Shade Tree Wisdom 10/31/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/31/15

          Today for Lutherans it is Reformation Day. The date was set in 1667 by Elector John George II of Saxony as the day to observe the posting of the 95 thesis on the church door at Wittenberg by Martin Luther. He meant them to serve for discussion about reforming certain false practices.

These discussions led eventually to establishing the Lutheran Church.

For me, the date always brings to mind when in my Seminary days the date fell on a Sunday and the Seminary decide to hold a festival service. The chapel was packed and many area Lutherans, who had been invited, also came, What sticks in mind was famous organist Rechlin, at the organ, and the body singing the Battle Hymn of the Reformation. It is:

 “A mighty Fortress is our God,

A trusty shield and weapon,

He helps us free from every need,

That hath us now o’er taken.

The old evil foe,

Now means deadly woe,

Deep guile and great might,

Are his dread arms in fight,

On earth is not his equal.

LSB 656,1

GPD 10/31/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/30/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/30/15

Now and then I return to the verse in the Scripture that speaks about length of life. I have known it since my Dad taught it to me when I was a lad, and I have memorized it. Now and then I feel compelled to return and think off its truth, especially since I have lived way beyond the three score and ten mentioned,. But I think of the truth expressed and now wait for my faithful God to call me home. Here is the verse.

“The years of our life are seventy,

Or even if  by reason of strength eighty;

Yet their span is but toil and trouble;

They are soon gone,

And we fly away.”

Psalm 90,10

          A verse to think about as you go about your daily affairs.

GPD 10/30/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/29/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/29/15

In his farewell speech after having spent his life in the job,  Joshua said to the people, in reminding them that God was always faithful:

Í am about to go

The way of all the earth,

And you know in your hearts and souls,

All of you, that not one word

Has failed of all the good things

That the Lord your God

Promised concerning you.

All have come to pass for you,

Not one of them has failed.”

Joshua 23,14

          Now and again we need such a reminder. God is faithful to what He promised us and this is what He told us “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.

          Cling to that always.

GPD 10.29.15

          

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/28/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/28/15

          The Psalm is speaking about you and me, indeed every Christian, when he says:

“For You make him

Most  blessed forever;

You make him glad

With the joy

Of Your presence.

Psalm 21,6

          One of the  greatest joys of  heaven is basking in the joys of God’s presence forever. That is something we can, and do, look forward to with real joy, A truth we ought to cherish each day.

GPD 10/28/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/27/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10//27/15

          In the verse from Psalm 26, the truth of God’s presence makes that place of worship one where “His glory dwells.” And that makes such a place worth of our attention and our presence.

“O Lord, I love

The habitation of

Your house, and

The place where

Your glory dwells.”

Psalm 26,8\

GPD 10/27/15

          

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/26/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/26/15

                   This verse of the twelfth psalm unfortunately describes quite  accurately the very condition we face daily.

“On every side the

Wicked prowl

As vileness is

Exalted among

The children

of man.”

Psalm 12,8

There is much that is not right in our life, and it’ s sad that often so little is done to correct it. We need to pray for this bad condition.

GPD 10/26/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/25/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/25/15

          This verse of Psalm expresses a truth that ought to be regularly on the lips of every Christian.

          “For  a day in your courts

is better than

a thousand

elsewhere.

I would rather be

A doorkeeper in

The house of my God,

Than dwell in the

Tents of wickedness.”

Psalm 84,10.

          One might say this Psalm is talking about attending divine worship. A father might just say at breakfast on Sunday, we are going to worship today. No question.

GPD 10/25/15

         

          

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/24/15

Shade Tree Wisdom

          Did you know that? The truth expressed by psalm 149,4

“For the Lord takes

Pleasure in

His people;

He adorns the

Humble with salvation”

Psalm 149,4.

          In this statement we learn that we give the Lord pleasure. Indeed, this truth I boldly stated in the Scripture to make us understand that God treasures His creation. Thank God for His mercy.

GP 10/24/15

E adorns the hu,mble

With ssalvation.”

E adorns the humble with salvastion>”

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/23/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/23/15

          This is the psalm Satan  used to tempt Jesus (Matt.4,5-7), unsuccessfully you may remember.

“For He will command

His angels concerning you to

To guard you in

All your ways.

On their hands  they

Will bear you up,

Lest you strike

Your foot against a stone.”

Psalm 91,11.12

          In these words God teaches us where our ‘luck’ always has its origin.

The glad truth is that we are ever under God’s careful minding.

 And the truth is we are not always aware if it, or conscious of it, but it is always there for us because God loves us. We arte His dear children.

GPD 10/23/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/22/15

          Here is another hymn verse speaking truth:

“Though He giveth

Or He taketh,

God His children

ne’er forsaketh;

His the loving purpose

Solely  to restore them,

Pure and holy”.

LSB 725,4

          There is truth expressed for us.

GPD 10/22/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/21/15

1. All depends on our possessing
God's abundant grace and blessing,
Though all earthly wealth depart.
He who trusts with faith unshaken
In His God is not forsaken
And e'er keeps a dauntless heart.
2. He who hitherto hath fed me
And to many joys hath led me,
Is and ever shall be mine.
He who did so gently school me,
He who still doth guide and rule me,
Will remain my Help divine.
3. Many spend their lives in fretting
Over trifles and in getting
Things that have no solid ground.
I shall strive to win a treasure
That will bring me lasting pleasure
And that now is seldom found.
4. When with sorrow I am stricken,
Hope my heart anew will quicken,
All my longing shall be stilled.
To His loving-kindness tender
Soul and body I surrender;
For in Him alone I build.
5. Well He knows what best to grant me;
All the longing hopes that haunt me,
Joy and sorrow, have their day.
I shall doubt His wisdom never,--
As God wills, so be it ever,--
I to Him commit my way.
6. If on earth my days He lengthen,
He my weary soul will stengthen;
All my trust in Him I place.
Earthly wealth is not abiding,
Like a stream away is gliding;
Safe I anchor in His grace.
Hymn #425
The Luth

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/17/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/19/15

          The Lord knows  how we think and act, so He gives us this bit of advice in Psalm 27:

“Wait for the Lord;

Be strong and let

Your heart take courage;

Wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27,14

          In this verse the Lord seems to be saying, “What’s the rush?” The Lord will come to help us but it is ever at the right time, not before.

GPD 10/19/15

          

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/8/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/18/15

          The Psalm. Speaking about creation in Psalm 19, writes:

“There is no speech/

Nor are there words ,whose voice

Is not heard”

Psalm 19,3

          In that sentence he tells what Paul doe in Romans l when he points out anyone alive must be able to tell the hand of God created the world; it did not come by accident.

\GPD 10/8/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/1`7/`5

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/17/15

          The Lord Jesus warned His disciples :

“The hour is coming

When whoever kills yoiu

Will think he is

Offering services

To God.”

John 15,2b.

          Indeed, we might say what Jesus predicted is now here. We are living in such a time as that.

          Stories reach our ears of places where Christians have been flogged and killed because they said, “I believe Jesus Christ is my Savior, my Lord.”

          True, it’s happening, and Christens are being martyred for their faith. Let us busy ourselves   pray for our fellow believer to keep them strong. As well as strengthen ours.

GPD 10/17/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/15/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/15/15

          In talking to His disciples the Lord assures them,

“Let not your hearts

Be troubled. Believe in

God, believe also in Me.

In My Father’s house

there are many rooms.

It were not so, would

I have told you I go

To prepare a place for you?

I will come again and

Take you to Myself,

That where I am,

You maybe also.”

John 14,1-3.

          In those who words Jesus puts to rest any worries about being left , for deal we often with a gnawing sensation of being left and missing out, maybe a  trip, or a party, or whatever.

          Christians deal with such feelings too, and our Lord  wants to lay them firmly to rest. “Don’t worry,” He is saying, “I love you enough to want you with me, I won’t leave you behind”. What comfort He offers us.

GPD 10/15/15

         

          

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/14/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/14/15

          Her is what our Lord Jesus called us when He said:

“You are the

light of the world.”

Matthew 5,14

          No doubt, this is what you are. A candles used to give light at night, a light bulb is means to give light in the darkness. A burned out bulb does us no good. Neither dies a Christian whose life does not reflect his confession of faith.

          And that is what Jesus has in mind here.  You, light, let it reflect your faith in Me. Bt being a light show you are Mine in fact.

          YOU are the Light of the world, and your living where you do mdoes make a difference on those around you, doesn’t it< or not?

10/14/15

          

Shade Tree isdom 10/13/15

Shade  Tree Wisdom 10/13/15

          Psalm 119 has these words to guide our learning:

“Teach me, Oh Lord, the

Way of Your statues;

I will keep it

To the end.

Give me understanding,

That I may

Keep your law

And observe it

With my whole heart.”

Psalm 119,13

These words and others in Scripture assure us we are in need of help to understand the way of salvation. No, we cannot do it on our own.We need the Lord’s kind guidance always. And He is there withy His Word to guide us to Jesus Christ, His only Son and the Savior of the world

GPD 10/13/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/12/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/12/15

          This from the Wisdom of Solomon recorded in the Book of Proverbs:      

“Trust in the Lord with all  your

Heart, and do not lean

On your own

Understanding.”

Proverbs 3,5.

          This bit of wisdom stands near the beginning of the collection of wisdom we call the Proverbs of Solomon.

          And there is a reason for that. Often we tend to go our way and forget there usually is a better way, a brighter thought, ‘ or, finally, the Right way’,

          Consider the way of salvation. Man is entitled to his own opinion, and yet that often includes the thought that man can be good enough to earn heaven, when the truth is “No man comes to the Father but by Me,” said Jesus.

          And that is the truth.

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/11/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/11/15

          This is the final verse of the Psalm so well known and often quoted

The 23^rd.

“Surely goodness

And mercy shall

Follow me all  the

Days of my life,

And I shall dwell in the house

Of the Lord forever”

Psalm 23,6

          That is God’s promise, enough said.

GPD 10/11/15

Shade Tree Widsom 10/10/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/10/15

          Here is a fitting prayer set in poetical form, but useful every day we are alive.

“Lord Jesus think on me,

And purge away my sin;

From worldly passion set me free,

And make me pure within.”

GPD 10/10/15

         

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/9/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/9/15

“Now the day is over

Night is drawing nigh,

Shadows of the evening,

steal across the sky.

Through the long night-watches,

may Thine angels spread

Their white wings above me,

watching o’er my bed.

When the morning wakens,

Then may I arise

Pure, and fresh, and sinless

In Thy holy eyes.”

          Just something to think about when dawn arises,

GPD  10/9/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/8/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/8/15

          Just before Jesus fed the 5,000 in the wilderness He said to His disciples:

“They need not go away,

You give them

Something to eat.”

Matthew 14,16.

          And the miracle happened. When Jesus speaks, there is always result. God’s  word is always effective, and when it is planted, it always bears fruit. Never fails.

          So, all we need do is sow the seed, which means tell the salvation story. The fruit will  follow. It always does and will ever be so because God promised us.

GPD 10/8/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/7/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/7/15         

          St. Matthew writes:

“As Jesus passed on from there,

He saw a man

Called Matthew

Sitting at the tax

Booth, and He said to him,

“follow Me”, and he rose

And followed  Him.”

          In just a few words we read about a man making a complete change in his life’s work. That is totally amazing, isn’t it? From collecting Roman tax – which was a lucrative job, we  may be sure,- to collecting souls for the Lord’s eternal harvest.

          From finances to faith.

          By the way, are you a tither? Many Christians are. And it’s been my experience that once they do, they will increase the amount from year to year.

          Another question comes to mind, have you ever experienced the real joy that comes from writing a larger check for missions or some other needy cause: It brings real joy and a feeling of thankfulness that the Lord has provided so we can do it.

GPD 10/7/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/6/15

Shade  Tree Wisdom 10/6/15

          “Boy,  was I ever lucky that time,” we say. we maybe had an accident and got away with no injury, or maybe a minor scratch or two. We tend to forget what the Bible teaches about God’s angels, ever on duty guarding us from harm. This is what Psalm 34,7 says:

“The angel of the Lord

 Encamps around

Those who fear him,

And delivers them.”

Psalm 34,7

          That is a truth we tend to overlook in situations where we tend to say, “I sure was lucky”. But God does send His angeks ti guard and protect us on our various paths. Praise Him fir the care.

GPD 10/6/15

          

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/5/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/5/15

                   Boston University professor  Joseph  Boskin, who teaches a course on humor in 20^th Century America, says humorous people are wiser and have broader perspectives. AND, they are often better workers.

GPD 10,15

          (Gleaned from an article in Forbes).

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/4/5

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/4/15

          From LSB 331,5

“Before the dawn of day

Let sin’s dark deeds be gone,

 Sinful self be put away,

The new self not put on.”

GPD 10/4/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/3/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/3/15

          Here are some words from Amos, one of the minor prophets, who lived as a  shepherd in Tekoa, a small village some 5 miles south of Jerusalem. He said in one of his prophesies:

“ who is prudent

Will keep silent n

Such a time,

For it is an evil time.”

Amos  5,13.

          What kind of speech is needed at such a time? Shootings in an Oregon college, debate about carrying guns on campus, debate whether it might be prudent to carry a gun at all?

          Unrest everywhere one looks, it seems.

          The Speaker of the Senate resigning, citing being misunderstood abused generally.

          Europe in unrest over immigration. And then there is Russia.

          In all this, it is better to keep silent and pray for the situation, for it God who is still above all, and we rest in Him.

GPD 10/3/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/2/15

Shade Tee Wisdom 10/2/15

          Here is a quiet reminder o hat we often easily forget.

It’s from the hymn” Lord of all Nations, grant me grace.”

“Forgive me, Lord, where I have erred

By loveless act and thoughtless word.

Make me to see the wrong I do

Will grieve my wounded Lord anew.”

TSB 844,3

GPD 10/2/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/1/15

Shade Tree Wisdom 10/1/15

Zechariah, John the Baptists father, prophesied this:

“To give light to  

Those who sit  in darkness,

And in the shadow of death,

To guide our feet

Into the way of peace.”

Luke 1, 79

          And that is the reason Jesus commended Mary, for she who once sat in darkness of sin is now walking in the light, which is the saving word of Jesus, leading people out of the darkness of sin into the eternal light of salvation, which is Jesus, who said of Himself, “I am the Light of the World” showing the way out of the darkness of sin.

GPD 10/1/15