GOD, Our Comforter 

Isaiah 51:12

'“I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass, '

Billy Graham writes in his daily devotion, "There is also comfort in mourning, because in the midst of mourning God gives a song. His presence in our lives changes our mourning into song, and that song is a song of comfort."¹

East Tennessee was hit by hurricane Helene on September 27th, 2024. A place where there hadn't been a flood of any real proportion since 1940. Hurricane Ivan brought some flooding, but nothing like what happened when Helene roared through. 

Steve & Lisa shared how they were just barely able to slam the door behind them, running uphill along the jeep trail till they were up high and out of breath. They turned and watched as the raging torrent lifted their house off its foundation and rammed it into the bridge downstream, into the trees, into the rocks, the crumbling banks of the once trickling creek; how they witnessed their ordinary but precious belongings splinter into crumpled clumps of soggy, matted debris, disappearing into the liquid rivulets spilling over into the forest, over the utility poles, over the rise and gone.

Standing on that gound of red clay five months later, they spoke to me of the precious grace of our loving savior. Lisa commented, "I had been taking time to clean out since last summer, making little crafts and things from our inventory of antiques to give away. God wanted me to give back for the years he has blessed us. All that is gone now. I guess God didn't think I was moving fast enough for what he wants to do with our lives. Now I don't have to worry about all that stuff. It's brought us closer to the Lord and to each other as we face this new chapter."

God's comfort can actually make us smile in the midst of loss. That old chorus comes to mind. "Oh how He loves you and me; He gave his life what more could he give? Oh how he loves you and me!"

The hope and joy we have in God's faithfulness can hardly be extinguished no matter what evil conspires to destroy! I want to live in that joy, instead of the plastic, counterfeit being propagated by the world. 

Prayer

Lord, today and every day, may my joy be in You, looking forward to Your Kindgon of Peace. And may I live in such a way as to spread that joy to others. 

Amen!

¹ Billy Graham. Day By Day with Billy Graham, Day 58. Accessed through You Version Bible App, February 27, 2025. 

 I don't often think of it this way. When I read the words of Scripture, it rarely crosses my mind. These words were written by people - persons moved by God to put ink to parchment for others to read (2 Peter 1:20-21). So, this morning, I spoke with God but I listened to Job, Moses, David, Solomon, and Jesus. Now, if I was having coffee at the local coffee shop with my buddies -especially wiser and older friends, I would take to heart what they said in the spirit in which they said it. 

I just listened to these great men of old and the Son of God! I don't consider it strange to take what they say to heart and consider it from God - God's advice to me. I'm struck how clear and how special it is to have these great mentors at my fingertips each and every day. 

This realization encourages me to memorize Scripture and keep reading it, mulling it over, letting it filter through my mind. It encourages me to speak with confidence those words from Scripture as the Spirit leads in my conversation with others. "An encouraging Word" - a better one there never was.

It encourages me to support by any means I can those who distribute Bibles. The Gideons, Voice of the Martyrs, Paul Stege Ministries, Samaritan's Purse/Operation Christmas Child, to name ones I'm familiar with.  

It also encourages me to recognize how God moves among his people and raises up those in every generation who earnestly seek him and desire to follow him wholly, proclaiming, discipling, and living the Christ-filled life. 

I want to get into that line this morning. Lord, cleanse my heart, tune it to Your Spirit's voice. Lead me in the Way Everlasting. Amen.

 

Are my devotions more a routine than a relationship?   

YIKES!!!   Do I have to even ASK that question?!

 

That is a question I posed myself this morning as I wrestled with a pressing project and my devotional time. In fact, even writing this piece I am jostling back and forth with the short time I have today to get things done. The prescriptions we often use can quite literally take the friendship with the Lord out of the picture altogether. Particularly when we are following someone else’s “plan” or are fulfilling an online group devotional.

I’m just saying this to myself this morning – remember! This time is Jesus time, not wordsmith time or box-checking time. Get quiet. Get together with the Lord of life and be close.

 

Psalm 103:2-5

Bless the Lord, Oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

 

NOW- if THAT doesn’t remind me WHO it is that I’m fellowshipping with this morning, I don’t know WHAT will!!

Remember! THIS is the ONE who I’m sitting with this morning!