Saturday, November 25, 2006

GATHERING PEARLS


"UNTO THEE, O LORD, DO I BRING MY LIFE." Psalms 25:1
Do I really?
Do I really bring the Lord my life? Each day? Upon waking? Or do I hold my life close to me?

Horde the moments. Neglect His plan and purpose. Where can I go? Where can I go? Where can I go but to the Lord?

I can go where others have fallen. I can walk in the way of the ungodly. I can stand in the path where sinners walk. I can sit down where the scornful gather. OR..."I can dwell in the house of the Lord forever. All the days of my life. And in my days of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock." Psalms 27:4,5

I got up this morning. Let my daughter's lapso apso out. Pushed the button on my coffee pot. And went to my computer desk. I'll check email, I thought. After that, I clicked on some favorite websites. I highlighted a link I'd never visited before. She shared her life verse with us...with me...with anyone who cared to read it. Then she posed the question: "do you have a life verse?" I had no problem answering that.

God gave me a life-verse within days of my introduction to Jesus in 1976. I was twenty-eight. Pauline Burke's mother of some eighty-plus years, served it to me. I was hungry. I sat at her feet and listened as she shared her story. As a child she was taught to memorize scripture. Called it "Gathering Pearls." Sister Burke told me her life-verse. She repeated it from memory just like she was saying hello, my name is...: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, lean not unto thine own understanding; in all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6.

I loved it. I was so confused. I didn't understand Jesus very well. I couldn't imagine an innocent, sinless man-slash-God giving up His life to attone for my wicked life. I was scared. I couldn't imagine how I would ever be able to live up to the commitment I'd just made to live for Jesus, to make Him Lord of my life. I wrote that verse down and when I got home, I underlined it in my Bible. I wrote the verse on little note cards and posted it throughout my house. Refrigerator. Mirrors. Telephone.

I memorized that verse. And God has been so faithful to me. Through the turmoil of my life. Through separations. Death. Uncertainty. Financial difficulties. I learned to "trust in the Lord"--not man, not circumstance, not wealth or poverty. Not my heart...but His. I trusted Him.

I learned not to "lean on my understanding" of society, government or man's rebuke and life's perplexities. I learned to "acknowledge Him" when others sneered or laughed or mocked. I learned He would indeed, "direct my path".

He's led me through dark valleys, beside still waters. He's restored my soul, and the joy of His salvation. Time after time after time. He's placed me in places I never wanted to be but when I learned to submit to Him and be obedient to His will, He has shown me the purpose for which He saved me. Part of that purpose is before you at this moment.

May He guide you to do what He wants you to do with it. Let go and let God. The world is at your fingertips. SelahV
[copyrighted, 2006, selahV]

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Powerful thoughts Selah.

Prov. 3:5-6 is one of my life verses too. I have several, but there are three that I know as well as my own name also. :) One of the other ones is:

Phillipians 4:6-7- Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The third one is:

Isa 41:10 -
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

I'm so thankful for God's word.

Blessings to you,
Rose

SelahV said...

Rose, dear Rose, We have so much in common. Those two other verses of yours are some of my underlined promises too. :} Phil. is tough at times to chew on. But oh the comfort in Isaiah. I'm so glad I have some verses memorized. They truly are the pearls of wisdom and strength for life. selahV