A Comforting Oasis

If you’ve ever traveled in a desert, you know how encouraging an oasis can be. At the very least it would provide water. For further comfort, it would offer some shade.

Years ago, someone introduced me to the music of David Ingles. I play it often for a couple of reasons: (1) His voice is as soothing as his accompaniment, and (2) all his songs are scripturally based.

One of my Ingle’s favorites is *I’ve Found an Oasis of Love. One day I pulled the word booklet out of the front of the CD and was surprised to read how it came to be written.

He was at Lakewood Church in Houston, TX, then pastored by John Osteen, Joel Osteen’s father. While encouraging his congregation not to treat visitors as strangers, he said, “Let’s just love ‘em to LIFE! We want them to know that they have found an oasis of love in a troubled world.”

Those words struck a chord in Ingle’s creative heart. The result was a beautiful song that always draws me in on the chorus:

I found an oasis of love,

The pastures are green year around;

A new life is mine with peace from above;

I found an oasis of love!

“Pastures are green year around” always reminds me of Palms 23. It opens with The LORD is my shepherd. Then verse two says He makes me lie down in green pastures. If that doesn’t create a picture of peace and provision, I don’t know what will.

Psalm 23 is a favorite of many people. A great devotional book, now published as a small paperback, is **A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23.

The first dictionary meaning of oasis is shared at the top, however, there is a second meaning in my New World Dictionary: any place or thing offering welcome relief from difficulty, dullness, etc.

I’m suggesting an oasis in music. Scriptural songs come in a wide variety of styles. Peaceful listening!

*Oasis of Love is on CD2 of The Best of David Ingles. Find his personal story and available music at www.diministries.org

**A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, W. Phillip Keller, Zondervan Publ., 2007 paperback, available from Christianbook.com or your favorite book source.

  

Be Your Own Encourager

Without a doubt, we are living in challenging times. Covid-19 has made this time unique, but hard times have hit most every generation.

When I first started reading The Book of Psalms, years ago, I thought it seemed rather depressing. But the more I read it, the more I noticed the writing style.

David always pours out his heart to God. But he generally moves from negative to positive, so it’s worth the read.

A good example is Psalm 42. It begins with David’s lament. He has been forced to run for his life. He misses the days of worshiping with the multitudes in God’s house.

He remembers their joyful songs, praises, and special feast days. He feels isolated and his enemies taunt him saying, “Where is your God?”

David engages in some self-talk more than once. Here it is in the New King James Version (NKJV):

Questions:  Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?

Solutions:    Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary says this psalm was written for the sons of Korah, singers in the temple. I wonder if they were as encouraged by David’s self-talk in verse eight as I am?

Here it is: The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me---a prayer to the God of my life.

How are you dealing with these challenging times? Have you poured out your frustrations or disappointments to God? Or have you simply complained to the people around you?

You don’t have to give up, nor do you have to cover up. Challenge yourself with some realistic self-talk, put your hope in God, and be your own encourager.  

 

The Worry Wobble

Have you heard of a devotional book titled *Jesus Calling?  I actually found a copy while shopping at a thrift store.

Sarah Young’s book has been truly inspirational. It’s small and the devotionals are not long, but their impact is doubled with scripture references at the bottom. 

I wrote down a quote that intrigued me. Only six little challenging words: **“Trust me and refuse to worry.” Remember her title? Jesus Calling. 

One of the scriptures that day was Hebrews 10:23: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 

In the margin I wrote wobble with worry---faith brings balance. I could also have said faith brings stability. 

What came to mind was a favorite childhood toy. It was a nice big top with a stemmed knob to push up and down. Pretty soon I would let go and the top would be on its way. 

I always knew it would lose momentum and start to wobble. No problem. I just pumped the knob and watched it spin off again. 

That top was a reminder of my life. Try as I might, not all of life’s challenges can be solved by me. I often need a power greater than myself to make a difference. That’s where the Jesus Calling quote comes in: Trust me and refuse to worry.   

The Apostle James had some good advice in James 1:6-8. He said to go ahead and ask God for help, but then don’t doubt Him. He pictured the doubter like a wave of the sea tossed by the wind. 

James declared that kind of wobbling won’t receive anything from God. Being double-minded causes instability. 

Six little words present two choices: (1) Trust me, and (2) refuse to worry. Give your life the momentum of faith in God, then hang in there and avoid the worry wobble. 

*Jesus Calling, Sarah Young, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 2004.

**Quote, Jesus Calling, September 22, page 277, top line.