Midweek Meditation with Pastor Edith
August 27, 2025
Psalm 73:28

From where I am sitting, it is a beautiful day in the neighborhood! But, in case from where you are sitting, or standing, the day seems far from beautiful, let me encourage you. The Psalmist in our text for today sings; “But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds”. That seems like a good place to be, near God, and yet, I wonder; what comes before the “but” here at the end of this Psalm.

He writes things like; “When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you” (vs. 11-12). Also; “But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (vs. 2-3). What do you think? Could it be that none of us is exempt from moments, maybe even days or months of feeling far from God? Here’s the thing; God hasn’t moved away, even when you feel like you are going through “the valley of the shadow of death”. Please understand, I am not saying that all our troubles are caused by ourselves, what I am saying is that God is there in the midst of our troubles.

If you or someone you love is going through a dark and lonely time, take a moment to sit with Psalm 73:28 and ask the Lord in the power of his Holy Spirit to bring comfort, and guidance through the difficulties. It may not change the situation, but it can change you and I believe, someone will find their way closer to God. “There is a place of comfort sweet, near to the heart of God; A place where we our Savior meet, Near to the heart of God. O Jesus, blest redeemer, sent from the heart of God, hold us, who wait before thee, near to the heart of God” (From the “Hymn Near to the Heart of God “ by Cleland McAfee).

AMEN and Pray on!

Midweek Meditation with Pastor Edith
August 20, 2025
Acts 5:27-42

Today started off a little differently than I had planned, have you ever had mornings like that? My life is relatively scheduled and I am blessed to be available should the schedule change, still, I find comfort in having a plan and sticking with it. When things suddenly change, It’s best to A.S.A.P. (you may recall this from an earlier post ), Always Stop And Pray. Sit for a bit, if circumstances allow, and make the changes necessary to proceed with your Kingdom work, no matter where you currently find yourself.

Today’s scripture reading includes just such a situation with the Apostles who were arrested for preaching, teaching and healing in the name of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. When they were questioned why they continued even after they had been instructed by the Pharisees to stop, Peter and the other Apostles replied; “We must obey God rather than human beings”! Then in verses 33-38 a well-respected teacher of the Law named Gamaliel tells the court privately (The Apostles were told to wait outside), that these Apostles should be left alone; “Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God”.

Cool don’t you think! Even the authorities who refused to accept Jesus Christ as their redeemer and Messiah sensed the authority and power of God over these simple men. It may be a stretch here, but this is how I am encouraged today. I will close with a quote from my study bible concerning this very thought; The Apostles “kept right on proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus, and God kept on doing mighty miracles. And the number of believers kept on growing”. Hear that repetition; They and God kept on. I’m singing a little chorus that encourages me to do just that; “Lord lay some soul upon my heart, and love that soul through me, and let me ever do my part to win that soul for Thee” (written by Leon Tucker, music by Ira Sankey).

AMEN and Pray on!

Midweek Meditation with Pastor Edith
August 14, 2025
James 1:5

Our Scripture for today reads; “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you”. Do you perceive yourself to be wise? I suppose I would say yes part of the time, but I can’t honestly say yes all of the time. This makes me wonder if I choose to ask God every time I make a decision, and if not, why? Perhaps we get ourselves so busy and caught up in life that we don’t take time to be Holy (as the old hymn goes). Even if you find yourself unable to do much, it can still be a problem controlling your thoughts which then leads to a false perception of God’s will for your life. You are not alone. We all struggle with staying on track with the Lord. Let me encourage you today to A.S.A.P.; Always Stop and Pray (My daughter gave me a cup that has this printed on it).

I try to keep a bible and a hymnal close by for times when I’m caught up in “doing” instead of “being” in the presence of God and yesterday and even again this morning, I needed to check in with the Lord. Here are some words from a hymn that was published in 1924 written by George Webster and Charles Gabriel that helped me and I pray it helps you;

“I need Jesus, my need I now confess; No friend like Him in times of deep distress; I need Jesus, the need I gladly own; Tho’ some may bear their load alone, Yet I need Jesus”. How about you today? He’s just a prayer away.

AMEN and Pray on!

Midweek Meditation with Pastor Edith
August 6, 2025
1 Peter 5:6-7 and 1 Corinthians 10:13

As I was driving in my car earlier today, I stumbled upon a sermon being preached on my radio that caught my attention. I can’t remember the preachers name, but I got a lot out of the few nuggets I could listen too as I was running errands and kept getting in and out of the car. I would so love to become the kind of preacher than can give repeated nuggets of God’s wisdom so that when folks are running errands, maybe even just in their own minds during my sermons, they would have something significant to carry them through their week (smile).

Here is what I remember; “God allows for our trials to develop us. The devil brings us temptations to destroy us. But God uses both to mature us”. Let that soak in a bit, you might want to read that out loud a few times, I know I have.

I didn’t get to hear his scripture references, but I found two that fit pretty well. 1 Peter 5:6-7; “Humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”. We will face trials in this life, but God cares for us in the middle of them.

1 Corinthians 10:13; “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it”. Facing temptations is simply a part of the human condition, but God is also right there showing us a way out. I would say the way to deal with trials and temptations is to take it to the Lord in prayer. Seems to me I remember an old hymn about that; “Have we trials and temptations. Is there trouble anywhere. We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer…”

AMEN and Pray on!

Midweek Meditation with Pastor Edith
July 30, 2025
Psalm 46:10

I must have been quite talkative as a youngster, because I can remember the adults telling me over and over; “Just be still Edith”. I don’t suppose the adults understood how hard that can be for a kid, especially an anxious kid like me. Nevertheless, I have grown into a very talkative adult (I can almost hear some of you from my church saying “true that” ).

In the ministries with which I am involved, there are many who are elderly and often not feeling well. It is a challenge for me to be both sympathetic and encouraging the Joy of the Lord at the same time, but, alas, I am responsible to do just that. Today, I received word that yet another of the folks in my sphere of influence has passed on to heaven. While rejoicing that her pain and suffering are done, there is still the sorrow of the loved ones left behind, particularly her devoted husband. It’s ironic that I have just recently been the officiant of a young couples wedding where they requested the traditional vows that include; “in sickness and in health”. I remember counseling with them to take these vows to heart and trust that the Lord will see them through it all. Maybe you can relate how you have been challenged with sickness. Perhaps these times of illness or caring for someone who is ill is God’s way of reminding us that we are never alone, no matter how we feel and we can use these times to encourage someone who feels as if no one can understand what they are going through. Just a thought.

I find comforting words in the last stanza of an “oldie, but a goodie”; “Be Still My Soul” written by Katharina Von Schlegel in the early 1700’s and inspired by the Psalmist who wrote; “Be still, and know that I am God!” Katharina writes:

“Be still, my soul! The hour is hastening on. When we shall be forever with the Lord. When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone. Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. Be still, my soul! When change and tears are past. All safe and blessed we shall meet at last”.

AMEN and Pray on!

Midweek Meditation with Pastor Edith
July 23, 2025
Psalm 62:5-8

Do you ever have nights when you are awakened by your own thoughts? Troubling thoughts, anxious thoughts, sad thoughts? What do you do? Do you get up and find a snack, or maybe watch the television, or perhaps read a book? Maybe you just lay in the bed hoping the thoughts will go away. Whatever you do, you probably feel restless and conflicted.

Today I want to encourage you to pray the words of our text. Perhaps you could write these verses on a notepad or note card and keep it by the place you sleep. Psalm 62:5-8;

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge”. You might even find yourself singing yourself to sleep. Try this one for example; “Rock of ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee; let the water and the blood from thy wounded side which flowed, be of sin the double cure; save from wrath and make me pure”.

Sweet Dreams and Pray on!

Midweek Meditation with Pastor Edith
July 16, 2025
Revelation 1:8, Philippians 2:10-11

In the midst of so much turmoil and suffering that we have been hearing about and seeing on the news, I thought it best to become more a person of Good News that might just bring a bit of hope to anyone who reads this.

I found the lyrics to a worship song by Jamie Harvill and Gary Sadler that has helped me today to focus on what is true and eternal and to stress less over what is often false and temporal. The song is titled; “Ancient of Days” and it begins with these words; “Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto the Ancient of Days. From every nation all of creation bow before the Ancient of Days…” In the book of Daniel chapter 7 and verse 13 it reads; “In my vision at night I looked and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.”

This is a beautiful vision Daniel had concerning the end of man’s rule on earth and the beginning of God’s rule. In my theology God has always been king of the Universe, it’s really just the humans He created that have decided how to take care of things, and look how that’s going. Still, we are encouraged by the scriptures listed above to understand that God says; “I am the Alpha and Omega [the beginning and the end], who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty”. In Philippians Paul says; “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”. I don’t know if I will still be a resident of earth when all this happens, but I believe it will, and just knowing that, I have great hope. I pray you do too.

I want to close with part of a prayer I found written by Pastor and Bible Scholar Warren Wiersbe; “Gracious Father, we did not realize when we started this journey that there would be a price to pay. We confess that we are comfortable as conformers. We are not sure we really want to be transformers! Father, do a beautiful work in our lives so that others will want this same work in their lives. Give us patience. Give us humility…”

AMEN and Pray on!

Midweek Meditation with Pastor Edith
July 9, 2025
Psalm 46

The other morning, I was blessed by my Pastor friend who shared how we might pray with and for those who have experienced such a tragedy with the flooding in Texas. He talked a bit about the Church Camp group of elementary girls who are still missing or drowned. He prayed that all of us would continue lifting them up as well as their families and the devoted rescue workers trying to be a present help in their present trouble. Much prayer indeed.

Psalm 46:1-3 speaks of the greatest help of all; “God is our refuge and strength, an ever- present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah [Selah is a term that means pause, meditate for a moment].

The other day some friends and I were caught in a terrible rain storm. It was so bad we couldn’t see clearly to find my car as we were in the middle of a huge parking lot. The wind started to blow and the lightning was like bright, flashing swords piercing the sky and touching the earth. Needless to say, it was a bit disconcerting, but we persevered and found my car and we sloshed our way into safety. I checked my phone to see when the storm would pass and it read; “heavy rain will begin in 21 minutes” – oh brother! It gets better; I then received a call from the Culligan Water co. trying to set up an appointment – oh brother again! The rain and lightning continued so we prayed. I suggested to my friends that what we just experienced was a tiny taste of what so many had just gone through with such a downpour of rain that lasted much longer than what we were exposed to which led to such terrible flooding in Texas. In moments like these, it is hard to know how to pray, but I know the Lord calls us to pray even when what we are praying about is far beyond our comprehension. I will close with a prayer I found in the back of one of my Bibles; “Make a commitment to place your trust in the hands of a merciful God, recalling His deep love for you and His ever-present compassion. Moreover, let us commit to sharing God’s mercy with others who need to experience His compassion”.

AMEN and Pray on!