Day 327

Scripture: Ps 69:1-38; Ps 73; Genesis 24:1-27; Hebrews 12:3-11; John 7:1-3


Scripture standout: Ps 69: "¹ Save me, O God, 
   for the waters have come up to my neck. 
² I sink in the miry depths, 
   where there is no foothold. 
I have come into the deep waters; 
   the floods engulf me. 
³ I am worn out calling for help; 
   my throat is parched. 
My eyes fail, 
   looking for my God."

Ps 73: "²³ Yet I am always with you;
   you hold me by my right hand.
²⁴ You guide me with your counsel,
   and afterward you will take me into glory.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?
   And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail,
   but God is the strength of my heart    and my portion forever."

Hebrews 12: "⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 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.

His Deed/The Day: I remember well the days when that first Psalms resonated deeply in me. When the children were 2 and under, 3 and under — I felt mired in a place with no foothold. I was tired, hormonal, annoyed because it was difficult to communicate, I felt off — and desperate sometimes. While those early years with kids is beautiful in many ways, I can tell you there were dark times, too. I read these Psalms and thought, "that's how I feel! Lord, help me!!!!" And he did every time....sending his peace and rest. I always felt spoken to in those instances. Lord, is there a mother of young kiddos I can help deed today?

OK...so far...haven't helped any moms of youngins. But I did help babysitters of moms of youngins? There were two awesome pop-ins from friends/sitters who came by with their little people for a visit — or to use the potty.

I was had again by the Camillia bush in the backyard. As I was running back inside the house for the second time this morning — forgetting some paperwork I promised to leave in the mailbox for a friend — I noticed the bush. My mind said, "instead of just clipping those papers to the mailbox, why don't you pick one of those beautiful Camillias and clip it on there, too!" I relented, because I'm learning to not ignore those little nudges. Sidestepping dog poop, I ran to the bush and lopped off a pretty flower — then placed it carefully in the clothespin on our mailbox.

Would you know I got a message from the friend who was picking up the papers? She said something to the effect of this, "I'm not a religious person, but I have faith. And I think God put you in my life at this time for a reason. Thank you so much for the flower, it made my day." I cried!!!!