Psalm 91 -- 31 Devotions -- Day 6

~Day Six~
Psalm 91:3
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence.
NKJV

Have you ever left your freezer or refrigerator unattended and come home to find that the power had been off for some time and all the contents had gone bad and started to smell of rotting meat? An incident like this one happened to us. Actually it happened to my wife Debbie. I was not with her when she discovered the “perilous pestilence” inside our refrigerator and freezer. She called me and gave me “color commentary” as she cleaned the rotting meat from the fridge. I will spare you the details, but she has never forgotten the smell or the clean up!

Yesterday we claimed the promise of deliverance by God from the snare of the fowler. Let’s continue with the theme of deliverance today as we look to the second half of verse 3. There are two interesting words in today’s verse: perilous and pestilence.

Perilous – Strongs Exhaustive Concordance and Dictionary defines perilous as iniquity, perverse thing, wickedness.
Pestilence – Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and Dictionary defines pestilence as plague and death.

Satan’s schemes always lead to “iniquity or sin, perverse things, wickedness, death and destruction.” The wages of sin (Romans 6:23) because of Adam’s curse is death and the plague of destruction. The word plague is a reminder of death and by association the stinch of rotting flesh. (Read John 10:10) HOWEVER.....Jesus always leads to life. Our deliverer came to deliver us from the destructive schemes (wiles) of Satan.

John 3:16-17 says:

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (NKJV)

Oh, my friend, Jesus has come into the world to be our Deliverer! He has rescued us from the curse of sin, perverse things, wickedness, death and the plague of destruction. He was charged to come to the earth and clean up the stench of rotting flesh works. Jesus has come to give us abundant, eternal life!! (John 3:15-16 and John 10:10) Will you accept that gift today? Yes, Christian, I am talking to you, too! Will you choose to walk in the rotting stench of the works of the flesh! Or, will you choose to walk in the life of Christ today? Let Jesus deliver you today!

Psalm 91 -- 31 Devotions -- Day 5

~Day Five~
Psalm 91:3
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. NKJV

I am a product of the 1950’s. Those of us who were born during this era are known as a “baby boomers.” We were raised with one thing in common; we were the first generation to watch television on a regular basis. I had my favorite shows just like everyone else. One of my favorite television shows was on Saturday mornings. It was actually the replay of the old Tarzan movies starring Johnny Weissmuller. On more than one occasion the plot of those movies would include a scene of Tarzan running through the jungle. He would swing on vines, leap over streams, wrestle alligators, fight with lions and tigers and step into snares. Yes, even Tarzan would fall prey to the “snare.” It was a clever trap hidden in the brush. The unsuspecting Tarzan would be caught up in a spring loaded net. The snare would leave him hanging high in the tree with no hopes of escape. Of course he was Tarzan...he always escaped.

One of the great promises to you from the scripture for today is “deliverance.” The word is clear. God will deliver you from the snare of the fowler. In your case the fowler is the evil one – Satan. Ephesians 6:11 makes it very clear that Satan has schemes (wiles) which are customized just for you. Just like the snare in the Tarzan movies, they are cleverly hidden. The unsuspecting Christian is caught up in the spring loaded scheme of the devil himself. The snare of Satan would seem to leave us hanging high with no hope of escape. But, praise be unto God, our Deliverer, our Fortress, our Rock. In Christ Jesus, we are more than conquerors! (Read Romans 8:37)

As you go through your day, walk with your eyes open and looking around. (Read Ephesians 5:15) If you do find yourself in a snare, call on your Deliverer. He is faithful to deliver you from the snare of the fowler.

Psalm 91 -- 31 Devotions -- Day 4

~Day Four~
Psalm 91:2
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."
NKJV

On October 31, 1974 I asked Debbie to take my hand in marriage. Fortunately she loved me enough to look past all of my faults and say YES. I will never forget the sight of her walking arm in arm with her father down the aisle of Valley View Baptist Church on the evening of our wedding. It was August 15, 1975 and I had never seen her look so beautiful! The thoughts of her being “my wife” were rolling around in my head. MY wife...She would be mine. She would not be anyone else’s wife she would be MY wife! WOW!

David forcefully makes the statement that the Lord would belong to him as his God. “My God,” he said. David knew the importance of identifying the Lord God as “his.” David had called on “his” God personally in times of fear when he was a shepherd. David called on “his” God when Goliath the giant Philistine was on the warpath. In each case David’s personal God had given the victoy!

God is a jealous God. He does not want us to put anything before Him. He wants and deserves our full attention, obedience and love. This was not a difficult thing for David at this point because of all the situations that David and God had been through together. He reaffirms his faith in God by saying that all of his trust is in the Lord.

Debbie has proven herself to me through the years of our marriage. We have been through some tremendous struggles and awesome happy times together. I trust her. I would trust her with my life. No second thoughts, not a single question, I trust her. Oh that you and I could get to the place in our lives where we could trust God the same way – for our lives, no second thoughts, not a single question – just trust.

Wise Solomon said:
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
(NKJV)

Is God your one and only God? Have you placed all of your faith in Him? Do you trust Him?

Psalm 91 -- 31 Devotions -- Day 3

~Day Three~
Psalm 91:2
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."
NKJV


Life is full of choices!

The great American evangelist, Vance Havner once said, “Life is a series of choices between the bad and the good and the best. Everything depends on which way we choose.”

This great quote is true in the Christian’s life. The choices we make every day can determine the outcome of our lives.

David made the correct choice and he was emphatic about it. He said, “I will say....” You can hear the determination in his voice to make the right choice. David is most famous for a few of his bad choices, i.e. Bathsheba, etc. In this case he is determined to make the right choice in the Lord. The Lord is David’s refuge and fortress.

Will you make the right choice today?

The Lord as your refuge~
Where do you run when you need a safe place? Where do you go when you need answers to questions? David said that the Lord is his refuge. The Hebrew word for refuge comes from the root word chacah. It means to flee for protection. Figuratively it means “to confide in.” In whom will you confide today? Make the right choice. Make the Lord your refuge – your confidant. You can trust Him!

The Lord as your fortress~
Where do you find your security? Do you find security in family members? Possessions? Career? Church? There was only one place where David felt safe and secure. It was in the Lord as a “fortress.” A fort is a built up defense from the enemy. In David’s case he knew that his best defense was in the Lord. Do you think that David has forgotten Goliath? Of course not! It would have been impossible for David to forget the miraculous way God destroyed the giant when he fully trusted Him. (Read 1 Samuel 17:45-47) As a young man David trusted God to do big things and God did big things! God defended David against the lion, the bear and Goliath. It is no wonder that David could say with certainty, “I will say of the Lord.”

Jesus asked his disciples, “...But, who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15-NKJV) He is asking the same question of you. Who is the Lord to you, today? Make the right choice. Read Psalm 91:2 again. Make the right choice!

Psalm 91 -- 31 Devotions -- Day 2

Day Two
Psalm 91:1
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
NKJV

I grew up in rural Alabama. My mother’s house sits far back off the main road and is surrounded by huge oak trees. As a young boy, during the long hot Alabama days I would play outside all day long. Whew! It was hot! I can remember working very hard at cutting the grass or helping my mother in the garden. I would be SO hot! The sun would beam down until the ground was parched, as was my throat. After a while I would head to the shade of those huge oak trees. I would feel the cool green grass under my feet. Usually Mother would fix us a drink of ice water! Thank God for the shade, my mother, and the ice water!

David’s words in our scripture for today remind me of those “shade trees.” (That was my mothers name for them.) His promise is for us to abide under the “shadow” of the Almighty. The oak trees offered a tremendous shadow for my rest from the hot sun. God Almighty offers much more than a temporary quiet “rest.” Let me explain.

David uses the word abide. He says that we can “continue, dwell, endure, be left, lie all night, lodge, to stay permanently” in the shadow (shade) of the Almighty God of the universe. In His presence we have His provision, His protection, and His promise that He will never leave us. (Read Hebrews 13:5) Have you ever tried to outrun your shadow – it is impossible! Your shadow goes with you everywhere you go! The shadow of the Almighty covers those who rest in His shade! He covers you everywhere you go!!

Now spend some time meditating on the blessings that flow to us as we “rest” in this truth of this scripture.

Psalm 91-- 31 Devotions -- Day 1

Psalm 91:1
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
NKJV

When I was younger there was a popular television show called, “I’ve Got a Secret.” It had several hosts, but the one I remember was Bill Cullen. The format of the show was pretty simple. Sitting together on one side, behind a desk, each of four panelists took a 30-second turn questioning and then guessing a contestant's secret. The contestants were a mixture of ordinary people and celebrities. In the opening show in 1952 it was revealed that Boris Karloff’s (horror movie star) secret was that he was afraid of mice!

We are intrigued by secrets aren’t we? I love the one in our focus scripture today: “the secret place of the Most High.” The obvious truth here is that we can dwell in the secret place of God.

The Hebrew word for “dwell” is yashab. It means to “sit down, specifically as judge.” (footnote here – Strongs 3427) The English word is simply not strong enough to convey what dwell really means. In contrast, if one were to relax around a table in a casual setting, the word “recline” would have been used to describe their posture. Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father. Jesus sits in authority. (Hebrews 12:12)

Friend, in Christ we have may precious promises. One of the greatest promises in scripture is spoken by Jesus in the Revelation.

20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. “
Revelation 3:20-21 (NKJV)

Do you realize what you just read? The child of God is granted the privilege of sitting in Jesus’ lap on the throne of God! The secret place is a glorious place. In Christ, as over comers, we are already there.

(READ: Ephesians 2:4-6)

The Secret Place -- Introduction

Introduction

In 1999 a woman in our church, (First Baptist Church of Mableton, Georgia) named Sandra Robinson walked up to me on a Wednesday evening and spoke these words: “Pastor Tim, the Lord told me to tell you to read Psalm 91.”

I went home that evening and did not think much about her statement to me. The next day when I opened my Bible to read Psalm 91, I immediately knew that God was speaking to me in a powerful and direct manner. The words jumped off the page and came alive. My eyes filled with tears as I began to understand that the Most High was calling me to the altar in the Worship Center upstairs from my office.

I ran upstairs, fell on my face at the altar and began to pray Psalm 91 to the Lord. Tears of joy flowed from my eyes as I filled in my name and personalized the entire Psalm. God’s provision, protection and promises were real to me that day. The Word of God is ALIVE!

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword , piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

My prayer for you as you begin this 31 day journey is that Psalm 91 would come alive and be as powerful for you as it did for me. I have designed this devotional study so that with each day you pray Psalm 91 to the Lord, calling upon Him for His provision, protection and promises.

Let God take you to that secret place!

Tim Childers

What a Week!

I am sorry that I have not been so faithful to post this weekend, but this week has been very busy. I have had 3 funerals, 2 major hospital events, 1 wedding to attend and a host of other pastoral duties.

I will try to be more faithful next week. I am going to start posting a daily devotional based on the book I am writing based on Psalm 91. Check it our starting on Monday evening.

The Life of Riley!

I can remember an early television show called "The Life of Riley." I seem to remember that Riley had it pretty good. Later, the phrase "the life of Riley" has come to mean a life of ease. Generally, someone who is living the life of Riley has it made.

When Jesus spoke of the abundant life in John 10:10 I believe that He was speaking of giving believers the life of Riley. Oh, I know what you are thinking. The Christian life is tough. There are struggles and even the Bible promises that we will have trials. The truth is: WE HAVE IT MADE! Paul, the preaching apostle, said it best: "To live is Christ, to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21) Even though we have trials, even though things can be tough -- we have Christ as our life. God's grace pours over us and we are able to go through whatever we need to go through because of the life of Christ in us! (Christ -- our HOPE of glory!)

If the trial kills us -- we gain! We go into the presence of the ONE who made eternal life possible! Jesus.

We have it made! We can actually live "The Life of Riley!!"

Thermometer or Thermostat???

Do you know the difference between a thermostat and a thermometer? A thermometer merely tells what the temperature is in a particular area. If you thermometer reads seventy degrees and you place that thermometer in a room that is currently eighty degrees, the thermometer will change to register whatever the room temperature is. It won’t be long before the thermometer reads eighty degrees. It always adjusts to its environment.

The thermostat, however, adjusts the room temperature. If the thermostat is set at 70 degrees and the room is eighty degrees, the temperature of the room changes to conform to whatever the thermostat is reading. The room will become seventy degrees!

You live you life as either a thermostat or a thermometer. You can either blend in the crowd, or you can change the crowd. You are either influencing others or they are influencing you! You can make a difference in this world! As Jesus lives through you – you will be come that thermostat for change! As Jesus changes you from the inside out – you will become that thermostat for change!

Guilt Vs. Conviction

When I was a kid I had several chores that I was required to do by my parents.

• Help work in the garden
• Take out the trash
• Make up my bed
• Clean my room
• Cut the grass

During the days of summer I would dread doing some of those chores. I particularly hated cutting the grass. We never seemed to have a lawnmower that wanted to start! My daddy would work on those mowers and try to keep them tuned up, but I would pull and pull and pull.

Many days I would pray for rain so I would not have to cut the grass. As time passed during the day and it would it would be time for daddy to come home -- well, I would panic! Guilt would start to overcome me. I felt so guilty when I did not do what my daddy wanted me to do. The reason I felt so guilty is that I WAS GUILTY! I was disobedient because I knew that I should have cut the grass early in the day.

Feeling guilty is one of the devil's greatest weapons in his arsenal of deception. You see, when I felt guilty for not cutting the grass the real feeling of worthlessness is what overtook me. When my dad started to call me lazy, etc., I felt so guilty. Guilt never motivated me to do anything.

Conviction on the other hand affects me differently. It is a tool that God uses to help me see that I are missing His blessings if I disobey Him. Conviction motivates -- guilt paralizes! Conviction is simply realizing that what you are doing is wrong and changing direction. Conviction leads to repentance. Guilt leads to more guilt.

In my relationship with God I have come to realize that He does not want me to feel guilty -- He wants me to feel convicted. For many years I related to God to the way I related to my earthly father. When I would miss the mark, disobey, willfully sin -- I would start to feel guilty. I would feel worthless. I would feel so hopelessly rejected by God. Nothing could be further from the truth. He was not rejecting me -- He was convicting me -- showing me, loving me, teaching me, and helping me!

• Guilt = Satan's tool
• Conviction = God's instruction

The Simplicity of Grace

Several years ago God arranged for me to get a glimpse of what His grace is all about. Many of you have heard my testimony about the day when God broke into my depression and shined a very bright light called grace and truth.

Through the years as I have walked with God I have come in contact with people who have complicated the grace of truth of God.

Grace is not complicated at all. We do not deserve God's love, forgiveness, or acceptance. God's grace simply says -- I love you, I forgive you, I accept you! He showed me this in the most wonderful, personal way!

He also shined the light of His truth. I love the truth. The Bible says that it will set you free. Of course Jesus said that we will know the truth and the truth will set us free. Jesus said that if we have the SON then we will be free. Jesus also said the HE is the way the TRUTH and the life. No one will come to the Father unless they go through Jesus!

I understand now that God's simple grace is that Jesus has given me an incredible gift -- something I do not deserve. LIFE -- Abundant, eternal life!

The temptation is to make all of this more complicated that it really is. Keep it simple!

Honoring God's Word

This Sunday is Father's Day. For some reason Father's Day is not nearly as much of a big deal as Mother's Day! Now I am not bitter about it but it is true.

Our Fathers have a huge influence in our lives. The image of our fathers as we are growing up has a direct influence on how we relate to our heavenly father. My daddy's words were not often positive. I rarely remember when he said much of anything positive. I have tried.

When it comes to my relationship with God, the Father, there was a time when I struggled with the idea that He could ever accept me. It was His Word -- His words -- that changed my view of our relationship! Galatians 2:20 changed the way I live my life. I heard those words straight from the Father, accepted the truth of the verse in love and was set on a path of change that would revolutionize my home life and my ministry. I listened to the loving Word of God!

This Sunday on Father's Day I will be preaching a message called: "Honoring God's Word." My prayer is that our church family will hear the word of the loving Father calling to them in their most inner parts!

The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength

This afternoon I was called to the bedside of a wonderful lady who is a member of our church who has fought cancer for a number of years.

Several months ago I met this person a few days after I arrived in my office as pastor of First Baptist Church of Sylacauga, Alabama. When she left the office I commented to my secretary that she was a sweet lady who obviously had the Spirit of God radiating from her. Sharon, my secretary told me of her fight with cancer and said that she had rallied back a few times. She has an incredible network of prayer warriors.

When I arrived at the hospital I found a flurry of activity around her bed with family, friends and nurses. I had been told that her liver had shut down and that she did not have long to live. When I walked up to her bedside she looked at me, smiled a very wide smile and said, "well preacher, it's about time you got here!" I was so relieved. Her condition is very serious, yet she found the joy inside to make a joke for her pastor. Amazing grace!

Later, as time passed more people arrived and it was getting very crowded in the room, even though the hospital had transferred her to a suite. I sensed that it was time to have a prayer with the family and make my exit so that the family have spend as much time with her as possible. Just before I called the people together I hear her ask one of her friends if she would let her wear her diamond rings. Her friend had big diamonds on every finger of both hands. Slowly but surely her friend removed each ring and slipped it onto her hands. She was laughing, her friend was laughing, I was laughing -- the whole room was laughing! It was great. Charlie Sanders was standing next to me. (Charlie is a great brother in Christ who can pray heaven down.) Charlie said, "pastor, the joy of the Lord is our strength." I agreed with Charlie with a huge AMEN! It became so obvious that NO ONE could be going through this kind of pain and anxiety with an abundance of such joy unless it was coming directly from the Lord. "THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH!" Nehemiah 8:10

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23

When We Left Earth

As I write this blog I am watching an incredible television show. "When We Left Earth" is a special presentation on The Discovery Channel. I was a "space kid." When John Glen orbited the earth in 1962 I was in the 2nd grade. I remember that we all were gathered in a big room and our teachers rolled a black and white media/library television where we watched with our eyes wide open! From that day on, I was hooked! I read anything, watched anything and dreamed that someday I could be an astronaut! My projects at school revolved around the space race. I still have a scrap book and newspapers from those days. I will never forget that Sunday evening when we all stayed up late to see man land on the moon.

It sounds kind of funny to me now, but I honestly thought that I was going into space. I must admit that the first time I few in an airplane I imagined what it must have been like to actually go into space. I know -- it's silly! It is one of those dreams that I will never experience. I really believe that if NASA called me tonight and said -- "Do you want a free ride on the Space Shuttle?" -- I would have to go! Debbie would kill me :) but I would really want to go. She calls it my "wonderlust." A sense of adventure!

I realize that this blog has absolutely nothing to do with my walk with God but I had to write about this. It was such a huge part of my life and imagination!

Time with God

Since we have moved away from our kids and grandkids there are times when I actually ache inside because I miss them and want to talk to them. I know that I can pick up the phone and call any of them -- we even bought a cell phone for the grandkids so that we can call them or they can call us anytime they want to call. Sometimes talking on the phone is not enough. I want to actually see them and touch them. Those periods of time do not even have to be very lengthy!

I cannot physically touch my heavenly Father, but there are times when I feel His presence so close that I could reach out and touch Him. Other times He seems far away. It is during the far away times in my life when I have experienced the strongest desire to talk to Him and hear from Him. To hear His voice through scripture and prayer is one of the greatest blessings and comforts of my life. I told Debbie just this afternoon that had it not been for prayer I don't know where I would be right now. It is a wonderful connection with God.

You might be surprised to hear that a pastor might feel far away from the Lord, but it happens. Sometimes I call it being in the "wilderness." Other times I call it "the funk." To be there is never a place I want to be and I will admit that the times I have been there are because I have been disobedient or distant from the Lord through busy-ness! Sometimes I just "find" myself there. There have been times when the Lord has allowed me to stay there so I can learn a lesson. When I do, I call out to Him in prayer -- spend time in fellowship with Him and He answers me and loves me back. Grace, Grace, Grace! Amazing Grace!

Sharpening the Axe

"If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend the first hour sharpening the axe."

Abraham Lincoln

Honest Abe has a point here. Preparation and tools are "everything" when it comes to the task at hand. Today I did a couple of things for my mother-in-law. These jobs were simple tasks but the great thing about doing them for her was that she had everything laid out and ready to go. She had "sharpened her axe" so to speak! I simply had to show up and do the work.

Jesus did not just show up. His coming was foretold throughout the Old Testament. God went to great lengths to prepare for his coming. When Jesus came it was on God's time schedule and plan. God had sharpened the axe for hundreds of years before.

God has told us through His Word that Jesus is coming again. He is sharpening the ax! He is preparing for His arrival through the eastern sky. Are you ready? He is coming!

Mission Trip to India -- 2007

Tomato Sandwiches

I am coming to the place in my life when I am realizing just how much God has really blessed me! I have always known it but lately I have started to really count my blessings.

The other day Debbie and I were discussing my life story and some of the things God has done. I told Debbie that God has given me almost everything I have ever dreamed about:

• The best wife in the world
• Awesome kids - Amy and Clay and their families are just the best.
• A house at the beach
• A house at the lake -- pontoon boat and 2 waverunners.
• A house in Georgia with a pool, jacuzzi and outdoor kitchen.
• I have traveled the world -- Mexico, Norway, India, Peru, and Hawaii.
• A college/seminary education
• Great years on staff in churches in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Lousiana.
• A love for tomato sandwiches.

The point is: God is showing me that he has blessed me in the big things but he cares enough to bless me in the little things like loving tomato sandwiches. I suppose it would take me about 5 minutes to make one of my favorite meals -- tomatoes sliced thick on fresh white bread (so fresh it's gooey), lots of mayo with just a touch of pepper and salt. Top that off with a bag of Fritoes and a tall glass of very sweet tea. I would rather have that meal than a steak!

Let me encourage you to look for the "tomato sandwiches" in your life. So many times we do not notice the very best blessings.

We sold the beach house. The house in Georgia is for sale. The lake house is for sale along with the pontoon boat. These things will pass away, but, I will always love tomato sandwiches.

The Bird Cage

I am so sorry that I have not posted in the last few days! I will try to do better in the future. Thanks for checking in each day.

Also, don't forget to go to Debbie's blog. Check to the right for the link. She is an awesome writer and has some great insights into scripture!

Recently, driving down May's Bend Drive in Pell City near our lake house. I noticed the most peculiar thing. There was a bird cage hanging on the porch with a couple of birds inside. I started to think about it and I thought to myself, "how cruel." You see, birds are made to fly. It is what they do. Yet those poor birds were in a cage. They were outside...they could see the sky....they could see the potential heights where they could soar above the house, above the cage, high above the trees, yet they were in a cage.

God never designed a bird to be in a cage. God never designed us to be in bondage. As a matter of fact He sent Jesus to set us free, yet so many Christians miss the opportunity to soar, to really experience life, because they are so bound up -- caged by the schemes of the devil. God wants us to be free, but there we sit in our cages.

Remember...John 8:36 says, "Therefore if the Son (Jesus) makes you free, you shall be free indeed." (NKJV)