Trusting….
It
was a sweet summer evening in western Oklahoma.
The steps up to the church door were unending and reminded me of the
stairway into heaven. My Dad chose to
sit on the shortest pew near the back door.
We three children sat on either side of our Dad. I was learning to read in the first grade, and
Dad propped up the hymn book on the his knee.
He opened the hymn book to “Trust
and Obey” and pointed to the words as he sang with enthusiasm. “Trust
and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and
obey….”
was a sweet summer evening in western Oklahoma.
The steps up to the church door were unending and reminded me of the
stairway into heaven. My Dad chose to
sit on the shortest pew near the back door.
We three children sat on either side of our Dad. I was learning to read in the first grade, and
Dad propped up the hymn book on the his knee.
He opened the hymn book to “Trust
and Obey” and pointed to the words as he sang with enthusiasm. “Trust
and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and
obey….”
The
word trust seemed small while the
word ‘obey’ loomed larger. Why are the two words connected? No one explained that I trusted my parents or
what the meaning of trust is. Slowly but
surely, the word ‘trust’ grew in stature as I understood the depth of the
meaning. Did I trust, be accepting of
people, until deceit became known?
Yes. Did it stop me from trusting
others? No. But I did learn another vocabulary word –
discernment. Without judgement I learned acceptance of
their method of operation, and then exercised the heart’s forgiveness
muscle.
word trust seemed small while the
word ‘obey’ loomed larger. Why are the two words connected? No one explained that I trusted my parents or
what the meaning of trust is. Slowly but
surely, the word ‘trust’ grew in stature as I understood the depth of the
meaning. Did I trust, be accepting of
people, until deceit became known?
Yes. Did it stop me from trusting
others? No. But I did learn another vocabulary word –
discernment. Without judgement I learned acceptance of
their method of operation, and then exercised the heart’s forgiveness
muscle.
Marketing
of materialism is a place where scepticism is in and trusting is out. Man has learned the art of painting a picture
of the gloriousness of a product without disclosing the bare truth. You might say that prevarication is the name
of their game.
of materialism is a place where scepticism is in and trusting is out. Man has learned the art of painting a picture
of the gloriousness of a product without disclosing the bare truth. You might say that prevarication is the name
of their game.
What
is trusting? Who can be truly trusted? Why do we need to trust? We are not made to be alone but we seek out
others to be our friends, those we can love and trust. Those who think alike, gather together. There are many groups, clubs and communities
of like minds.
is trusting? Who can be truly trusted? Why do we need to trust? We are not made to be alone but we seek out
others to be our friends, those we can love and trust. Those who think alike, gather together. There are many groups, clubs and communities
of like minds.
There
is a commonality. A basic reason for
believing trust can be achieved between people.
When I think of all the covenants, agreements and treaties made between
people that rely on the integrity of another person or country, it is clear
there is a need for trust between people.
is a commonality. A basic reason for
believing trust can be achieved between people.
When I think of all the covenants, agreements and treaties made between
people that rely on the integrity of another person or country, it is clear
there is a need for trust between people.
When
sickness hits one of our children, no matter, if a grandparent now, the word
trust looms large – and I wonder. Do I
trust? In what do I trust. And I remember a verse of scripture, “For nothing is impossible with God…”
Luke 1:37
sickness hits one of our children, no matter, if a grandparent now, the word
trust looms large – and I wonder. Do I
trust? In what do I trust. And I remember a verse of scripture, “For nothing is impossible with God…”
Luke 1:37
I
recall as my Dad spent the night in the hospital after a heart attack, that Mom
went home to get some rest. When I asked
how she could do that, her answer was scripture, “In peace I lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in
safety.” Psalm 4:8. Mom knew how to trust and who to
trust. And she trusted in God.
recall as my Dad spent the night in the hospital after a heart attack, that Mom
went home to get some rest. When I asked
how she could do that, her answer was scripture, “In peace I lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in
safety.” Psalm 4:8. Mom knew how to trust and who to
trust. And she trusted in God.
Trusting
is something learned. When we were
separated from all our children because they were away – building their own
lives, my peace came from realizing that the God who created the universe, gave
us our children, gave his Son to die for our sins so that we might live with
Him eternally, loved my children more than I could ever love them. In the small apartment in a new town, I
longed to hold my children close and protect them from evil. It was then I
prayed that God would ‘tuck in’ our children each night and protect them. Realizing that God holds our hearts and our
lives in his hands and with Him, nothing is impossible, I can sleep at
night. When our children go through
hardships and life and death experiences, I give them and their families to
God. Trusting in God gives us peace.
is something learned. When we were
separated from all our children because they were away – building their own
lives, my peace came from realizing that the God who created the universe, gave
us our children, gave his Son to die for our sins so that we might live with
Him eternally, loved my children more than I could ever love them. In the small apartment in a new town, I
longed to hold my children close and protect them from evil. It was then I
prayed that God would ‘tuck in’ our children each night and protect them. Realizing that God holds our hearts and our
lives in his hands and with Him, nothing is impossible, I can sleep at
night. When our children go through
hardships and life and death experiences, I give them and their families to
God. Trusting in God gives us peace.
When
our ‘next step’ in life seems murky and unseen.
Then it is time to remember that Someone greater, than mere mortals such
as us, is in control. He makes the sun
to rise and set, He brings the rain and the snow. He created the plants and the animals. He created man in his own image.
our ‘next step’ in life seems murky and unseen.
Then it is time to remember that Someone greater, than mere mortals such
as us, is in control. He makes the sun
to rise and set, He brings the rain and the snow. He created the plants and the animals. He created man in his own image.
The
world seems like a place of pitfalls and unrest. Who do we trust? The answer is simple…Our Father Who art in Heaven.
Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom
come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive
us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and
the Glory, forever. Amen! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU_MceRvh2U)
world seems like a place of pitfalls and unrest. Who do we trust? The answer is simple…Our Father Who art in Heaven.
Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom
come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive
us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and
the Glory, forever. Amen! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU_MceRvh2U)
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
said, “All I have seen teaches me to trust the creator for all I have not seen.”
said, “All I have seen teaches me to trust the creator for all I have not seen.”
– To learn to trust is one
of life’s most difficult tasks. Isaac
Watts
of life’s most difficult tasks. Isaac
Watts
I remember Mom quoting
this verse: Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your
paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
this verse: Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your
paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
• The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and
I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Psalm 28:7
in him my heart trusts, and
I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Psalm 28:7
• You keep him in
perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3
perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3
• “Behold, God is my
salvation; I will trust,
and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he
has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2
salvation; I will trust,
and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he
has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2
Comments? eacombs@att.net
It has helped me so much to remember that God loves my children even more than I do, and if He wants them to love and follow Him, than who can stand in His way?!
It has helped me so much to remember that God loves my children even more than I do, and if He wants them to love and follow Him, than who can stand in His way?!