Again -- not much of a weekend. Camping with Big Brothers Big Sisters, baseball games, church things, and shopping for clothes for kids. That was just me! Troy had the kids Friday and Saturday while I was camping. He usually does a great job of keeping us straight and picked up while I'm gone, but he had his own hamster wheel he was running on: baseball practice, canoe trip for college kids at church, being a team mom while the team mom was camping! We are drowning under a pile of laundry both clean and dirty, as well as various souvenirs from such a busy weekend.
I'm weary. Not physically -- I should be, but I slept in Sunday morning and went to late service. When I got out of the shower, the kids were in their p.j.'s watching TV and I told them to go change into their church clothes (Troy was singing on praise team for both services). "What?!? I thought we weren't going to church!!!" I don't know who started that rumor! We were quite late for class, but I am well rested. But weary.
Last week with our busy-ness, coupled with exhaustion from the time change, I got very little of my quiet time in. Okay, I got none. That in itself makes me weary. It also gives Satan wiggle room in my life. Is it okay to hate the origin of evil? I do. Satan was able to squirm into my life, casting doubts, mistrust, and mistunderstandings -- affecting not only me, but those I love as well. I'm thankful that I recognize that as a symptom of being away from God, but it's so hard to combat.
This morning I was able to get up for my quiet time. All I could do was cry before God. I poured out my heart, and asked Him to give me encouragement in His word today. I didn't know where to start. I figured Psalm was a good place to start and in flipping there landed on chapter 60. I wasn't in my own Bible, with all the good places highlighted, so I started reading. Not much encouragement in the first 3 verses:
"1 You have rejected us, O God, and burst forth upon us; you have been angry-now restore us!
2 You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking.
3 You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger."
Not real encouraged at this point! But verse 4:
"But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow."
I've got a banner! I belong to the winning team! Continuing. . .
"5 Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.
6 God has spoken from his sanctuary: "In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Succoth.
7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter.
8 Moab is my washbasin, upon Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph."
9 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Is it not you, O God, you who have rejected us and no longer go out with our armies?
11 Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless."
Yes, the help of man is truly worthless. My only comfort is in the Lord. And v. 12 (final verse) says all I need to know:
"With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies."
So thankful today for the Lord to trample down my enemies -- I can't do it!
Go out and be victorious today!
