Psalm 4

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!

You have relieved me in my distress;

Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.- Psalm 4:1

 

“ …in tight places you have made space for me.” – The Way of the Righteous in the Muck of Life by Dale Ralph Davis

 

David was almost killed by a javelin thrown by Saul, his house was watched by Saul’s henchmen, he was let down through a window and escaped; yet in all this he pleas for and relies on the grace and mercy of God. Oh to have the faith of David!

I can’t say I’ve had the experiences of David. We all have our own trials and temptations, but God knows this. He knows our needs even before we do. I do know that God has relieved me in many distresses but I also know I have clung to crumbling walls and fretted over failures instead of giving my burdens to Him. My prayer today is for mercy.

Our Lives Diverged

The prompt for PAD day 21 was to respond to another poem. This is my response/version of Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken

Our Lives Diverged

Our lives diverged one year in June
Something lovely died inside
Left behind with the quarter moon
The contents of my heart were strewn
And by the sun were crisped and dried

I took my lonely path back home
And tried to make the best of things
Oft times I’d go outside and roam
As if I traveled the catacombs
Yearning to leave on sprouted wings

Remembering that day, choices made
Words said could not be taken back
Footprints left where they had strayed
Promises died unconveyed
I doubted he’d ever come back

I’ll always recall this with a sigh
Relive it often in my dreams
Lives diverged under an aqua sky
You made the choice to go awry
Life isn’t always what it seems

Thoughts on Pilgrim’s Progress, Part the Second – #8

p. 289

Christiana, her sons, and Mercy, are being conducted by Mr. Great-heart through the Valley of the shadow of Death.

Christiana’s son, Samuel, makes a wonderful observation. He says, “It is not so bad to go through here, as it is to abide here always; and for ought I know, one reason why we must go this way to the House prepared for us is that our home might be made the sweeter to us.”

He continues, “Why, if ever I get out here again, I think I shall prize light and good way, better than ever I did in all my life.”

If our life were to be always carefree, think of all the blessings we would miss. I think there would be little satisfaction in things that come too easily.

Do you remember the first time you made a big purchase with money you had saved? I do. In high school I began working the summer before my senior year. I was able to buy myself a ten-speed bike. Later, I saved up for a bit and purchased my first stereo. Yes, with an awesome 8-track player included. I took great care with them both. They were acquired with my hard-earned money. Now, I would have enjoyed them if they had been gifts, but they were much sweeter to me because of the toil put into buying them.

The hard times in my life have drawn me closer to the Lord. It may not have always been clear to me at first; I wasn’t always happy in the valleys. But, when I came out on the other side, I was able to rejoice.

About 13 years ago, three of the kids were on vacation with my husband and me. We had been hiking through a heavily forested area on a foggy morning. Unexpectedly, our trail opened out into a meadow where we were greeted by a lone cow. It was a gorgeous view, made all the sweeter by having emerged from the darkened woods. I think of that day often as I have a picture on my office wall to remind me of it.

I pray that the Lord would see fit to lead me into whatever valleys I need in order to fully enjoy the meadows He has for me.