It wasn’t the pending medical appointment that I was dreading so much as the necessity of my driving into the big city alone for the first time and finding the doctor’s office!  I got up just a bit early and over toast and tea I opened the Word to my regular set of readings and there were these reassuring words to carry me out the door and on my way:

Bless the Lord who is my rock…He gives me strength…and skill.  He is my loving ally and…my tower of safety, my deliverer.—For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory.—Say to those who are afraid, “Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.  He is coming to save you.”

Ps.144:1,2; I Jn.5:4; Is.35:4 NLT

I may not have flesh-and-blood enemies as David did.  Sometimes my worst enemy seems to be myself with my built-in tendency to fear the unknown and to doubt my capabilities to handle what’s coming.  I don’t seem to be out-growing these childish fears.  Again and again I’m called to face them down with action I do everything to avoid.  So it is with wistfulness that I read this morning Isaiah’s description of the Way of Holiness where no lions will lurk and where there will be no dangers. This is the way of the Redeemed.  Its end–everlasting joy devoid of sorrow and mourning and surely of fear!  

And in the days and nights of anticipating dread ordeals my heart finds comfort in living and faithful Words.  And I must tuck in a line from an old chorus that hummed to me in the night: “All the sheep of His pasture fare so wondrously fine; His sheep am I.” Amen!

–LS

This is as good a spot as any to commend a cross-genre reading plan that has served me well for the last few years.  It’s a wonder-filled thing to see God’s heart reflected like light through a prism as I read chapters from Psalms and History, Prophets and Wisdom Lit, Gospels and Epistles each day. (No, not every day; life happens and I skip days but this is my go-to plan, always ready to go! I took a few months’ break recently but am back at it and still loving it!)  I have found it a remarkably refreshing way to hear God’s heart day by day. And it takes little more than half an hour most days. Read (lots) more at the Bible Reading Plans link in the side menu, and give it a try  ( :