Shade Tree Wisdom 8/20/11

            There was a red fox in my backyard yesterday morning. He was sitting there on my back lawn, sort of medatively scratching behind his ear, and checking out the area. That is, if the nature of a fox is to meditate on anything. Traffic was bowling along 100 feet behind him and in front stood a line of occupied houses with some backyards being used for pets and play areas. It looked as if he did not have a care In the world.

          It reminded me of a prayer many use for a table prayer.

“The eyes of all wait upon Thee, O Lord,

And Thou givest them, their meat in due season.

Thou openest Thine hand,

And satisfies the desire of every living thing.”

Psalm 145, 15.16.

          That’s the promise, and God fulfils it daily for us all.

          When Moses was preparing to leave Israel, he blessed them, tribe by tribe. To Asher he said in his blessing, “As thy days, so shall thy strength be”. Deuteronomy 33,25. Note it well, he is speaking of a day, not a week or days but for the exact  time when you need it.

          O, the Lord taught Israel to depend on His promise to care for them.

          It took 40 years, and then they still often forgot. But when they needed food, God sent them manna. It is recorded in Exodus 16. The direction was to pick enough for one day, and keep none for later. When they tried to keep some, it was bad. However, on the day before the Sabbath they picked enough for two days, and that stayed fresh and usable. So each night they  went to bed wondering if they could really trust God to send it tomorrow too. And He did, till they finally entered the promised land, where there was plenty of food at hand.

          These days sees millions of students starting a new year. Remember the word of promise, “As thy day, so shall thy strength be.” That is the promise for us all. The work we are assigned in a course, the plans we make, the life we lead, all are under His care and attention, and the help we need is always just in time.

          St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians (4,6) writes, “Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” to which St. Peter adds this, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you”. 1 Peter 5,7.

Then find Psalm 46, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.. . God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. God shall help her, and that right early.  Be still and know that I am God.” Vv.1.7.10

May your life be rich with His blessing and His promised presence to give you the strength for the moment.

GPD 8/20/11