Author: David LaFrance

Today’s Reading: Psalm 142

When I was a child, I used to run from our neighbors, the Anderson’s to my house.  It was in the country, and you had to pass by some woods and often a cornfield before you made it home. ( I once snuck downstairs and watched a part of a movie my older brothers were watching, Children of the Corn, bad idea…) I would literally run full sprint for 3/4 of a mile screaming for our dog to meet me halfway. In addition to pure fear, I felt alone and afraid.  As a boy, I would often feel alone as I hung out with friends who seemed to have their home life together as I witnessed our household fall apart. Even as an adult, I can speak of a time where I was afraid, alone, and a little insecure about what the future would hold.

We can all feel loneliness at times. David was feeling this way as he stayed in a cave hiding from Saul.  I think there is a difference between being alone and loneliness.  Alone can be more of a physical state of being, where loneliness can occur even when you have others around.  Have you ever felt this way? Deserted, depressed, defeated? David shares some instructions here on what he did to work on healing.

• Cry aloud to God. Let Him know how you are feeling.  I’ve realized through the years I can’t fake it all the time and pretend everything is all good.  I’ve also realized the answers I’m looking for don’t come from any of my ideas.  They are all His.  He is the One who knows us best.  (Verse 1-2)
• Remember that He is watching over us! The noise of the world can muffle the Lord’s voice.  Everything wants our time and attention. The world can give out a beating on your emotional state and leave you struggling.  (Verse 3)
• Allow Him to be your Refuge. David was being fearful, abandoned, and feeling like he had lost everything. Still, God is above it all and
• Remember – Problems will fade in His Presence. God will show us his Goodness just like he showed David.  (verse 7)

Are you dealing with feeling alone? Depressed? Feeling imprisoned by your surroundings?

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
Then You knew my path.

Take a moment to refocus on Him.  Take the cares, worries, and problems and turn them over to Him. Heavenly Father, help us turn to you when our emotions get the best of us, when we feel alone, afraid, imprisoned, or scared.  You will grant us comfort.  Please help us to trust in your plans for our lives.

Bring my soul out of prison,
That I may praise Your name;
The righteous shall surround me,
For You shall deal bountifully with me.”

Have a blessed day!

Have you ever been disciplined? Have you ever had to discipline your children?

If we are honest, I’m sure we would say Yes to both. (If you don’t have children yet, this opportunity will eventually arise.)  Often, when I have to discipline my children, I see many examples of my younger self in them. I won’t take any opportunity here to talk about my better half.  Discipline is not fun, but it is necessary.  As I was reading Psalm 94 for today, there were certain words that jumped off the page for me as this Psalm focuses on rightful judgment and discipline.

In my NIV version, the words “proud,” “arrogantly,” “boasting,” and “vanity” all come together for a common theme.  Selfishness! It’s about me. In my children’s case, it’s about them without consideration for others.  We often have many opportunities to teach.

Psalm 94:13-14 Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,
the one you teach from your law;
13 you grant them relief from days of trouble,
till a pit is dug for the wicked.

Just like a loving parent that has to discipline their children, God sometimes disciplines us.  My example would include yelling at our kids not to run out in the road for the 10th time and have them sit out to learn their lesson. Sometimes God disciplines us to help us grow.  How has he done this with you in your years? Whatever form it may take for you or your children, this discipline is never enjoyable, but it is necessary to teach us right from wrong.

Maybe you have felt God’s hand of correction lately. My selfish reaction to a recent situation that didn’t go the way I planned was a perfect example of my shortcomings.  Accept God’s correction as proof that He loves you. Let it remind you that God urges us to follow His path instead of our own each day. So one day, we will be in His Kingdom together.

As you enter into this day, let’s watch our pridefulness, the boasting, the vanity that we can all fall trap to when we lose sight of our God that is standing right by our side.

Hebrews 12:6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.

Hebrew 12:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

The Discipline of the Lord – Charles Spurgeon

Today’s Reading: Psalm 82

As we have read through the Psalms recently, we have been able to read from Asaph. (Asaph was a leader of one of the Temple choirs. 1 Chronicles 25:1) Whether Asaph was the author or just transcribing for David, these collections of Psalms (49,50, 73-83) celebrate the sovereignty of God, God’s hand in history, God’s faithfulness, and God’s covenant. These psalms remind us that the worship of our God the almighty should be continual.

At first, I had to look up Asaph and the Asaphites. These people were temple singers.  Asaph had the opportunity to see the best and the worst in the officials while serving and participating in public and private settings.  Psalm 82 reminds us that God is the true judge of all judges. The integrity of our justice system in a nation provides a clear indication of our society’s health.

On the dawn of an election day like today, I realize that whatever your vote may be, our ultimate judge will be our Lord. I pray for all those elected and in authority. 1 Timothy 2:2 says for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 

We can only pray for those in authority worldwide so that their societies will be those who spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Remember Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject under higher powers. 

I pray that all those elected already know or come to know our Lord more and more each day.  That in their roles, they are put in positions to do good. Please pray with me for these officials in authority that make decisions that can impact us, our children, and grandchildren.

Psalm 80:1 God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods, he holds judgment:

Today’s Reading: Psalm 70

Humor me for a second with these questions. Have you ever felt under pressure? Can you think of a day where you were pressed for time to where you allowed yourself to be stressed?   These moments have happened more than I would like to admit.  Hopefully, today you will have some peace as you focus on His Word and the truth of His will for your life today.

I have a gift that allows me to save things until the last minute and not get stressed. It is a gift I’m working on avoiding, unlike today as I seek His wisdom. David’s prayer in Psalm 70 reminds me of His answers even in our haste.

These last couple of weeks have been eventful. As a principal, our schools’ COVID impact has meant constantly changing, requiring the on-going need to pivot and try to communicate the best we can. Our children have been involved in some travel sports that require scheduled practices and games at various times and places.  On the home front, we try our best to make time to connect with family, friends, and neighbors.

As this last week approached, we juggled preparing for a family getaway! Exciting!  Still, the rush that followed up until today captured many moments where I could sense the anxiety of the time crunch creep in.

Psalm 70:1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me! o Lord, make haste to help me! 5 But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are help and my deliverer, O Lord, do not delay!

We seem to all live in the confines of time. God lives outside time. God is never rushed. He created time! David uses these 5 verses to show the urgency of prayer and the answer we will receive. These verses remind me to go to God with all I got.  That instead of trying to do it all myself and attempt to be everything to everyone all the time, I can submit to Him.  Cry out to God and say I need you! That when I am weak, He is strong. In the midst of these moments where the pressure of time is applying the squeeze. Pray, trust, have faith that our God knows what will happen.  He knows what we will face today, what we will face tomorrow.  He will be our help; He will be our deliverer.  

So whatever day your day brings.  No matter what is next on your agenda. Take a moment to give God all you got.  Ask him to release the stress that starts to creep in as we move throughout the day.  The answer to all we need today is in Him.

Have a blessed – less stressed day!

 

February 23, 2021

Today’s Reading: Psalm 46

There is so much to pull from Psalm 46.  I will try to bracket a couple of the beginning and ending verses that spoke to me when reading this week.  Let’s start here.

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  

Quick question for you,  “Do you turn to our Lord when you are in trouble or need strength?

I know we all face troubles. Trouble can look like a lot of things. They come in the form of disappointments, frustrations, misunderstandings, unfulfilled dreams, unmet expectations, great loss, great loneliness, fear, criticism, persecution, conflict.  At one point or another, you may have faced one or all of these scenarios. The pain from divorce, abuse, failure, and many other situations that either happened or I put myself in. I should have known they would come with the nickname “trouble.” (This is another story and need for prayer.)

Recently I talked with multiple family members and a friend who are going through some trials of relationships, depression, and anxiety.  Some have turned to alcohol and others to medications that help with the stress.  Both of these solutions seemed to take away the pain temporarily but had bigger, more negative impacts in other areas besides what they were currently dealing with. In these conversations, we have talked about our hope, refuge, and strength coming from the Lord. 

There are also times when we deal with trials and pain by keeping ourselves busy.  Never taking time to be still and seek Him. As we have read through the Psalms, I’ve noticed how the Psalmist never really asks for the trials never to happen. The request is just delivery us from them.   We know that everyone will face trials.

We need to remember and trust that God is with us in every circumstance. 

2 Corinthians 4:8 We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  

I’m going to bracket the start of Psalm 46:10 with the end.

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

In our modern world of noise, busyness, and 24/7 of being on the go, solitude is truly countercultural. It’s a very challenging behavior to adopt. To be with God without an agenda and to just be in His presence. In our trials, we face we can turn to God and find clarity in the silence.

When was the last time you intentionally spent a significant amount of time with God in solitude? Don’t bring your to-do list; just listen to His voice. If you can’t remember, this might be a clue to take some time. In fact, take a few minutes to be alone with God right now. Put your hands on your knees, palms down. Think of any of the concerns you have at this moment and imagine laying them down at His feet.  After you have given Him all your concerns, turn your palms up in a posture of receiving what God wants to give you.  Listen for His voice. Recite Psalm 46:10 now like this.

Be still, and know that I am God.

Be still, and know.

Be still.

Be.

Hebrews 5:11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.