a couple of months by the time I became a college sophomore and he a seminary student. 

I don't remember my 20th birthday either, but I know we were in the process of becoming full-fledged pastor and pastor's wife in a small church made up of wonderful folks who we've loved and cherished these many years, even long after we moved far away from them.

I do remember my 21st birthday because most of my gifts consisted of maternity clothes to get me through the months until our first little one arrived the following May. 👪 

And on it goes as I recount my history. 

What about the next part of that verse? How can I apply my heart to wisdom? I don't have all the answers, but I think I have a few clues.

• When I rehearse the blessings of God on my life in the past I can look expectantly to the future knowing that the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End has the journey planned for me and knows ever step of the way.
• When I see the provisions the LORD has made for me over all of my years, but especially through this past one (2020!) I can lay all anxiety aside knowing that He is my provider, my protector, my fortress, and my shield.
• When I remember that His mercies are new every morning I can wake up knowing that THIS is the day the LORD has made and I can rejoice and be glad in it, no matter what happens. Every day is a new Today.
• When I look at my parents, my parents-in-law, my husband, my 4 grown children and their spouses, my grandchildren, and all of my beloved relatives and friends I remember that the relationships in my life are the most important gifts that I have received. If these treasured people and I love and trust the Lord these bonds will never be broken but will last throughout eternity.
• When I see how many days have passed and realize that I am past the midpoint of my life I know that I must not waste the time that God has allotted me to serve Him. I must be about the work He has given me to do.

I have experienced many transitions in my life, but the majority of the time I've been on this earth has been spent with the man that I lovingly call "Pastor Dad" on this blog. Here is the birthday card that he gave me today. It is a store-bought card but it beautifully states his feelings of sharing a lifetime with me. I can say in return that I love the story that God has written in our life together. We have witnessed the wonders of God as we have served together in our home and in the ministry and my fervent prayer is that He will allow us many more years to serve Him together.

Today, I am thanking God for what He has done for me and for giving me the work and the lovely people that fill my life with so much joy. If you are one of those people, thank you very much for being part of my life.

Journal Through the Bible, Week 43 Day 1

II Samuel chapter 8

This chapter gives an account of some of David's successful military campaigns including against the Philistia, Moab, Zobah, and Syria. It also includes a brief listing of the military equipment (horse and chariots) taken for David's army and precious metals (gold and silver) that were dedicated to the LORD for the future temple-building venture. The highlight of the chapter is in verse 14, "And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went."

Does God issue any commands?

• God does not speak in this chapter.

Does God make any promises?

• God does not speak in this chapter.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• David was a warrior-king. His descendant, Jesus Christ, conquered sin, death, hell, and the grave. The statement about the LORD preserving David whithersoever he went can also be said about Jesus. God promised the Messiah that He would put all of His enemies under His feet. (See Psalm 110.)

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Jesus is called the Faithful and True who judges and makes war. He will sit on white horse and is followed by His army. He will kill His enemies with the two-edged sword that proceeds out of His mouth. He will have "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS," inscribed on His clothing. (See Revelation chapter 19.)

Journal Through the Bible, Week 42 Day 6

Psalm 30

Some scholars and pastors, including Charles Spurgeon, believe(d) that David wrote this psalm when he received the word that his son would build the house of the LORD, the Temple, in Jerusalem. It is a reasonable explanation for the prologue of the psalm which says, "A Psalm and Song at the dedication of the house of David.


Does God make any commands in this psalm?

• Like all of scripture, this passage was inspired by the Holy Spirit, but even so God does not directly speak to David to command him to do anything in this psalm.

Does God make any promises in this psalm?

• God does not directly speak in this psalm; however, David is praising God for promises that God has made elsewhere in scripture.

Does this psalm teach anything about Jesus?

• In verses 1-5 David's words are a picture of the Savior lifted up in death to defeat His foes and yet was brought up from the grave. There was great weeping as darkness fell like night at the crucifixion but also great joy when the resurrected Jesus was revealed as alive to His followers.
• In verse 6 David speaks of never being moved. God's promises are sure and steadfast. Sin has been defeated! Jesus will never suffer again for our sins. They have been put away!
• In verse 7 David speaks of God hiding His face. God did hide His face from Jesus when He was on the cross. God cannot look on sin.
• In verse 8 David speaks of crying out to God. Jesus cried to the Father from the cross.
• In verse 9 David asks what profit there would be of his blood being in the dust. None! But when Jesus shed his blood into the dirt around the cross there was great profit for all who believe! It declared the truth that He is the Savior, the redeemer from sin.
• In Verses 10-12 David speaks of mourning being turned to dancing and sackcloth into gladness. The person whose sorrow is turned to joy will give thanks forever. Even Jesus was sorrowful at the time of the crucifixion but was joyful when death was defeated. He praised His Father.

Does this psalm teach anything about yet-future events?

• In verse 4 David exhorts all the saints to sing unto the LORD and to give thanks to Him. We will do this together around the Father's throne in eternity.
• In verse 12 David again talks of singing the praises of the Father and giving thanks to Him forever. (We'd better get practicing!)

Journal Through the Bible, Week 42 Day 5

II Samuel chapter 7

Does God issue any commands?

•  God told Nathan the prophet to go to David and to tell him all the words of the vision that God gave him. Nathan did. (Verses 5-17)

Does God make any promises?

•  God promises an eternal land and eternal peace to His people, Israel, in verse 10.
•  Through Nathan God states again His promise of an eternal kingdom.
•  God promised not to turn away from David's dynasty through his son even if the son disobeyed. The promised reign of David's family would not be taken away and given to another as Saul's reign ended. The promise was not dependent upon the goodness of Solomon or future heirs. It was dependent upon the covenant of God who sent His own Son to be born of David's lineage. (Verses 15-16)
•  God promised that David's son would build the House of God. And Solomon did!

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

•  Verses 8 and 9 - God has the prophet Nathan speak to David but it is very much a type of Christ: "I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be a ruler over my people, over Israel: And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth." Here we see the progression of the Great Shepherd to the Ruler of all nations and the Warrior who defeats His enemies.
•  Verse 13 - Jesus is the One who will reign on the throne of David as the inheritor of David's promised eternal dynasty.

Does this chapter teach anything about future events?

•  Verse 10 - This must be a prophecy that is not yet fulfilled. It not only promises Israel a place of their own where they will never again be moved, but it also promises that the wicked will never afflict them again.
•  Verses 11-13, God will one day reestablish the rule of David's dynasty with the reign of Jesus Christ.