God's Word is Pure Delight!

What is it about ice cream that makes us want it, no matter how many times we’ve tasted it? I absolutely loved the homemade ice cream we made on the porch of my aunt and uncle’s house at the fire tower where my uncle worked. I always got to sit on the churn (I may have mentioned it before, sorry but it’s one of my absolutely most favorite memories of childhood).  Both my mother and my aunt had a secret concoction of canned milk, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Cooked on the stove, cooled and poured into the maker, a cousin would crank the handle of the machine until they could not turn it one more time. Carefully removing the towel that held the ice in the reservoir, we’d get ladled dollops of the most luxurious stuff.

There’s ice cream and ice milk and sherbet and sorbet. Chocolate, strawberry, cookie dough, mint and things you’d never think of on your own. There’s vanilla and for my way of thinking, you just can’t beat a bowl of good old fashioned vanilla. There are shakes and floats and frosties and smoothies.  Any way you slice it, ice cream is just wonderful. When a certain Arkansas brand of the luxurious concoction went out of business, people all around were in great dismay! What would we do without it?

If it’s so wonderful and we’ve had so much of it, why on earth do we keep going back for more? Why do we need yet another bowl full if we’ve had the best? What makes it worth return visits, loosened belts and frozen lips?

It’s because we’ve tasted it and it is good!  If it didn’t taste good, we wouldn’t come back. If it didn’t do something for us, we’d have none of it. If it was boring, bland and same ol’ same ol’ we’d probably move on to find something better, but for those who love ice cream there’s nothing better.

Just as ice cream cools the brow in summer and soothes the throat when feeling bad, the Word of God soothes our hearts and softens the furrows in our brows. His Word is tasty and highly valued. The Bible verses from Genesis to Revelation contain the finest ingredients that are out of this world. No matter how you serve it, something wonderful comes forth. If you need refreshing, it will refresh you. If you need encouragement, it will encourage you. If you need confirmation, determination, strength, endurance, perseverance, all of that is in the container of the Word. If you don’t know where to go, what to do, how to escape, you can find it there. If you’re hungry, thirsty, weak, or scared, one bite will begin to heal you, and set you free. Open the container and get a big spoon! It’s all yours for the taking! No one can stop you, there’s an unlimited supply and not one drop of it will harm you. Unlike real ice cream which contains those dreaded calories, God’s Word only contains health for your body, mind and spirit.  Eat fully and enjoy it completely for it’s the only thing on earth that will ever really satisfy.

Oh beloved, God is speaking to your heart this morning. You’ve tried everything. You’ve been left with no real change, no real purpose, no real enjoyment. Satisfaction, though sought by you with intense longing, hasn’t come no matter what you’ve partaken of.  Once you taste of the Word of God for yourself and behold its wonderful benefits, you’ll continue to come back for more! God says to you this morning, Come, beloved, I AM the One Who created you to enjoy My Word. I created you to live for Me in the Light of all that I AM. I will comfort you, feed you, heal you and let you return to My Word daily. My Word is available to you day and night. It will give you everything for life and godliness and as you become more and more reliant upon the Word I will use you more and more for My kingdom.

God loves you and His Word is your delight! Nothing else on earth will ever satisfy your heart, your mind or your spirit like the Word of God. Take a big helping every time you can, for it is the only spiritual food you will ever need.

Jeremiah 15:16 When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God of Heaven's Armies.

Psalm 119:103 How sweet Your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.

I Peter 2:2-3 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Psalm 119:140 Your word is very pure, Therefore Your servant loves it. (NAS)

Troubles Raging? You Will Be Victorious Through God

There’s been a stomach bug raging through the family.  It’s been a real kicker.  It started before Christmas with one daughter. As it went to the next daughter’s family, her kids all got it, one after another.  One day right in the middle of the worst of it, 2 year old Caleb exclaimed, “I don’t like this!” This virus picked people off at random, even hitting in-laws who had happened by to visit.  No ordinary 24 hour bug, this one has been quite lengthy for some.  Between the cold weather, gray skies and this – we’re all ready for spring. We’d just as soon skip the rest of winter!

If we could see viruses with our eyes, we’d avoid them for sure.  We would not purposely enter into the virus’s territory. In the midst of the illness, we find ourselves asking if it will ever end. Being in the throes of these viral events keeps us focused on the sickness and any thought of it being over and a healthier day is hard to believe.

In life’s throes, we often have extreme times of worry, fatigue, fear, sorrow, exclusion or more. In the middle of our troubles, trials and situations often all we can see is what we’re feeling.  We may not have intentionally walked into any of it. It just happens. We look to place the blame so we can avoid it in the future, but life happens. Not everything we go through is sweetness and light. The only way to live a life that might bring us little sorrow is to become a hermit who doesn’t work, doesn’t play, doesn’t travel, doesn’t go outside of our own homes. And, that’s not living.  Besides, trouble doesn’t see the fencepost, the door locks or the boundaries.

You may be in the midst of an extreme battle this day. You’ve tried everything. You may be worn out, done in, played out. Once you knew you would get through this, but now you’re not sure.  You’ve prayed, you’ve sought, you’ve medicated yourself and you’re still in the onslaught. What may have started out as a little problem has turned into a big situation and you’re in the middle of it.  Without a cure, without some respite, you are not sure you’ll make it. 

Oh beloved, don’t give in! You may be on your last leg, but there is one who is able to pick you up right where you are! The Lord is with you! You have not been fighting this battle alone. You may have no strength, but the Lord is the Host of Heaven’s Armies. You may not have seen God with you, but His Word is True and He tells you that He is with you! He tells you that He has His angels encamping around you! He also tells you you have a great cloud of witnesses! This battle is not yours, beloved, this battle belongs to the Lord! Lay your burdens, your hurts, your trials, your battle on the altar of His loving care and let Him finish off the trouble on your behalf. He is able to walk you through the valley, He is able to get you through the sea, and He will not let this flood overtake you! You may feel worn out, but you are an overcomer! You may feel the answer won’t come, but you are not living by sight but by faith. And when this trial is over, you will see yourself as the Lord sees you! You are loved! You are taken care of! You are invincible! You are victorious! Your King is in residence in your heart today and He says the battle belongs to Him!

1 Chronicles 5:20  They cried out to God during the battle, and He answered their prayer because they trusted in Him…

Psalm 18:39  You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued my enemies under my feet.

Psalm 55:18  He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, though many still oppose me.

2 Chronicles 20:15 He said, "Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's.

Ephesians 6:13  Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

Psalm 46:7  The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.

Isaiah 8:13  Make the LORD of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble.

Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.

Psalm 24:8  Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty; the LORD, invincible in battle.

Joshua 1:9  This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.