Author: BJ Armstrong

Psalm 59 Shelly Thomas

A few weeks ago I was in a bit of a funk and struggling to get out of it. I was stuck in my head and letting my thoughts get the best of me. It was a Sunday morning and I was up earlier than usual. Everyone else was still asleep. I slipped on my shoes and headed out the door for a walk around our neighborhood. No music, no podcast, no phone call. Just me and God. The neighborhood is the typical Bloomington/Normal subdivision that is confusing and winding to strangers but one I could walk in my sleep. The sun was out and the breeze was gentle with hopes of Spring. Towards the end of my walk, I came upon a line of trees. I have driven past these trees daily for the past 20 years but they caught my attention on this particular day. They are enormous evergreens (or something similar) that tower over the houses. The ground underneath was covered in pine needles and the sun was shining through the tops of the trees. Standing underneath them I didn’t feel like I was in a subdivision, but rather deep in the woods somewhere. It was peaceful and beautiful and I could have sat and enjoyed it longer if it wasn’t someone else’s yard. Just having that brief time outside with God made my day different. It didn’t solve any problems but it changed my perspective and I came home feeling thankful and full.

While my walk was silent, I wasn’t walking alone. God was walking with me, speaking to my soul through His creation. He has never failed to show up when I have been willing to invite Him into my mess. It may not be exact answers to specific questions, but instead a reminder to keep trusting Him. Just when I think I’m learning to trust Him well, He gives me another opportunity to trust Him all over again. He is our refuge and our place of safety. I pray you find that in Him today too.

Psalm 59:16-17

But as for me, I will sing about your power. I will shout with joy each morning because of your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety in the day of distress.
O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me, unfailing love. NLT

Shelly Thomas

Refuge Found

Psalm 52

We all need refuge.  It’s a wonderful place.  Calm, quiet, and peaceful.  In our refuge, we are reminded of our hope and our renewed hope leads to strength.  This is what we thirst for.  And make no mistake, we will find it.  The question is, will it be worth it?

There is no better way to say it than Psalm 52:7, which reads “see the man who would not make God his refuge but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction.”  Wait, what?  You mean that the refuge I have been seeking and building and longing for and chasing after might lead to my own destruction?  Absolutely, says David.

With that understanding comes new responsibility.  We must determine where it is that we are seeking refuge.  For some, it may be obvious while the rest of us have worked hard to cover our tracks.  For example, do you remember the Bible verse about money being evil?  It’s 1 Timothy 6:10 and says “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils.”  If you are like me, you’ve found ways to reinterpret this verse.  Now, we soften it.  Instead of relating money to evil, we relate money to good by saying “money is good for the good it can do.”  Wow, that’s brilliant.  Suddenly, I feel good about money again.  I want to go make more and do some good!   Refuge found.

There is no end to my deceptive heart (Jeremiah 17:9).  If I am to be true to myself and real to God, I must subject my thoughts and actions to Him.  This is done by subjecting them to Scripture, through prayer, and the Church – the community of believers.  There is no other way to find it.  Refuge found.

Clap Your Hands

Today’s reading is Psalm 47. It is impossible for me to read the first verse without singing an old church song in my head.

“Clap your hands all ye people,
shout unto God with a voice of triumph! clap your hands all ye people,
shout unto God with a voice of praise! Hosanna! Hosanna!
Shout unto God with a voice of triumph! Praise Him, Praise Him!
Shout unto God with a voice of Praise!”

This was a song we sang at church when we were young. It was more about going faster and faster each time and I think there were hand motions involved. I hope some of you are singing it now.
I was feeling very thankful and even hopeful today as I walked in 52-degree weather and sunshine! So much has happened in the past few weeks as we continue to move closer to a sense of normalcy in the midst of this pandemic. School is moving forward, our kids are playing sports, vaccinations are rolling out, cases are down, and the sun is shining! I haven’t felt hopeful for a while so today was a welcome change. While I want things to continue in a positive direction I am also very aware that they could change in an instant. My prayer is that I will remember that my hope is not based on anything in this world, but on Jesus Christ. If my hope is based on the trajectory of this pandemic or anything of this world, I will likely suffer disappointment. God is my hope and my constant. For this I am so thankful! The things of this world will fade, but He remains.

How do you express your thankfulness to God? Regardless of how you express your thankfulness, God will receive it. He knows where you have been and where you are going. He knows the struggles you will have tomorrow and next week. Nothing escapes Him. He is worthy of our praise!

Today, thank God for all the ways He has shown up for you in the past year. My list started yesterday with the sunshine and I was amazed at all the things He brought to my mind.

Psalm 47:7 “For God is the King over all the earth. Praise him with a psalm!”.

Shelly Thomas

Victory Dance

Psalm 40

“The apostle, Paul, feels himself unable to celebrate, in a proper  manner, the goodness of God, and desires that the contemplation of it   would occupy the minds of men till they are entirely lost in   admiration.”

Those words were written by John Calvin in response to his observances of the apostle, Paul.  It makes me wonder what becoming entirely lost in admiration of God would look like.  What would it feel like?  What would my response be?  I’m hoping, that it would be a celebration.  And, just like Paul, I don’t think that my celebration would be adequate.

When I read Psalm 40, I hear celebration.  It comes from a man who has been saved from all manner of impossibilities.  But there is something special about his celebration.  He realizes, without a doubt that his rescue, his salvation, and his now success were not his own doing.  Rather, they were bestowed upon him.  This calls out a special kind of celebration.  As you read the Psalm, it sounds a lot like praise.

Did you notice that this Psalmist’s praise cannot be contained?  While he speaks to God of how great he is, the love in his heart cannot be contained there.  He also tells the world, unrestrained.  I’m beginning to think that this is what it looks like to be “entirely lost in admiration,” of God.

Let us spend some time, today celebrating the goodness of God.  May we allow it to occupy our minds until we are also entirely lost in admiration.

Calvin, John (2011-11-15). Calvin’s Complete Bible Commentaries (With Active Table of Contents in Biblical Order) (Kindle Locations 470583-470584).  . Kindle Edition.

Another One?

Psalms 28

Sometimes I feel like the psalms are on repeat.  When I read them every day, back to back, they sound the same.  Here is the pattern, Lord, help me, I am in trouble.  I see bad things headed my way and I don’t want any of that to happen.  Eliminate my enemies.  I love you.  Thank you for being Awesome!

Does that cover it?

Psalms 28 is no different.  Seriously, when I sat down to read it, that was my first reaction.  Thankfully, I was charged with finding something meaningful in this scripture to share with you.  Otherwise, it may have been my last reaction.  I wonder how many times I have read scripture with the same attitude.  It’s not pretty.

To read it that way is to nullify the joy of the author.  Clearly, the Psalmist wants to share his lifted burden.  He is celebrating so that we can celebrate too.

To read it that way is to dismiss my own troubles.  Rather than confront them, it’s far easier to deny them.  When I don’t think about them, I don’t really need God, either.

To read it that way is to reject God’s power.  In fact, as long as I don’t call upon God, it’s my own resourcefulness that gets me through.

To read it that way is to nullify God’s glory.  Make no mistake, the glory is going somewhere.  Maybe I am trying to steal it for myself?

I’m sure you find this commentary as frightening as I do.  Truth is, we are all vulnerable.  Not until I slowed my pace and called upon God did I hear from him.  That’s when I received this firm and gentle rebuke.

Thank you Father for the powerful reminder that you are God.  Thank you for leading us toward righteousness.  Praise the Lord!

 

Why I Believe: Psalms 16

Psalms 16 

Scripture is an amazing teacher.  We know that Hebrews 4:12 calls scripture “alive and active,” but how do you really experience it?  If you have not read Psalm 16 yet, do so now.  Which part stuck out to you?  In my reading, I was first drawn to my previous highlights and notes.  They remind me of my past experiences and have become a permanent marker of where God has led me.  But today, I don’t dwell there.  There is new work to do because God has highlighted a new part of this Psalm for me.

What is it?  I am amazed at how the Psalmist, David,  puts God first, surrendering everything to Him.  Consider that David is in trouble.  Verse 1 states it clearly.  He is looking for refuge.  As we read on, we get the picture that David finds it, despite his circumstances.

First, he finds it in God himself.  He understands and clearly acknowledges the good things in his life.  He also recognizes that all of the good things are given by God.

Second, David finds refuge in God’s people.  I can only imagine the details, but we all know how God’s people care for each other.  Love has no bounds amongst His followers.  While all of that is good, it is not what God highlighted for me today.

The words that struck me between the eyes are found in verse 6.  It says, “the lines have fallen in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”  As I read it, I was thinking about David’s circumstances.  Remember, he was seeking refuge.   I would not call that “pleasant places.”  In fact, I can think of all kinds of things to call it, but “pleasant” is not one of them.

This is where God does his good work in me.  Today, he put my life in contrast to the life of a faithful man.  He’s used it to help me redefine pleasant places.  It’s not about luxury, safety, and opportunity.  Not for a second.  It’s about God’s provision, everywhere, all the time.

When I finally stop to look around, I see God’s provision in my life everywhere.  No, that does not mean everything is going the way that I want it to, or that I have everything I think I need.  It does mean that God has provided me with an amazing family and amazing people to journey this earth with.  As I dwell on this, I am filled with gratitude and contentment, followed closely by peace and joy.  Surely these are the pleasant places David found.  Like him, I too have “a beautiful inheritance.”

Why do I believe?  Because he faithfully guides, corrects, and loves me into becoming who he created me to be.

Why I Believe: Lynden McGriff

Psalms 9:1-2;13-14

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

13 Be gracious to me, O Lord!
See my affliction from those who hate me,
O you who lift me up from the gates of death,
14 that I may recount all your praises,
that in the gates of the daughter of Zion
I may rejoice in your salvation.

Why I believe? This is such a profound question that it cannot be nearly summed up in one passage. For me, my belief can be seen through the eyes of a gardener. In the eyes of a gardener you have the preparation with the seed, the plant, the fruit, and the pruning.

Matthew 13:3-9

And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears,[a] let him hear.”

I want to start out with the seed. In the parable about the seed, Christ talks about several different grounds and soils, which the seed has been sowed. I’ve been able to see that the seed that is been planted or sowed is the seed of the Holy Spirit. But I also recognize that in me I have all of the soils that Christ has spoken. In each different part of my journey the soil has changed.

There are different times in my life that I’ve had good soil there are different times in my life I had rocky soil and there’s different times in my life that I have had thorns as well. But it is when the seed finds the optimal soil and right time to produce a plant. This has happened several times in my life where of the seed has found some good soil, but it also has landed on some of the troubled soil as well.

So what I believe is that the seed that is the Holy Spirit never changes in us, but as we allow the Spirit to move in us the soil with change.

As in gardening you have to continuously and constantly check the pH of the soil because the soil that may not be optimal for this year’s crop. The soil needs to be adjusted for the next crop. So what I believe is God is utilizing his Spirit to work in me constantly to cultivate me constantly to change me into the person who he wants me to be and to give him the glory and show his presence in my life to be a reflection of his life.

An example that can illustrate this seed growing when it’s optimal was revealed to me from a visit that I had with a friend last week. Last week, a dear friend of mine showed me one of his pets. He showed me a tadpole that he had rescued from a small little pond. So as we were conversing he informed me that this tadpole was two years old. This knowledge baffled me because in my limited perception as being a scientist, I thought that tadpoles only lasted for a small amount of time. But I understood that tadpoles will only change will transform into a frog when the conditions are right. This tadpole is two years old. This tadpole is approximately 4 to 5 inches long. This was a complete intriguing for me. For my 39 years, I had some new information that I’ve had assume were true.

With this new knowledge I have an enlightened view of absolutes. The seed, as with the tadpole, will find the right time to prepare, mature, and produce a plant at the correct time in which it is ready. The seed of the Holy Spirit will activate and produce when it Optimal. This can be two months, five years, 10 years, or 70 years. No matter how long the seed is there God will allow the seed to mature and transform and metamorphosis into the new creation in which He has ready for us.

This is what I believe that God is in the changing and growing of each individual at the each individual’s time no matter what time do restraints or limits we placed on Him. Be blessed.

Lynden McGriff

Why I Believe: BJ Armstrong

Dwight D. Eisenhower says “plans are useless.”  I agree with him.  Do you need any more proof than 2020?  I made great plans.  You probably did too.  Nothing, absolutely nothing went the way that I planned.

So, what did I do at the end of the year?  I made great plans for 2021.  Same as you.  There is a second part of Eisenhower’s famous quote.  He continues by saying, “planning is everything.”  Guess what?  A thousand things will go wrong again this year.  How do I know?  Its been happening since the beginning of time.

Take a read through Psalms 4.  What do you hear?  I hear a man crying out to God because his life is not going according to plan (v1,2).  I hear a man searching his heart for righteousness (v3).  I hear a man placing his hope in God’s wisdom (v4).  I hear a man grateful in his current circumstances (v5).  He knows God is in control.  Only in Him, does he find joy and peace (v8).

Why do I believe?  I believe for the same reason David did.  In this crazy world, there is only one constant and only one surety.  Peace and joy are not found in planning for abundant harvests of grain and new wine (v7).  They are found only when our confidence and our faith is placed in the Lord.

After Christmas

After Christmas

December 25 has come and gone. Many individuals look forward to Christmas day. Many individuals look forward to the Advent season. What happens after the 25th? Many times in our society we are anticipating the arrival of something. Many times in our society we look forward to the day. What happens after the day has come and we are left with the aftermath.

The holidays bring many different types of emotions and expectations for all individuals. For some individuals the holiday brings back memories of happiness and joy and peace in the giving of gifts. For others the holidays bring sadness, loss, and grief from the past. What we have to remember is that the holidays begin with Christ coming. The Christmas child brought peace and joy and hope. The entrance of Christ into the world brought with it Hope and the Holy Spirit.

In today’s society we have access to the Holy Spirit but there are other variables and factions that try to change the meaning and the hope of the Holy Spirit and of the Christmas celebration. We have to look forward into and acknowledge that with Christ came into the world And brought peace. This peace disrupted the chaos that had been upon the earth for millennium. That chaos still is here today and will not allow us to fully enjoy the Christmas spirit.

This chaos can be seen in every family: no matter creed, race, religion, or socioeconomics. But we have to understand and acknowledge that chaos and acknowledge Christ conquering that chaos. A couple examples I remember, as a child meeting with everybody in the family at our assigned place of celebration and having a great time. But in the mist of the celebration there was always some type of chaos that would come up. Be it a disagreement from 5 to 10 years ago. Be it a life decision or choice that somebody has made and others are not in agreement. But the chaos always tried to disrupt the joy that the spirit brought.

This year chaos tried to take away the joy of Christ in our life. On Christmas day we had a small incident that change the outcome of our Christmas dinner. But we have been blessed to be able to listen to Christ and the Spirit of God to see how his provisions will not be changed by a circumstance. We were able to enjoy each other that day and that evening. The circumstance allowed us to reflect on God’s love and protection for us.

This brings us to do three points of the after Christmas:

1.) Christmas is not the end of the celebration but the beginning of the celebration. This time of year is not the time to stop the joy and giving, but is the beginning of refreshment to continue through the next year. We need a refreshment of joy and happiness and peace and that should not stop at 25th of December but continue on into perpetuation throughout the year.

2.) God is in control. We think that we are in control of the gift giving and the things that go on preparing for Christmas.

But we have to remember that God is always in control. No matter what we have been given or what has been taken, God is in control. The Spirit of God will always be the final word in the Christmas story. No matter what chaos that we are going through, no matter what feelings of despair that we are going through. God is in control. We have to remember that He has already conquered all of our fears in all of our tribulations.

3.) No matter what the situation, God will be able to use it for His purpose. For example, if your car has died on Christmas Eve and you were concerned and worried about transportation, this is an opportunity for God to bring you a new car without a car note. If you had the despair of losing your house, this is a chance for God to show that He will provide for you in the mist of all of the turmoil. If you have lost a love one, this is the time of the season to show their love and the love of God has given us to others. Each situation that God has seen us through is an opportunity for God‘s love to show in the most amazing ways. These are hard times and can be detrimental. But if we allow God to show us how he works he will give us peace.

May the Spirit of God be with you in the continuation of this season of renewing enjoy and hope. May the Spirit of God open your heart and your spirit to the possibilities of wonder.

Lynden McGriff

Silence is Golden

Silence is golden. This is a staple that became popular in the late 80s to early 90s in many movie theaters. It was a statement to respect others so that everybody could enjoy the movie.

As we are continuing to prepare for Christmas, one of my favorite hymns is silent night. It is important to understand the importance of silence and that’s what we have in today’s reading.

At the beginning of Luke, the story starts with  the birth of John the Baptist. In these first verses we are introduced to Elizabeth, which is Mary‘s cousin and Zachariah. It sets up the lineage and the background of John the Baptist and Christ. It tells us that Zachariah is a priest that is in one of the highest orders during this time. This priesthood is a priesthood that originates when David builds the Temple, the order of Abijah.  Next Elizabeth is shown to have a direct descendent from Aaron and Moses. These two connections are very important to show that the priesthood that was established by ancient times from both Moses and from king David continues through with John the Baptist and Christ.

Zachariah and Elizabeth were both advanced in  age.  Some text and references state that Zachariah and Elizabeth were in their 50s.  While others show that by the time that John was born they were in the 80s and 90s . This also shows  their wisdom and earthly experience.

The next item is Zachariah has been randomly chosen during his time at the Temple.  This is  the only time in his life that he has been granted to enter the Holy of Holies and is doing this time that the angel Gabriel speaks to Zachariah. So this setup is showing us that with advanced age, wisdom, family lineage, being in the right time in the right place things lined up and we should plan accordingly and act in a certain way.

While Zachariah is performing his priestly duties, the angel Gabriel presents himself and Zachariah stands in awe as he has been given a message from God.  Instead of accepting it or reveling in the acknowledgment of it, Zachariah questions God‘s revelation for
him. Number one:  In the presence of God we need to be silent when he speaks to us. So from this visit Zachariah has been given a great gift, but how many times in our life have we been granted a special gift or special items or a blessing and we question it?

Not accepting God’s blessing in the manner in which it was exhibited, it was presented that Zachariah was given a consequence.  Zachariah is made to be silent for 9 plus months to up to a year.  We know that after his visit he goes home and Elizabeth conceived and has a child. We do not know exactly how long between him leaving the temple and her conceiving so nine months probably a year. During this time he cannot speak to anybody. He cannot communicate. So he has this knowledge and he cannot convey it to anybody. He has been given the opportunity to reflect and pray and meditate to God daily about the new joy that is coming into the world. Number two: sometimes the silence is not a punishment but a time for reflection and preparation.

As we have journeyed through these last several days of Advent we are preparing our minds and bodies for Christmas and the Christ-child. In the same way the anticipation of the early church and the Jewish people were expecting a change. During this time there was so much chaos and hurt strive that the world was so noisy. The Spirit of God was not awakened for everyone to experience and the Spirit did not dwell in us. This was a time of a lot of noise, a lot of chaos, and a lot of disorder. But when Christ came, that moment when Christ was born created a new silence for the world. This silence was one that had not been seen or experienced since the creation of the world. That’s why we can sit in reference to the song silence night. It is to this story of Zachariah and Elizabeth that we are able to grasp the meaning of silence in a better way. We are able to adventure and take some time and silence and prepare.

May the continuation of this Advent, allow you to have some silence for yourself. May this silence be a time that God can connect to you. May the silence bring you closer to your loved ones and acknowledge how much they mean to you. May you be blessed.

Lynden McGriff