What time has proven true

I remember well the words someone told me when enticing me into something evil. "Look around you, Ruby." It's not hard to see evil around me and fall for the lie that that is all there is and there is no hope for for something holier.

The verse that stuck out at me today was on the tail end of Psalm 139.

"Don't let me follow evil ways , but lead me in the way that time has proven true." Ps. 139:24

I find in those words the key to avoiding evil and being holy. My friend told me to "Look around" but what I did in that moment was look back. I looked back at some of the similar instances I was in... instances where I did fall. Now I reap the consequences of those decisions. Time has proven many things. Time has proven that God is faithful even when I am unfaithful. Time has proven the truth of the Word of God. I don't need to get discouraged when I look around me... I look back and see the fruit. And that gives me strength to forge ahead.

The NIV calls it "the way everlasting". Truth doesn't change. It never has. It's forever. No matter what happens around me. God's truth is a constant and I can trust it.

The Shepherd's Rod

"I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won't be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd's rod makes me feel safe." Psalm 23:4

The most read Psalm in scripture is Psalm 23. Maybe even the most read portion of scripture, but don't quote me on that one. I wonder however how many of the avid readers of scripture fully understand the significance of the word picture David is painting.

David had an inside scoop on the character of God. You see... David was a shepherd. David understood the relationship between a shepherd and his sheep. Not only did he understand his role as a shepherd, but understood the sheep. Because of this he was able to see just how much God's relationship with his people reflected that of a shepherd with his flock.

I can identify with this word picture... because I grew up around sheep. My parents were sheep farmers (shepherds). There are so many analogies I could go into, but what really moved me in my devotional time this morning was the shepherd's rod. This picture became clear, not on the farm as a child, but when I was at Agricultural College in Olds. I learned then what a shepherd's rod or crook was used for. A crook is what a sheep handler uses to control the sheep. On the farm we used bamboo rods. But crooks have a hook on the end, and my instructor at the college showed me how he would round up lambs using the crook. It was just the right size to hook around the neck and pull the lamb closer so he could catch it. What a picture.

Especially when I go through dark valleys in life, It makes me feel safe to know that there is something pulling me back, drawing me closer to the Shepherd. Sheep like to stray. That is their nature. In hard times it's not hard to wander off. But knowing and feeling the gentle tug of the Shepherd's rod, I'm not so scared.

A Fortress of Peace

"And the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:7

That is a verse I have in my memory from a while back. And not until today did it become real.
I have at least six translations of the bible in my library, and that's just English. I also have German, Spanish and Greek as well. Needless to say... I like to be thorough. I seem to buy a new bible every time I go through a valley in my life. I also like to keep the Word fresh , so when I have a few different translations around, I can get a different perspective.
Right now the translation I am using for my devotions in the morning is the Contemporary English Version. I really like the flavour of this one. It's one of my favourites. Verses that I've memorized in the NIV talk to me all over again.
Philippians 4:7 is one of those. This is how it reads in the CEV.

"Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel."

Wow! This way it becomes applicable to my circumstances. You see... My thoughts and feelings get distorted at times due to the presence of Bipolar Disorder. I have lost control often of my cognitive thinking and my emotions. It's a daily battle and sometimes I think I'm loosing. But what excites me so much about this verse is the power of peace to control my thoughts and my emotions. My thoughts and feelings dictate my actions. I think I should do something and I do it... I feel like I should do something and I do it. Oh to have such control so every part of me oozes the peace that is beyond all human understanding. What better blessing is there from God than to walk in His peace. I think that is what He wants for all His children.

Another translation I like is the Amplified Bible. This is how Philippians 4:7 reads there.

"And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Wow again! "garrison and mount guard" -- a fortress of peace. Isn't that the stuff you need to hear when things like stress, anxiety, worry and frustrations threaten to bombard your heart and your mind. The only prerequisite is to be "in Christ". And that is a topic for another bible note.

Bible blog: an introduction to "bible notes by ruby"

When I had the idea for this blog, I wondered how I would proceed with it. The only theological training I've had comes from almost 40 years of being in church, 1.75 years in bible school and personal study. But then it hit me when I was going over the story of the Good Samaritan this morning. Most know that story from Luke 10... Jew going from Jerusalem to Jericho and gets mugged. A priest and Levite (church people) both come by, see the guy in the ditch and decide they'd both be late for church if they stopped and helped him, so they leave. The guy that does help him however is a Samaritan (scum in the eyes of a Jew). He fixes the Jewish guy up and takes him to a local hotel and even pays for his recovery. That's the long and short of it. But that wasn't what set me off. It was the setup of the story. Some dude (an expert in the law) asked Jesus how to gain eternal life. Makes me wonder what he learned in seminary. So Jesus asks him two questions...(I pulled it out of a few versions)

NIV & Amplified: "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
CEV: Jesus answered, "What is written in Scriptures? How do you understand them?"
NCV: Jesus said, "What is written in the Law? What do you read there?"
NKJV: He said to them, "What is written in the Law? What is your reading of it?"
Message: He answered, "What is written in God's Law? How do you interpret it?"

Ruby's translation: What does God tell you? How are you going to apply it in your life?

That is where I want to go with this blog. God wrote... and somehow I must apply in my own life. Instruction, then application.

I invite you to read along with me as I post "bible notes by ruby". You will probably have different applications to the scripture you read, but maybe my stories will be insightful anyway. Are they coming out of years of theological training? No, not so much training, but mostly application. That is exactly what Jesus did in the Luke 10. The inquisitive student told Jesus what the Word said... and Jesus showed him how to apply it.

God Bless, keep reading and applying.