I have an Attitude,,,

We had a new Nurse Practitioner come to give Piper her three month recertification examination yesterday afternoon.  Although the gal was new to us, she told us that she has been with Liberty Hospice for about six years.  Since they are on the road most of the day, the organization had done some reshuffling of their staff so that the nurse’s coverage areas could be a little closer to their homes.  I believe she said she lives about 20 minutes away from our home. 

While she was checking out my sweet wife she asked about “our story” of how the situation with Piper’s health began and progressed through the years.  It is a story I have told many times since 2007, so I started at the beginning and brought her up to current times!  At the conclusion of my comments I told her that I have learned many personal lessons and seen the different sides of many people including myself.  I also told her that I should actually thank the folks who gave us some of the hardest times, especially at the beginning when it seemed like we needed the most physical, emotional and spiritual assistance.  I related how their vehement resistance to us and the courses of action that we felt led of the Lord to follow, in effect, only caused us to be stronger and more resolute in our faith. 

As I re-read Proverbs 3:5-6 from the Contemporary English Version this morning, I was immediately drawn back into our conversations with the Nurse Practitioner.  This modern translation states:

“With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment.  Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.”

And again, like I mentioned in my last post, what I saw and wrote down in my notes actually differed a little from the way the words on the page were composed.  My notes this morning spoke to me in a more personalized manner as I wrote down: 

“With all our hearts Piper and I MUST trust the Lord and not our own judgement.  We choose to always let him lead us, for we know – by repeated examples through the years – that HE WILL clear the road for us to follow.”

As I meditated on my personalized version of this verse, I began to think about “our story” that I had shared with our new compassionate friend when suddenly the word “predisposition” popped into my brain.  I quickly looked up the definition of the term and discovered that it means to: “to hold a particular attitude, or to act in a particular way.” (Oxford Dictionaries) And then… Walla!  The light went on and I turned to my wife sitting next to me at the kitchen table and almost shouted: “That’s what we did at the first sketchy report on the original MRI that was taken of your brain back in 2007!”  Following the initial emotional reaction to that report from the nurse on the phone while I was standing alone (thank God!) in the power accessory aisle in the Garden Department at the South Tulsa Home Depot in Oklahoma and my subsequent run to the outside soils storage area so that I could be totally alone, I immediately KNEW that our only answer to this devastating news was GOD and the truth of His Word!

When I got home a little while later and told Piper the negative information I had received, we immediately took hands without any thought or conversation and gave it all to God.  Why?  Because we were PREDISPOSITONED to trust God for this and any other similar situation.  As the dictionary definition states, from the very beginning of this life-altering situation, WE HAD AN ATTITUDE!  And just as today’s translation of Proverbs 3:5-6 says, we knew that we knew that we MUST act in a particular way.

In our minds we immediately KNEW that we had NO OTHER CHOICE but to seek, obey and then follow through on whatever Papa God in His Word and confirmed in our spirits told us to do!  Following that prayer in the late evening hours of that first night, it didn’t matter what or who came against us as we KNEW that we MUST follow God’s plan for us.  This may sound a little harsh, but I firmly believe that if we had rejected what we believed to be the Father’s directions for us and followed some of the contrary “advice” given to us that my sweet wife would not still be alive today!

Have you ever considered the things in your own lives that you have a PREDISPOSITION about?  When things turn south… where is the FIRST PLACE that you automatically turn to for help?  Is it 911, your family and friends, your Pastor or Papa God and His Word?  Over the years since that first report concerning my wife’s health, I have called and/or counselled with all those I just listed… but only after I have sought the Lord and His immediate directions for us.

What do you think about it?

Have a great rest of the week, and as you do, keep asking yourself…  “Am I expecting to follow my PREDISPOSITON when times get rough?”  … Hummm... maybe you also have an ATTITUDE!

Discouragement

dis·cour·age·ment

           [ˌdisˈkərijmənt]

NOUN

1. a loss of confidence or enthusiasm; dispiritedness:  "do not give in to discouragement"
2. an attempt to prevent something by showing disapproval or creating difficulties; deterrent:  "the discouragement of crime"*

I would imagine that most of us have had to deal with times of discouragement in our lives.  I heard a story yesterday about a leader named David who returned to his hometown with his faithful and devoted army of 600 men only to find their town burned to the ground and all their families and stuff gone.  The tale goes on to tell how David was beside himself with sorrow and regret and then to make matters even worse, his men began to turn on him as they blamed him for their loss and wanted to stone him!

Talk about fighting discouragement!  In that particular set of circumstances, I think I can relate to how he must have felt… and I’m sure it wasn’t too positive.  So what do you think he did?  Did he go off into a corner and feel sorry for himself?  Did he jump on his horse and skedaddle?  (Did they even use horses in battle back then?  How about camels…)

Well… this story which is recorded in the Biblical book of I Samuel 30 tells us in verse six that David resisted the fear and anger that was plaguing his army and instead “encouraged himself in the Lord.” (KJV)  And you know what happened?  Let me tell you… after getting built back up in the Lord, he sought the Lord’s directions, gathered up his troops and went after the enemy where they found them “scattered all over the place, eating and drinking, gorging themselves on all the loot they had plundered from Philistia and Judah.” (I Samuel 30:16 MSG)  The next verse says that David and his army “pounced” on them, defeated them and got everyone and everything taken from them back safe and sound!

Now that’s the kind of ending to a story that I like… how about you?  Hearing this story at church really encouraged me yesterday and confirmed what I believe the Lord had shown me during my personal Bible study before my breakfast.

I always help Piper with her morning meal before I feed the dog, study the Word and then feed myself!  Well… yesterday’s breakfast for my wife did not go too smoothly.  From the onset, she was not real interested in swallowing anything I gave her.  For a while there it seemed like I was getting more on my hands than in her mouth!  But I persevered and even though it took quite a while, she was finally able to consume a satisfactory amount of her breakfast drinks.

To say that I was tempted to be more than a little discouraged would be putting it mildly!  By the time we were done I was feeling frustrated, upset and almost ready to throw in the towel.  I sat at the table next to her for a while rubbing my tired eyes and considered all the thoughts going through my head, but you know… I deliberately chose to not say a thing.  Instead I slowly got up, put the lease on the dog and took him outback for his morning constitutional.  

Once out in the cool of the mid-October morning, I listened to the songs of the birds in the trees, watched a squirrel run up the side of our fence and reflected on the blue skies surrounding the puffy white clouds overhead.  Once Fiver was done, he jerked me back to reality as he pulled me up the stairs to the deck so he could get inside and have his breakfast!  After I got his food prepared in his special bowl and placed it on his mat next to the refrigerator, I poured a hot insulated cup of Starbucks Carmel flavored coffee and sat down at my computer Bible Study program and began to pray for directions.

During this whole time since feeding my wife, I felt like I was in a fog.  I was fighting through a sense of hopelessness which is normally quite unusual for me and dealing with a strong desire to give into the discouragement that seemed to be screaming at me from all directions!  As my attempts to quiet myself down began to succeed, I heard a soft voice inside of me encouraging me to turn to Proverbs 3:5-6.  So I clicked a few keys on my laptop, highlighted the God’s Word © translation, clicked the mouse to the correct scripture address and read:

“Trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths smooth.”

Now, what you see above are the words that were visible on my computer screen, but what I actually saw was:

“Trust in ME Jim with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge ME, and I will make your paths smooth.”

You talk about the effects of a cool drink of water to a hot, exhausted and worn out body (soul and spirit as well!)  Yummmm…  with those two sentences, I flopped back in my seat and quietly began to thank the Lord for just the right WORD at just the right time!  I think at that moment in time, David and I were like two peas in a pod!

Instead of giving into discouragement, Papa God helped me to keep my mouth shut until I could turn to Him and seek His support and guidance in my time of need.

What about you today?  Are you feeling discouraged about anything?  It could be your health or like me, the health of someone very close and special to you.  It could be a financial need, a situation at work or in your family… or it could be just about anything no matter how outrageously large or ridiculously small in size and effect in your life.  Whatever it is… it matters big time to God!

And let me tell you… He does not want you to give into discouragement because He has and IS the answer for your need.  He loves you SO much that He doesn’t want you wasting even a second of your life being discouraged when He can be your uplifting support, comfort and strong fortress!

The King James Version of David’s story says that, “David encouraged himself in the Lord.”  The Hebrew term “encouraged” means “to fasten upon (the Lord), to be strengthened, made courageous, to be cured, fortified, repaired and/or become obstinate (in your unwavering trust in the Lord for your life).”  Just reading that definition makes me feel better… how about you?  Just think about it for a moment.  All those attributes are what our heavenly Father wants us to be in and through our connection with Him!  Wow… so when you and I are weak, He is strong!

Thank you Lord!  Have a great new week, and as you do, keep asking yourself… “What or Whom am I expecting to turn to for strength and support when discouragement rears its ugly head around me?”

*Powered by Oxford Dictionaries · © Oxford University Press · Translation by Bing Translator

Plump Up?

One of the many symptoms that has demonstrated itself with my wife’s health concerns has been a constant fluctuation in her weight.  It was our concern over her inability to gain weight that led us to the initial physical examination she had back in 2006 before we left for Oklahoma.  The physician at that time thought that her weight was well within the normal range and gave her a clean bill of health.  So we proceeded forward with our plans to move.

After being prescribed a seizure medicine in 2009 she almost immediately gained 38 lbs.  Then about six months later I asked the doctor if there was a liquid form of the medication as she was not always consistent in swallowing the rather large pills.  Well there was and we switched over to the liquid form.  For some reason though, she lost the 38lbs in a few months and returned to her normal weight.

A funny side note happened during this time… Following Piper’s original diagnosis in 2009, I had different people tell me all about the negative reactions that they witnessed or ever heard about in a parent, spouse or friend in order to “warn” me about potential changes in my wife’s demeanor.  Let me tell you flat out here… Don’t do that to a person who is facing a lot of unknowns and attempting to deal with all kinds of things from a personal, emotional, financial and spiritual stand point!  It definitely was NOT what I wanted or needed to hear at that time.

Most times I smiled kindly at the individual relating the story to me and told them that I KNEW what was in my wife’s spirit and that anger or violence would NEVER occur in her… and it hasn’t in the eight years since then!  In fact, my wife has never exhibited negative or any self-destructive tendencies… but just the opposite!  She simply got funnier and a little less reserved in the way she responded to others.

One time when we went over to her parent’s home, she went up to her Dad upon entering the living room and gave him a big bear hug.  Then without a second thought she laughed and said: “Whoa Dad… you’ve gained quite a bit of weight haven’t you!”  Well, without having to say, every eye in the room went to her Dad following her broach of the sensitive subject.  Her Dad became flustered and a bit taken aback and immediately replied: “YOU’RE the one who has gained weight!” His retort upset me but not my still spunky wife.  She continued laughing and soon everyone in the room, including her Dad was laughing along with her!

Since that time her weight has gone up and down… usually down.  I had talked about it with her neurologist at the time and she gave me some information on a variety of foods and liquids that could help to put the pounds back on.  Our oldest daughter and I agreed that it was probably best to get her weight up to about 110lbs in order to put a little more cushion on her in case she should fall as her coordination was beginning to wane.  But Piper would have nothing to do with that decision!  In her mind, her perfect weight was always 105lbs and she would not budge!

I often joked about that in the years to come for even when she lost the ability to verbally communicate and I tried my best to get her weight to the 110lb level… I could not get it that high!  I now believe that it was due to her bull-dog like determination in keeping her weight at the level that was comfortable with her!  Since the beginning of this last year she has lost even more weight and I would love to be able to see it just get close to 100lbs again!

In Psalm 143:9 the Psalmist cries out: “Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.” (KJV)   As I studied this verse earlier today, I came across a link between the above story of the ups and downs of Piper’s weight and a point that David was trying to convey to his readers.  The word translated “hide” in the original Hebrew not only means “to cover” but also leans to the idea of “to plump or to fill up.” 

So as I have been attempting to “plump up” my wife (Geez… Don’t EVER tell her I used that term for her as she has almost always been slim and trim… and proud of it!) David is telling us that when we “flee” to the Lord for deliverance that we can not only “hide” or “be covered” up by Him for our protection… but also… while we are in His presence, to take advantage of the moment and “fill up” and/or “plump up” our spirit man or women with His Word of truth!

As far as I am concerned… when in the presence of the Lord it is NOT the time to be reserved, but to dig in to the spread set before you at the table that He has prepared for us “in the presence of mine enemies” (Psalm 23:5 KJV)  In this case, spiritual calories are a GOOD THING to have!

I have mentioned it repeatedly in many other posts and in fact, told the gal cutting my hair yesterday at Great Clips, that filling up, plumping up or stuffing us with His Word on a daily basis has been the KEY to keeping my wife and I strong, focused and (mostly) at peace in the midst of everything we have been through with the battle we are fighting for her life!  Let me tell you again… HIS WORD WORKS!  But you’ve got to hear it before you can act on it!

So… what do you say?  Are you ready to attend a FEAST this weekend?  To go to a place where the table set before you is overflowing with luscious, delicious and mouth as well as spirit-man watering dishes?  Where the sign on the door says “Eat All You Can!”  I SURE am!

Have a wonderful weekend… even if the circumstances around you might not look too promising.  Get into His presence, pull up a chair at the table and enjoy yourselves!

And… as you do, keep asking yourself… “Just how much am I expecting to EAT today?”

Santa Rosa

When my wife and I returned home from our three year stay in Oklahoma where I attended Bible College, we felt that we would never leave California again.  It’s not that we didn’t enjoy our stay in the Sooner state.  The people were wonderful, the church was terrific, and the job was good.  The only thing that tended to drive me bonkers though, was the extreme weather and the flat countryside!

So we came back to the mild weather, beautiful hills, and mountains and nearby seaside draws of our home in Santa Rosa, California.  But you know… after a short while we took notice that things weren’t the same as before we left.  As I’ve mentioned in other blog posts, our former network of family and friends had drastically changed and somehow the city itself seemed to be different.  Then a few years later when the Lord clearly spoke to me about moving to be near most of our kids on the other side of the country, it just felt right!

So here we are a little over three years later and we’ve never looked back for this is home to us now!  But then something happened that served to evoke in me some feelings that I never knew were there.  I received an early morning text from my sister on Monday morning asking how Piper was and if we were going to be okay with the approaching hurricane Nate coming up from the gulf.

After texting back and forth a few times she asked us to pray for them out in northern California as she said they were surrounded by fires.  Well, I didn’t get too concerned as that isn’t unusual for that area of the country this time of year.  At least that what I thought until I went online and starting perusing through some north bay area websites…

I have to admit that I was horror struck as I began to see pictures of areas of our hometown where we used to live.  Where we raised our kids.  Stores, hotels and longstanding local landmarks that we frequented and/or passed by on a daily basis were totally burned out!  I told my cousin whom I immediately sent a text that it looked quite apocalyptic!  I thought that this couldn’t really be true… could it?

I can’t fully explain the shock, hurt and emptiness I have felt as I’ve looked at all the horrific pictures and read the news updates.  It’s been a little difficult to get current news out here, but I seem to have enough contacts through Facebook, email and texting to keep me in the know! 

I guess that the old hometown still holds a prominent place in who Piper and I are.  We may be 3000 miles away, but we’ll always be Santa Rosen’s at heart!  All those places that we simply took for granted when we lived there are all a part of our personal history.  It is hard to see it gone and more importantly, it is very difficult to see many of our friends from our old homeschool group and church having to go through the personal hardships of losing their homes and belongings.  Our hearts and continued prayers continue to go out to them and their situations.

My sister, her husband and two dogs have been evacuated from their home since Sunday night.  I just spoke with her and as far as she knows their house in the Oakmont area is still safe.  I haven’t heard from my brother as yet today.  I did hear from my cousin though (whose home is safe in Bennet Valley) and she reported that his neighborhood in Sonoma is now under mandatory evacuation.

So… we continue to keep watch and we continue to lift the entire situation to the One with the ability, strength, peace and love to carry each of them through until the morning of the new day.  For each of you in the midst of this situation, I encourage you to lift your voices to the Lord and let this be your prayer:

“Hear me speedily, O LORD: (for) my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.  Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” (Psalm 143:7-8 KJV) 

Know that none of you are alone nor in a hopeless situation.  You have friends surrounding you in prayer and the Lord who is holding you close to Himself.  He will carry you through this and you will see His lovingkindness in each new morning!

Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might… and as you are, keep asking yourself… “Who am I expecting to carry me through today… as well as in the days ahead?”

What's Hidden In You?

Back in the latter end of the 1970’s, the pastor of the Baptist church that my wife and I were attending and where I was also serving as the Youth Minister, assembled a group of men in the church for a special Bible Study group.  I felt very honored when he also asked me to participate in the study sessions.  Most of the men were a minimum of ten plus years my senior.  I was still pretty new in my Christian walk and didn’t know much about the Bible… but I definitely was hungry to find out!

We started out by reading, studying and discussing a book put out by the Navigators.*  I don’t remember what the title was or even what it covered!  But what I do remember though, is how great it felt to be surrounded by a group of supportive individuals who were all there in order to grow in their faith as men, husbands, dads, employees or employers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It was also the first time that I began to internalize the importance of memorizing scripture. And since I already had the visible reference of one who possessed a wealth of the Word hidden in her heart through the example of my young wife, it was easy for me to grasp the reality of this truth very quickly!  In this regard, the Psalmist in Psalm 2:1-5 declares:

“My son, (& daughter) if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;  Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;  If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;  Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.”   (KJV)                                                                                        

I can’t tell you how many times throughout the early years of our marriage that I would turn to my wife, when in the midst of ministering to others, expecting her to have the right Word for the discussion at hand… and you know?  Most of the time she did have it and shared it gracefully, expectantly and with a sweet smile!  My problem was that for some reason, it was very difficult for me to memorize the specific location of individual scriptures and then be able to recall them when needed!

On the positive side, I seemed to be able to remember the book in the Bible where the verse was found and the approximate location within that book, so after reading a few books by and/or about the great evangelist Smith Wigglesworth (1859 – 1957), I began to follow his example and tended to keep a Bible nearby or in the car whenever I went out so that I could easily flip through the pages and find the verse I wanted! 

For years, the first thing I did whenever I got a new Bible was to put a small tab on the page with the table of contents so I could find a particular book with rapid success.  My little cheat tab made it look like I knew my Bible so well that I could get to any book with a simple flip of a few pages!  (Shhh... don’t tell anybody I told you this!)

Through the years of ministry and life in general, I have learned that is important to not only share scripture from the heart, but to also let the receiver know where he or she can find the verse in their own Bibles.  Piper always had the knack to stop in the middle of ministering to someone at the church in order to assist them in finding the verse in their own Bible, so that they could follow along with what she was sharing.  This technique seemed to help the individual take more ownership of the scripture and to help them put it into work in their own lives in a more meaningful way.

Over the past twenty years or so, it has become much easier for me to recall particular verses and the address were they abide in the Bible!  Of course the addition of Bible School definitely aided my ability to know where the verses I may need at any given time are.  One of the most interesting results of my journey of memorizing or maybe better said, hiding the Word in my heart, has been during some of the more difficult moments of this battle for my wife’s health that we have been involved with full time since 2009.  I’ve discovered to my pleasure, that in the neediest times, when things seem to be sky-rocketing downward… the Word that I have put inside me has seemed to just pop up and help me through whatever is happening at the moment!

In times of greatest need, at the side of my wife in the different Emergency Rooms, in the midst of a scary negative physical reaction that is happening before my eyes, when the doctors or nurses have given me negative reports, or when I am just looking into the eyes of the one I love more than anything else in this world and seeing the trauma residing there, it has been His Word that has come up from inside me and given me the comfort, the peace, the confidence and the strength to carry on… and then share that Word with her as well!

So, my suggestion?  Take the time today… and every day to study and then hide His Word in your hearts… so that when your times of need arise, you’ll discover His Word coming up from the hidden places of your heart to minister to you when you need it the most!  Have a great week, and as you do, keep asking yourself… “Am I expecting to hide God’s Word in my heart today?”                                                               

*https://www.navigators.org/mission/navigator-church-ministries/

Ears!

I was watching a news program the other evening where they were discussing the recent passing of musician Tom Petty.  At the conclusion of the segment the commentator turned to his panel of “experts” who had participated in the conversation and asked each of them what their favorite Tom Petty song was.  And without any hesitation each panelist named a song and took a moment to reminisce as to why this was their favorite.

I was a little surprised at how fast they each answered the inquiry and turned to my wife and stated that I couldn’t answer that question!  While I was familiar with the musician I could not name one single song as I haven’t really listened to secular music since the mid 1970’s.  I had discovered back then that the secular music on the radio that I had saturated myself in since elementary school and covered many of the songs in a couple of garage bands that I was in through Junior and Senior High just didn’t have any meaning to me anymore!

My growing hunger for the things of God and the breakthrough of good contemporary Christian music opened up a whole new world of musical expression that was easy for me to set my ear to!  The lyrics in this genre of music had a strong meaning that effected my entire being and touched my very soul.  Then with the new twelve string guitar that my wife bought for me on our first anniversary (I believe that was the occasion anyway – it definitely was during our first year as husband and wife!) the new songs seemed to just pour forth from inside of me!  That gorgeous red guitar and I became almost inseparable for many years up and through the 1990’s!*

Proverbs 4:20 in the Old Testament Greek translation found in the Apostolic Bible Polyglot, the Word of the Lord says: “O son, to my sayings take heed, and to my words set aside your ear.”  As I read this translation this morning, I thought about the story I shared above and it made me think of the importance of setting our ears to the truth of God’s Word.  As Christians, I believe this is a decision that each of us have to face at some point in our lives. 

The literal meaning in the Greek for the phrase “set aside” is “to put oneself into a place or to a person.”  For us that would simply mean to put ourselves into the place of God’s Word.  Into a position where we seek, listen to and obey the teachings and directions that He gives us through the pages of our Bibles.  I made the purposeful decision way back when to stop listening to most secular music as I felt it no longer met a need in me.  My focus in life had changed and I needed to “set” myself into a place where I was being enriched by the things I listened to.  It is a decision that I have never regretted.

The God’s Word translation of our verse today declares: “My son, pay attention to my words.  Open your ears to what I say.”  Every time I read from that version the “I” seems to enlarge itself and jump off the page at me!  It is like the Lord is trying to emphasize the point that what He has to say is of much more importance than to what the world is trying to yell into my ears.

Piper’s and my heartfelt and determined decision to glue our ears onto God and His Word at the very beginning of the ordeal with her health that we continue to deal with, has saved us much discomfort and error from all the other voices that have vied for the attention of our ears since 2007.  The next verse in Proverbs 20 warns us to “not lose sight of these things…” (God’s Word ©)  I have discovered over the path of our journey that other voices many times, come only but to bring doubt to our stand of faith and act as a distraction to what the Father is trying to do on and in our behalf.  For us the need is to: “Focus – Focus – Focus” on God and His Word… for what He has to say is of MUCH MORE importance than any other voice!

So… to what have you “set your ear” to?  What are the things that you listen to when the needs of life come to light?  For me and my house, our ears are firmly glued onto the truth of God and His Word!  Just think about it…

Have a great weekend.  After a week of fantastic fall weather we are supposed to get a bit of rain this weekend, but that’s okay as our lawns could use it!  As you go about your daily activities this weekend, give a thought to where your ears are set and see if any changes are in order… and in the process keep asking yourself… “What voice(s) am I expecting to be listening to today?”

*Lately though, it hasn’t seen much action!  With everything going on with my wife’s health I just haven’t had the inspiration to play.  I even purchased a new guitar a couple of years ago and keep both out in our living room so that I can see them, hoping that it would give me the desire to play again… but alas… it hasn’t happened yet!  But I fervently believe that those two instruments and Piper’s piano as well, still have lots of years of music in them!  My faith won’t let me give up!!!

Indiana Jones and the ____________!

When I was helping my wife to get ready for bed last night I noticed that her nose was a little stuffed up, so I went over to the nightstand near her bed and reached out to grab the bottle of nasal spray that I keep there and realized to my shock that the spot was empty!  Then I remembered that I had used it earlier in the day for Piper and had left it in an “obvious place” in one of the front rooms, so that I would remember to put it back where it belonged and not have to go through a hide-and-go-seek game in order to find it… like I was doing right then!

The only problem was that I couldn’t recall where that “obvious place” was!  I made a dash into the dining room, kitchen, living room and then the guest restroom, eye-balled each room and still couldn’t find it!  Well, it was too late and I was tired and didn’t want to play that game anymore so, I grabbed a couple of mostly spent bottles that I keep on the dresser, shook them to find out which had the most ingredients in it and used that spray to meet my wife’s need.

Proverbs 4:22 tells us that the truths of God’s Word “are life unto those who find them, and health to all their flesh.” (KJV)  While continuing to study this section of scripture this morning, I noticed that the word translated “find” in the original Hebrew means “to secure, to get a thing sought, to find what is lost.”  That kind of sounds like I was trying to do last night with my wife’s nasal spray doesn’t it? 

Well, upon further examination I discovered that I might have come up a little short of the true meaning of that word and the sense it gives to Solomon’s instructions in this proverb.  The Greek translation gives greater depth of understanding to what he was attempting to teach.  Thayer’s Greek Definitions says it describes an action such as “to find by enquiry, thought, examination, scrutiny, observation, practice and experience; to find out for one’s self.”

I get the idea from that description that “finding” the inner truths of God’s Word entails more than just a casual glance or a half-hearted search… like I did last night!  Now on the other hand… before Piper and I bought our Mustang GT convertible back in the fall of 2014, I had preceded the purchase with four years of research and investigation concerning all aspects of the model I desired to someday acquire.  One of the first things I did when we returned to California from our stay in Oklahoma was to tape a photo of the car I thought I wanted on the wall in my study so I would see it whenever I walked into the room in order to keep the dream alive in me.

By the time I found the “right” car at a specialty dealership in Virginia on their website, I could tell you every detail about the model year I was looking for.  When everything finally came together, years later and many miles distant to that picture I had taped on the wall, our faith had grown from an entry level six cylinder model to the top of the line V-8, GT Premium with a tuned exhaust and loaded with extras!

In the years following the initial idea, I poured through information concerning that particular generation of the car on the internet, in books and in magazines.  We took countless trips to local dealerships and did daily web searches across the country for the particular model we desired, including the right combination of interior and exterior colors. By the time they delivered the car to our home, one could almost say that I had become somewhat of an expert on fifth generation Mustang models.

I believe that this is the same idea that Solomon had when he wrote this proverb.  In order to “find” the hidden gems that lie within the pages of God’s Word that lead us to “life… and health to all their flesh” we have to relentlessly search for and discover them.  It won’t happen with just an occasional, casual look.  No, we have to become like Indiana Jones as he searched across the globe for undiscovered artifacts that bring history to light and help to explain many of the unanswered questions concerning past cultures and present day customs.

By diligently searching through God’s Word, one will discover the historical facts for present day beliefs and truths as well as fountains of peace, love, joy, wisdom, honor, discernment and clean and pure direction for our daily lives.  Wow!  Just thinking about it gets me excited… what about you?

When you open your Bible up, do you find the heart and excitement of an explorer rising up inside you?  I sure do!  Have a great rest of the week, and as you do, keep asking yourself… “Am I expecting to discover new and exciting findings each time I open up my Bible?”