Scripture

Oh, please help us against our enemies,
    for all human help is useless.

~Psalm 60:11, NLT

Quote

Material things, such as money, are to be used, enjoyed, shared, given, but never hoarded nor trusted.

~Billy Graham

It doesn’t matter what translation you are reading, Psalm 60:11 is clear. The Geneva Bible, which is a difficult read, states clearly–Give us help against trouble: for vain is the help of man. There are some things, actually many things that we can do but there are many that we cannot do no matter how much effort we apply. The Red Sea was a God thing: Moses and the Israelites simply watched. Calvary was a God thing: all we did was watch. Pentecost was a God thing: we were overwhelmed. We desperately need revival but we can’t produce one. We can’t plan one or pray one down. Revival is a sovereign act of God and when it comes you will not stop it. There are times we need to admit our impotence. We cannot make God act or prevent Him form acting.  I feel this impotence everytime I walk into the pulpit. Help us LORD! Help us defeat our enemies {sin, flesh, world, Satan] for human help is worthless.

All the above is free. I want to make a point about the value of reading the Psalms. Anatoly Shrank was a prisoner in one of Stalins Gulags. Stalin had people arrested and imprisioned without a trail or due process. Most of the inmates were there because of their political beliefs, not because they had committed a crime. Anatoly’s wife had given him a copy of the Psalms in Hebrew. Anatoly worked on copying these Psalms and translating them so that others could read and understand. The results were remarkable. Anatoly developed an indomitable spirit that could not be broken. The Psalm made him strong and filled him with hope. I tell folks, a Psalm a day will keep the devil away. I do love the Psalms and I wake up in the morning excited about two things: my breakfast [2 eggs over light, bacon and toast, one cup of coffee] and my Psalm for the day.

If you are having a hard time getting into the Psalms, do like Anatoly, get a notebook and write a prayer using the Psalm you read as a guide. I dare you to try this for five months and see what happens.

Extra

Two days in a row, I planned to mow the ditch in the front yard with the Gravely, two days in a row, before I could get to it, it rained. It is the 9th of July and our ditches are still wet, too wet for a zero-radius. Not complaining: it bets a drought!

Another busy day but thankfully will not have to go to Huntsville: Christy came home yesterday evening around 2:00. Have to be in Athens by 8:00 for shot in the knee and then three visits toward Ardmore. One of the visits is to a life long friend {neighbor}. Her name is Carolyn: she has a bad heart {Physically}. She loves the LORD but had her first heart attack 30 years ago. She is my age. I will be 67 on August 8 and her birthday is 14th I think. I am also going to try to see Jerry Newby who is not doing well either. My mentor, Calvin Coolidge Inman’s widow Lucille Inman is still living. I think she is 95 or 96. Lives alone and sharp as a tack. I check on her from time to time. I hope you have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.