–Psalm 57:1 (NKJV)
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               I have found a friend in Jesus, He’s ev’rything to me,
               He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
               The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
               All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
               In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay,
               He tells me ev’ry care on Him to roll.
               He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and Morning Star,
               He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
                         –Charles W. Fry

Since I mentioned this in my devotion yesterday, I thought I’d take a look at the song today.  Just that first verse alone is a great comfort.  He’s all I need to make me fully whole, and that for a fact.  There is no one else:  Buddha can’t do it, Krishna or any of the other thousands of Hindu gods can’t do it.  For sure Allah can’t do it–only Jesus, He is the only true friend that can make us fully whole.  Sorrow–He’s my comfort.  Trouble–He’s what props me up, keeps me standing, holds me together.  I can speak to Him about anything and everything.  He’s a friend like no other.

               He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrows borne;
               In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tow’r;
               I have all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
               From my heart, and now He keeps me by His pow’r.
               Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempts me sore,
               Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal;
               He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and Morning Star,
               He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

When evil raises its ugly head and evil seems to be looming over my head, He’s my strong tower.  I can run to Him, and He will hold me, care for me, and keep me safe.  The world is against me because I am for God, and He will keep me through all its threats.  Satan can hurl his darts, can buffet me, can bring all manner of temptation, but it is Jesus who is by my side, and He will walk with me until I reach that home He has prepared for me.  I don’t need to fear man, I don’t need to fear the demonic forces–the pestilence, the poison, the filth–that the world throws at me–I am safe in Jesus, no one, nothing can take me from His hand.

          He will never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
          While I live by faith and do His blessed will;
          A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,
          With His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
          Then sweeping up to glory, to see His blessed face,
          Where rivers of delight shall ever roll!
          He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and Morning Star,
          He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

No matter what the devil whispers, I’m living by faith.  I know that Jesus is with me, and will not forsake me.  He is not sleeping in the bottom of the boat allowing me to face the storm alone, in fact, He will arise and calm me in the midst of the storm whether it be a storm of life or in death.  As I hunger and thirst for righteousness, He will fill my soul with His provisions.  This song, from childhood until now, has always been one of my favorites.  There is simple trust in the Lord and that includes the day that He comes to “sweep” me up to glory.  He won’t be dragging, or pushing, but there will be a sweep, a rush with Him into His heavenly realm.  

                    –Matthew 6:28(NKJV)
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I’m not sure how “spiritual” this morning‘s devotions will be, but then again, much of it has to do with perspective.  I fully agree with Francis Schaeffer when he said, “True spirituality covers all of reality.”  Paul states the same things, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, NKJV), and again “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23, NKJV).  I could also add Colossians 3:17, but you get the idea.  All–everything–we do should be for God’s glory.
       With that in mind I want to call your attention to a couple of promises I made to myself several years ago.  

               “How many years had he slept away the beautiful hours from the break of day to the burst of sunrise!”
                         –Zane Grey  (Wyoming)

               “I always say that those who rise early to enjoy the sunrise are the most blessed because of it. They get to see a beauty few others do.”
                         –Faith Blum  (A Mighty Fortress)

How many sunrises have I slept away?  I promised myself I would no longer do that.  There have been very few days, I could probably count them on one hand, when I wasn’t up to watch the sunrise.  I do my morning writing, send out the Echo, contact a few others, get the coffee made, and have 2-3 cups while I put together my morning thoughts.  I sit in my chair reading, doing my devotions, getting my day planned, sipping coffee and looking out the window waiting for the sun to send its rays through the trees.  I think of the times that Jesus was up early, sitting by the lake side, or leaning against a rock in the wilderness, or watching the waters of the Jordan slowly move by early in the morning.
       The second promise I made to myself has to do with flowers.  Yep, this ol’ fence post likes pretty flowers.  Springtime in Texas is a delight with the wildflowers in bloom, and this year was spectacular.  Solomon must have understood this when he wrote,  “The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land” (Song of Solomon 2:12, NKJV).
       Jesus said, “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these” (Luke 12:27, NKJV).  Solomon wrote this, “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.  Like a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters” (Song of Solomon 2:1-2, NKJV).
Part of this is referring to the Messiah, a prophetic verse, but it also refers to the one who walks by my side.  The world is a mess, there are thorns, but I have a “lily” beside me.  Because of that I don’t wait until a birthday, Mother’s Day, or anniversary, but I try to keep fresh flowers on the table for my wife.  All that she has to put up with in this life, me, the kids, the grandkids, life in general, why not give her flowers?  There are not any stores near where we live now, but still, at least once a month I get a bouquet of flowers for her.
       I believe that Jesus enjoyed looking at His creation.  The lillies came to His mind, He was called the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valley.  One of my favorites songs, “He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star…” (Charles W. Fry)  The fragrance, the velvety texture of the petals, the vibrant colors, all made by the Creator, who would sit and contemplate the world that was created, and if He did so, how much more should I?  
       Mother Teresa said, “We need to find God, and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness.  God is a friend of silence.  See how nature–trees, flowers, grass–grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence…  The more we receive in silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life.  We need silence.”  The dawning of a new day, glimpsing over at the table where a vase of fresh cut flowers sit, and recognizing that this is another day that the Lord has given me.  Two simple promises I have kept and with them comes a pleasant satisfaction.

                    –Isaiah 28:23 (NKJV)
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Are we hearing?  Are we to the point where we are unable to hear?  For many, the ears have grown callused; they are hardened against the Word of God.  Read the letters to the churches in Revelation.  Look at what the Lord says at the end of each letter:  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
       I hear the cry for revival among some circles, but then I look at other areas and I see the church compromising and being complacent with sin.  A preacher, with some common sense, has said, “Evil preaches tolerance until it is dominant, then it tries to silence good.”  Do you hear the voice of evil, or do you hear the voice of the Spirit?  Are you hard of hearing, or do you hear clearly the Holy Spirit speaking?  It cannot be both.  You cannot be of the world and of the Kingdom.  Let me pass on to you the words of Micah and Nahum.

          “You who hate good and love evil; who strip the skin from My people, and the flesh from their bones…  Then they will cry to the LORD, but He will not hear them; He will even hide His face from them at that time, because they have been evil in their deeds.  Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who make my people stray; who chant ‘Peace’ while they chew with their teeth, but who prepare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths:  therefore you shall have night without vision, and you shall have darkness without divination; the sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be dark for them.”
                       –Micah 3:2, 4-6 (NKJV)

          “I will cast abominable filth upon you, make you vile, and make you a spectacle.”
                      –Nahum 3:6 (NKJV)

     Do I hear the voice of the prophet, of the preacher?  Where is the cry from behind the pulpit?  Yes, there are those who preach faithfully the Word.  Yes, there are those who are listening to the voice of the Spirit.  But as a nation…as a nation, whose voice is being heard?  We are living in a time where “everyone did what was right in his own eyes,” (Judges 21:10, NKJV) and forsaking the Word of God.  Listen, the precepts, principles, and promises of God are forever, they are absolute, and they are not to be scorned or mocked.
     I believe we are living in the beginning of a time of judgment.  It has not fallen because of the faithful.  I recall the story of Abraham interceding for the people of Sodom, but there will come a time when evil overcomes the faithful.  The cry of evil will be louder, the people will hear and listen to it rather than the voice of the Spirit.  Now is the day of salvation!  People want something new so they are turning to the old ways of evil with a new name–Progressive…Woke.  Read the Bible, often we see that the “silence of God was the judgment of God.” (Wiersbe)  Woe unto us when God no longer speaks.
     “Speak my Lord, speak, and I’ll be quick to answer Thee…” (George Bennard)  “Behold, I am coming quickly!  Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown…  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:11,13, NKJV)